The Open-Top DS3: Finally Arriving in Japan | Citroën

Citroen DS3 Cabrio | CITROEN DS3 CABRIO

The Open-Top DS3: Finally Arriving in Japan

Paris Motor Show 2012atmade its debut,and on OPENERS,we reported on our overseas test drive.The Citroen "DS3 Cabrio" is finally landing in Japan. Sales will begin on July 5th.

Text by OTSUKI Takuma (OPENERS)Photographs by ABE Masaya

The Open-Top DS3

The Citroen "DS3 Cabrio," which debuted at the Paris Motor Show 2012 in September 2012, will finally go on sale in Japan starting July 5th. The model being introduced is the "DS3 Cabrio Sport Chic," based on the "Sport Chic" trim.

This DS3 Cabrio, despite its open-top body,hatchback modelmaintains the same silhouette as the hatchback model. The electric soft top slides along the roofline, offering two initial configurations: a "semi-open" where only the upper part of the roof opens, and a "full-open" where the entire rear section, including the rear window, folds back. Additionally, the roof can be stopped at any desired position independently. The weight increase due to this open-top conversion is reportedly a mere 20kg compared to the hatchback body.

The soft top utilizes a rigid three-layer construction of acrylic, rubber, and polyester. According to Citroen, this ensures that when the roof is closed, the sound insulation is comparable to that of the closed-body DS3.

Furthermore, it can be opened or closed at speeds up to 120 km/h. The operation takes just 16 seconds for both opening and closing.

There are four body color options. One of these is a two-tone combination of white "Blanc Banquise," the same color used in the recently released limited edition "DS3 Ultra Marine", and a deep blue "Bleu Infini." The interior and seat colors are also blue. However, as a made-to-order model, a combination of silver "Gris Moon Dust," a "DS Monogram" soft top, and black "Mistral" seats is available as an alternative to the "Bleu Infini." For the "Noir Perla Nera" (black pearl) body color, this combination comes standard, while the blue soft top and interior, which were standard on the "Blanc Banquise" model, can be selected for made-to-order versions.

The yellow "Jaune Pégase" and red "Rouge Rubis" variants both feature black soft tops, interiors, and seats, with a carbon-fiber-look dashboard called "Carbotech."

All models are equipped with the distinctive "3D LED Combination Lamps" with a sense of depth, previously seen on the "Ultra Marine" edition.

The interior is advertised as offering class-leading space for an open-top car in this segment, with seating for up to five adults even when fully open. The trunk also boasts a class-leading capacity of 230 liters, thanks to clever packaging of the soft top storage.

The 1.6-liter four-cylinder twin-scroll turbo engine is the same as that found in the "DS3 Sport Chic," delivering a maximum output of 115 kW (156 hp) at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 240 Nm (24.5 kgm) between 1,400 and 3,500 rpm. It is paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Sales begin on July 5th. The price is 3.11 million yen.