This is the new DS3, and yes, a faster version is coming

This is the facelifted DS 3 – a once fairly good-looking car made ever so slightly less so by the addition of a brand new nose. Elsewhere, DS has updated the infotainment system and added a fistful of colours, trims and graphics to the options list – but none of that is what’s really exciting us. 

No, that’d be the addition of a properly hot DS 3 to the line-up for the first time since the expensive but good (then Citroen) DS3 Racing and Racing Cabrio, which were only ever imported into the UK in tiny numbers. 

The new one is called the DS 3 Performance. It has the 1.6-litre turbo four from the Peugeot 208 GTI, with an identical 205bhp and 221lb ft of torque, all kept in check by a Torsen LSD. DS hasn’t released any performance figures (or prices), but they’re not going to be too far removed from the Peugeot’s. Wager on a little under 7 seconds to 62mph and a top speed on the exciting side of 140mph.

The gearbox is a six-speed manual with “shorter gear ratios”, the suspension has been lowered by 15mm and the front and rear tracks have been widened by 26mm and 14mm respectively. Rather sensibly, the brakes are bigger than the standard bottle-tops too. Arch extensions, bucket seats and special graphics complete the package. 

We’ll see the new DS 3 – and hopefully the Performance, because as you may have guessed, these pictures aren’t it – at the Geneva Motor Show in March.