Citroen's MINI rival unveiled

Say bonjour to the newest MINI rival. The DS3 is the car French maker Citroen reckons has the goods to make MINI owners wave au revoir to their British superminis in favour of something with buckets of Gallic flair.

Citroen is not known for its ability to mix it with the premium makers (although the new C5 saloon was a step in the right direction), but it's convinced that the DS3 has the style and quality to do just that. As you can see, the newcomer seems to be starting on the right foot in the looks department, as Citroen has kept the production DS3 remarkably close to the concept displayed in Geneva last March.

Set to be unveiled at Frankfurt next month, the DS3 has a host of neat design touches that set it apart from regular Citroens, including the 'shark fin' pillar between the front and rear side windows, the chunky front bumper incorporating a wide 'mouth' flanked by fog lights and prominent air intakes, and the contrasting coloured roof. It's a look that's more aggressive than both the MINI and the cutesy Fiat 500.

Citroen will offer the DS3 with a myriad of lucrative customisation options - the same sort of thing offered by its two chief rivals - including an extensive range of colours for the body, roof and door mirrors, and external graphics. Inside will be the same, with various colour options for the dash, and even a range of five different gear levers.

There's no word on pricing yet, but we expect it will cost a good chink more than the new C3 on which it's based, as Citroen tries to establish it as a true quality alternative. Five engines will be available when it goes on sale in March: two 1.6-litre diesels with 90bhp and 110bhp, and three petrol engines with 95bhp, 120bhp or 150bhp. The low powered diesel will emit just 99g/km of CO₂ too, exempting it from road tax.

Mark Nichol