DS AUTOMOBILESDS 3 Cabrio 2013 - 2016

　　The French carmaker charged into the premium segment with this small-segment open-top vehicle, which it unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

　　Citroen tried to take advantage of the older, glorious DS nameplate and transformed it into a premium sub-brand. But every premium carmaker has at least one open-top vehicle, and the French brand felt obliged to provide one to its customers. Thus, it took the platform from the C3 lineup and created a top-cabriolet vehicle.

　　The new open-top version of the DS3 was, literally, an open top one since only the roof could've been folded back. The side windows, the rear windscreen, and all the other pillars remained in place. Nevertheless, that still gave the occupants an open-air feeling. But, unlike other carmakers, Citroen found an ingenuous way of standing apart from the rest of its competitors by creating a rag-top adorned with a unique pattern.

　　Inside, the carmaker installed leather-wrapped high-bolstered bucket seats at the front and a bench for three in the back. The dashboard, on the other hand, showed its C3-roots with some plastic-covered areas that shouldn't be present in a premium vehicle. Unlike its main competitors, the DS3 Cabrio offered a big-enough trunk, fit for a day at the beach. Last but not least, the main advantage of a folding roof was that it could be operated while the vehicle moved at speeds of up to 75 mph (120 kph).

　　Citroen installed a choice of six turbocharged engines under the DS3's hood, ranging between 80 hp (82 PS) and 153 hp (155 PS), either gasoline or diesel. But unfortunately, the carmaker couldn't ditch the mundane underpinnings carried over from its lesser-equipped sibling, the C3.

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