REVOLTe ...

Citroen has been busy readying three forward-looking electric cars to show here at Frankfurt. One of them really does look far into the future…

The REVOLTe is an electric concept, showing a city car application of rechargeable electric-hybrid technology. Citroen reckons it can offer zero-emissions electric-only running, plus very low fuel consumption when the engine is running. It's not quite ready - the challenge is getting costs low enough for small car buyers - but it's an exciting study.

Design wise, it's far out, and harks back to the original 2CV. And, get this: in Citroen's own words, whereas that car was 'slow and bouncy', this is 'lively and spirited'. It has rear-hinged doors, an extreme three-seater interior and, just maybe, points to a second future production line for the DS range?

The first - the DS3 - is now on display as a fully productionised car. This represents the first of an upmarket, boutique range of Citroëns, with the DS3 aimed firmly at buyers of the MINI. Anyone who thought BMW had this sector tied up has only to look at how successful Fiat has been with the 500 to know that the market is still wide open.

But the DS3 will be more expensive than the Fiat, and the craftsmanship and sheer amount of interesting detail displayed on here in Frankfurt will, in our eyes, do a power of good for the whole Citroën range. The cabin really does feel top dollar. Not that it has been holding back in other areas.