France is about to mount an invasion on Britain and Italy's domination of the overpriced premium supermini market with the car you see here - the Citroen DS3. Striking, isn't it?

What's remarkable about the production version is that it stays so close to the concept, which was unveiled in Geneva last March and looked startling. The problem was, it seemed so burdened by 'that'll never make production' style details that everyone thought the showroom iteration would be nothing like it. How wrong everyone was.

In fact, only two concept details get the chop: a conventional aerial replaces the concept's roof fin, and its wide bore exhaust gives way to dual tail pipes. Nice one, Citroen. Now, if only it drives as good as it looks, MINI and Fiat will be using their options lists to wipe beads of sweat from their furrowed brows. It's a Citroen though, so that's far from a given.

But for now let's revel in a genuinely aesthetic supermini. It's actually a little bigger than the MINI and Fiat 500, and though it's strictly a three-door car (based on the platform of the forthcoming C3) it should have more rear passenger space than its chief rivals. Our favourite design touches include a front bumper ostensibly inspired by the GTbyCitroen supercar, with its curvy strings of LEDs at either side fashioned to appear as air vents, and the 'shark fin' detailing where the B-pillars should be.

And with this being a premium product, 'personalisation' will be Citroen's marketing mantra for the DS3. Customers can choose from a host of contrasting roof colours and will have any number of body colour options, as well as the regulation raft of vinyl decals. Inside, no less than five gear levers can be chosen from, as well as a palette of differing hues for the dash. The classy looking gloss black of the centre stack gives the cockpit a real premium feel and there'll be a range of seat fabrics, including leather.

The DS3 will be a genuine step away from Citroen's 'pile 'em high' philosophy, so don't expect massive discounting - although the maker promises it will still undercut the MINI when it goes in sale in March after a Frankfurt debut next month.

A five-strong engine line-up kicks things off next year, comprising a pair of diesels and, obviously, a trio of petrol units. The base 1.6-litre oil burner will no doubt prove hugely popular on account of emitting only 99g/km of CO₂, making it tax exempt - though it boasts only 90bhp. A 110bhp version will have more shove but will still return in excess of 60mpg, we'll bet. Petrol-powered versions come in 95bhp, 120bhp and 150bhp guises, and we wouldn't be surprised if strong sales permit an even hotter version later, primed to take on the MINI Cooper S and Fiat 500 Abarth. That's pure dreaming on our part though. Either way, is Citroen finally back on form? We hope so...

Mark Nichol - 24 Aug 2009