DS 3 Offers First Integrated Contactless Payment Car Key In U.K.

Citroen spun off DS as a standalone luxury brand in 2014, spawning an entire range of luxury vehicles, everything from the DS 3 hatchback to the recently introduced DS 7 SUV. In an effort to further boost those luxury credentials, the brand today has launched a contactless payment car key, the first of its kind in the U.K.

Available exclusively on the new DS 3 Connected Chic, the key is powered by an integrated bPay payment chip, and uses RFID technology to act as both a car key and a convenient way to pay with contactless technology, similar to Apple or Android Pay on your smartphone.

Customers who purchase a new DS 3 Connected Chic model throughout September will take home the new technology, allowing them to make purchases up to the eligible spending limit of £30 ($40) at nearly 500,000 retail locations across the U.K.

"At DS we're always looking at how we can credibly complement our customer's active lifestyles, where staying connected and being able to easily interact with the world is key," said Mark Blundell, U.K. Marketing Director at DS Automobiles.

"With the combination of connectivity features integrated into DS 3 Connected Chic models, and the ability to make those must have purchases by using one integrated device – with the DS contactless payment car key, we really feel we have achieved this."

Apart from the contactless key, the new DS 3 Connected Chic trim comes with a number of new features, including upgraded exterior styling, ranging from 17-inch black diamond-cut wheels to LED headlights, and some added tech in the cabin including Apple CarPlay and Mirror Link, paired to the system's seven-inch touchscreen. The DS 3 Connected Chic starts at just £15,775 ($20,560) in the U.K.