We review the Citroen DS3 Cabriolet Racing from price to economy and all its features

HATS off to Citroen.

Launching a sub-brand DS raised eyebrows four years ago — many said it wouldn’t work.

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Top down ... Miss Scotland Ellie gets her tiara in the Cabriolet Racing

Well, 450,000 sales later, the answer has been emphatic. The DS3 supermini was an instant hit, followed by the DS4 and DS5.

Citroen is also injecting classic French chic into other areas, including a new C4 Cactus crossover which they officially launched this week in Amsterdam.

But we’ve just had a first drive in Scotland of the Cabriolet Racing — arguably the ultimate DS3. They will build just 200, with only 10 coming to the UK.

The big question? Is there room in the back for our Queen Ellie to wear her Miss Scotland crown and outdo the real Queen Lizzie who couldn’t get room in the French presidential C6. It’s got a right royal price of £29,305 so it had better be the king of cabriolets.

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Bit of a looker ... Citroen DS3 Cabriolet Racing

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It’s a proper head-turner thanks to hardcore styling. Some DS3s can look a bit girly, this is much meaner. It gets swathes of carbonfibre add-ons, a matte paint finish, gloss black 18in alloys alloy and a rear diffuser, not to mention lowered suspension.

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DRIVE TIME

It goes like chic off a shovel. The Racing boasts a more potent 1.6litre turbo engine with 204bhp which, even with the added weight of the roof mechanism, still delivers 62mph in 6.5 seconds and goes up to 146mph.

There’s something quite rebellious about the Racing. Whack down the right foot and the front wheels feel almost too eager to get away from the chassis. Equally, you need to manhandle the steering wheel on country lanes. It’s hardcore, to the core.

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Head-turner ... Ellie poses in the stunning DS3 Cabriolet

INSIDE STORY

The interior is one of the DS3’s biggest attributes and the Racing turns it up a notch further.

You get more of that matte-grey paint finish and there are plenty of carbon fibre-effect flourishes. The Alcantara-trimmed sports seats look good with the Citroen Racing logo on the head rests. The fabric hood gives you open-air motoring without extending all the way back. It can be operated at speeds of up to 74mph, too, which is useful given the unpredictable Scottish weather.

That means there’s so little room in the back, even for my youngest kids of eight and five. And the big question for Miss Scotland Ellie getting her crown in... no chance, it’s far too cramped.

But thankfully because this is a cabriolet, with the roof back, the crown was able to be worn. So, Francois Hollande — get a DS3 Cabriolet for the Queen next time!