DS now its own brand, gets its own communications system.
Yup, since June of this year apparently. There were already few if any actual Citroen badges on most DS models, so the change has been pretty unnoticed. The DS display at the Paris show this week kind of said it all - a successful DS 3 model range (now with 500,000 sales under its belt), a gorgeous Divine DS concept that previews a new DS 4 and not a Citroen double-chevron in sight.
So what's the little black box thing then?
It's called the DS Connect box and it's basically a posher version of the Citroen Multicity Connect system that calls up apps and concierge services on the car's touchscreen. Today the DS Connect Box offers localised emergency calls and assistance along with a monitoring package that includes a virtual service logbook (which can be looked up on a personalised web page) and an Eco-driving module to obtain personalised advice for reducing fuel consumption. In a few months, new geolocation services will be added to the DS Connect Box, including mapping (to find where the car is parked, for example) and tracking, to help customers locate their car if it is stolen.
Worth it?
Possibly, yes. In-car telematics are all the rage right now (at least until legislators ban them for being too distracting) and Citr... sorry, DS needs to get in on that game if it's to compete with the tech-friendly appeal of the German big three.
Neil Briscoe - 4 Oct 2014