A HIGHER powered version of the DS 7 Crossback upmarket SUV is being introduced with a 225bhp PureTech engine under the bonnet.

Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission the newcomer is said to have an official fuel return of 48.7mpg with emissions of 135g/km.

With a 0 to 60 time of 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 141mph it is the quickest of the DS 7 Crossback range and joins two diesel models and a lower-powered 180bhp petrol version which have been available since the car was launched earlier in the year.

Priced from £34,990 to £43,190 the new PureTech model is powered by a 1.6-litre engine that uses twinscroll turbochargers and a petrol particulate filter to keep it clean.

It also comes with stop/start and a ‘free-wheeling' system which can idle the engine under low power settings between 12 and 80mph.

Next year the DS 7 Crossback range is set to expand further with the introduction of 4x4 petrol-electric hybrid models with 300bhp on tap.