Mark Blundell, UK Marketing Director, from DS Automobiles UK received the coveted ‘Innovation Award’ accolade at last night’s Scottish Car of the Year awards ceremony.
The award, presented for the company’s DS 3 Connected Chic with ‘integrated contactless payment car key, powered by bPay’, showcases the brand’s dedication to complement its customer’s active lifestyle with innovative and accessible technological solutions.
Staying connected and being more-easily able to interact with the world is of utmost importance for the French marque. DS Automobiles introduced the innovative feature, the UK’s first integrated contactless payment car key for customers who purchase DS 3 Connected Chic, allowing them to make safe and fast purchases of up to the eligible spending limit of £30 at more than 490,000 locations across the UK. Up to £200 can be held on the key at any one time and a smart-phone app permits quick and easy money management.
Stephen Park, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers said; “It’s an outstanding move from DS Automobiles; turning a remote car key into a contactless payment device for DS 3 Connected Chic shows that the brand is finely tuned in with the latest developments in technology, which it aims to make easily accessible to its customers. It’s simply effective and fully deserves the Scottish Car of the Year Innovation Award which won by a huge margin over the other nominations in the category”.
DS 3 Connected Chic is the new well-equipped trim level model from DS Automobiles, offering an attractive and compelling mix of stylish design and modern technological features that include Basalt Black or Brown Nappa watchstrap leather seats, 17-inch black diamond-cut ‘Aphrodite’ alloy wheels, mirror screen technology with Mirror Link® and Apple CarPlay™ and eMyWay satellite navigation.
Joining the range at the same time as these accolades is a new exclusive body colour model – Parthenon Cream available at DS Stores across the UK. The new colour model has a luxurious, high quality appearance and is complemented with a choice of either Black or Topaz roof colours. To ensure exclusivity, DS 3 Connected Chic Parthenon Cream is available in limited volumes, with just 275 being produced for the UK. Engine choices include a selection of the award-winning PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines, with the PureTech 82 Manual, PureTech 110 S&S Manual or PureTech 110 S&S EAT6 with Automatic transmission to select.
Mark Blundell, UK Marketing Director at DS Automobiles UK said; “I’m delighted to receive this award and would like to thank all involved at DS and bPay who worked to turn this idea into a reality. At DS Automobiles we aim to show the spirit of avant-garde through constantly pushing boundaries and aligning our products with our customer’s ever-changing lifestyle. DS 3 Connected Chic with the integrated contactless payment car key strikes a chord with our audience who can benefit from an innovative, 2in1 device for a premium experience.”
DS 3 Connected Chic models start from £15,775 OTR with the PureTech 82 manual version. This is available from £199/month with a 3-year warranty, DS roadside assistance, and of course, including the award-winning integrated contactless payment key, powered by bPay. The DS 3 Connected Chic Parthenon Cream model starts from £16,865 OTR, and features uniquely an enhanced specification that includes front parking sensors and reversing camera as part of the standard equipment. DS 3 Connected Chic with the free and award-winning integrated contactless payment car key is currently available to order.
