The cabriolet version of the Citroen DS3 that will be seen at the upcoming Paris Motor Show will feature a roll-back fabric roof rather than a conventional electric folding cloth top. The new roof is the same one used on the Fiat 500C. Last July, DS3 Cabriolets were spied while being loaded on a car transporter. This exclusive image is indicative of how the production car will appear, according to the pictures and from sources inside Citroen. The supermini’s roof bars are kept in place while the roof mechanism will concertina back and is positioned above the tailgate. This suggests that the windows will remain where they are and its main body structure won’t need to get major modifications.
However, there will be a new rear window. Because of this, the DS3 doesn’t have to experience the dreaded weight increase of a cabriolet. It’s likely to be cheaper to build as well as to buy, says Autocar.
From these spy images, we see that it is equipped with 17-inch alloys and twin exhausts, demonstrating that the cabriolet will be available in DS3 Sport trim and will be powered by a 148bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine. The automaker will also offer a more efficient version that uses the current 108bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine. The DS3 Cabriolet will arrive at showrooms in 2013. It will probably be priced at about £2,000 higher than the equivalent hatch, which means that it will be priced from about £17,000 for a 1.6 DStyle.
