Before its Paris Motor Show premiere in September, the new Cabrio version of the Citroen DS3 makes it internet debut as the French car maker reveals the first images and details of the fancy new car. The most interesting fact about the DS3, and the first thing you notice, is that it is still a hatchback – a hatchback with a foldable canvas roof. It’s kinda like the the Fiat 500C.

So it’s not a full-blooded cabriolet, but for light open-top motoring, it works. This concept allowed Citroen to maintain the DS3’s practicality and dynamism in the Cabrio version. Other advantages of this kind of roof include an increased weight of only 25 kg over the conventional hatchback, and the same soundproofing when the roof is closed.

The soft-top can be opened and closed electronically in just 16 seconds, even at motorway speed, and it has no effect on the car’s spaciousness inside or in the boot. But this being Citroen the roof gets its own styling details. You can have it in three colors: black, Infinite blue and a DS Monogrammed design.

The interior is as fancy as it can be in a small hatchback, with the  roof opening control located on a ceiling-mounted console with white LED ambient lighting. The Cabrio also gets all-new upholstery including Granit blue leather and Akinen weft available in Mistral (dark grey), Chic brown and Infinite blue. What’s more, decors on the dashboard strip, air vent surrounds and gear stick knob are also colour-coded to the body paint and soft-top. Six decors are available – grey, Brillant black, white, Carbotech, Infinite blue and Moondust grey.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio will launch in early 2013.