New DS store, The biggest in the North West opens in Manchester, in time for the new DS 7.

• Stylish new DS Store opens in Manchester as the largest dedicated DS store in the North West
• Opening on Tuesday, 4 July, buyers are helped by a unique combination of virtual and physical assets
• Designed to provide a premium customer experience
• DS 7 CROSSBACK, the all-new SUV from DS, is exclusively being displayed during the new DS Store’s opening week and yet remains available through DS Virtual Vision in 3D

The new DS Store brings a taste of Paris to Manchester and opens on 4 July. Located on a new site on Windsor Street (off Albion Way), it has been conceived from the floor up to represent premium French car brand DS Automobiles. Due to the latest technology, DS Store Manchester will give new and used car buyers a special environment to explore, experience, specify and purchase their next DS.

As an all-new building, DS Store Manchester will be the largest dedicated DS retail space in the North West of England. The 268m2 showroom can accommodate a display of six DS cars. 

These will be positioned around a DS lounge area where customers can be comfortably seated on bespoke leather furniture in air conditioned surroundings, lightly scented by the exclusive DS ambience-scent via a special diffuser.

As well as displaying a compilation of beautifully crafted items from collectors’ models to leather bags, DS Store will bring together an exclusive array of physical and virtual assets. The result will enable customers to try before they buy in a stylish and chic environment that is nonetheless a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Jason Chick, General Manager for DS Store Manchester, explains: “The new DS Store Manchester has a very different feel to a traditional car showroom, being very obviously premium and spacious while providing customers with a feeling of well-being while within the DS experience that is so much more intimate and engaging for them while with us.

Architect Mike Strain from Scaramanga Design has spent two years working on the project. He says: “This showroom concept is unlike anything I’ve worked on before. Everything from the floor tiles to the wall cladding has been carefully chosen to exude quality. We’ve even worked on lighting that picks out specific design features of the cars on display.”

DS Automobiles UK Marketing Director, Mark Blundell adds: “We’ve used intuitive technology such as DS Virtual Vision to be at the forefront of new ways for our customers to specify, experience and buy a new car in order to make their lives easier and better informed. 

DS Store Manchester has been finished with great attention-to-detail. The result has the French savoir-faire we’re renowned for and most importantly, we’ve created an appealing environment for our customers to immerse themselves with the DS brand.”

Specially trained DS advisers will help visitors to DS Store Manchester to immerse themselves in DS Automobiles. An area dedicated to a comprehensive collection of sample materials lets visitors touch, feel, see and even smell the luxury in a DS. 

Slipping on the DS Virtual Vision headset will enable them to be fully interactive with their chosen selection of DS models using high-definition state-of-the-art 3D technology. 

They can personalise trim levels, interior materials, exterior colours and wheel designs as they build ‘their’ ideal DS. They can then explore the full-size ‘virtual’ car as if the real thing is in front of them, able to look around and inside it as if virtually in front of them.

As with all DS retail centres, DS Store Manchester has been designed in line with the brand’s ONLY YOU promise. It means customers in the North West will be among the first in the world to enjoy the unique DS ownership experience. 

For new owners, this could well start in DS Store Manchester’s bespoke handover area. “The new-car handover is a small example of this attention-to-detail, but nonetheless a very important one,” says Mark Blundell. 

“The new DS Store Manchester demonstrates perfectly how we are looking to bring high-class values to the customer buying and servicing experience as we look to establish DS as a premium automotive brand.”

Arnaud Leclerc, UK DS Brand Development Director, explained, ‘DS is bold and daring yet the brand also seeks to keep in touch with prospective clients through a human touch. 

DS 7 CROSSBACK, our new SUV from DS, is on display as we open the doors to DS Store Manchester and yet continually remains available for customers to see through DS Virtual Vision, as it can illustrate all possible versions available to sample and is a great chance to enter the DS brand world, with hi-quality 3D as an experience the closest to reality.’

DS Store Manchester is newly located at Windsor Street (Off Albion Way), Salford, Manchester, M5 4DG and calls can be made to 0161 636 7472 or more details found at its website: DS Store Manchester

DS Automobiles has announced that is officially launching within Iran now the sanctions are lifting.

DS brand is officially launched in Iran today. Together with country’s personalities, journalists and potential clients, Yves Bonnefont, DS Brand CEO and Daryoush Biria, president of ARIAN Group, inaugurated the DS STORE Tehran and announced the commercial launch of two models: DS 5 and DS 6.

Three and a half months after the announcement of its arrival in the Iranian market and its partnership with ARIAN Group, DS brand is officially launched today in Iran. The ceremony was attended by Yves Bonnefont, CEO of DS brand, Daryoush Biria, president of ARIAN Group and His Excellency Bruno Foucher, French Ambassador in Tehran.

"DS Brand is undergoing a major step in its international development! Iran is a key country for us and contributes to our ambition of radiating the French luxury know-how in automobile.” said Yves Bonnefont, CEO of DS brand," the experience of our partner Arian Group is a major asset for success. "

For Daryoush Biria, president of ARIAN Group, "The DS brand is synonymous with design, technology, refinement and French elegance. We are delighted to be the exclusive distributor of DS brand in Iran and I do not doubt that Iranian customers will be thrilled by these great cars. ". 

Nearly 200 people, journalists, local personalities and potential customers attended this important moment for both partners. A meeting held in Tehran DS STORE. Inaugurated at the same time, the DS STORE is located in the northern districts of the city on one of the most attractive avenues, the Andarzgou Boulevard. The DS Store is the first in the Middle East!

In a space of 275 m2, customers can now immerse themselves in the DS universe. Modern facade, sleek design, featuring the DS frame finish, lacquered furniture, plasma screens, photos depicting Paris, fashion, luxury or design, the atmosphere is cosy and high-end. The cars on display, up to six models, are turned towards the entrance to catch the eye of the visitor upon arrival. 

The commercial launch of the first DS cars started as launched. DS 5, the flagship of the brand, and DS 6, brand’s SUV with powerful and elegant style, are the starting bid. 

Two models are proposed in ‘Sport Chic’ version, the most upscale with equipment of powerful and efficient engines and 6-speed automatic gearboxes. The refinement and attention to detail are featured; all models have a Nappa leather or semi-aniline finish bracelet seats, the DS exclusive offer and full leather dashboards. 

The range will be enriched during 2016 with the arrival of DS 5LS, the statutory sedan and other models. 

Key figures : Iran has approximately 80 million populations of which 70% live in urban areas and 15 million in the metropolitan area of the capital, Tehran.   Iran is the second population of the Middle East North African region.   2/3 of the Iranian population is aged under 30. Iran is rich in fossil resources, with 11% of the world’s oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves. The ARIAN Group, specializing in automobile distribution since 2011, stands out particularly in terms of service quality. Based in Tehran, the ARIAN Group imports, distributes and provides after-sales in Iran according to the standards of the brand.