The French car manufacturers continue their ‘designer collaborations’ by teaming up with Irish designer Orla Kiely in their latest exclusive collection.

With only 500 cars being made worldwide, this new collaboration is set to re-awaken the hype that surrounded the DS3 when it was first unveiled in 2009. The DS3 was advertised as an updated version of the Citroën C3, but was aimed at a more premium market. The big selling point is the bespoke customisation that gives buyers a choice of colours for the roof, mirrors, dashboard and wheel hubs. It is also compact and stylish, rivaling vehicles like the MINI and the Audi A1.

The Orla Kiely collection is made up of 4 different models and follows successful designs from Kenzo and Yves Saint Laurent. Each edition is painted in 1 of 4 different colours with 4 different roof designs, featuring Kiely’s signature stem or acorn design. This theme is also repeated in the interior and on the rear tailgate. A focal point of the design is the contrasting mirror shells and 17-inch alloys that come in either white or black. Inside the car, the leather seats also continue the theme with Orla Kiely designs embossed on multi-coloured headrests, stem or acorn print carpet mats, brightly coloured dashboards and door handles in either cream or brown. The car is also complete with Bluetooth and USB technology.

Kiely is a London-based designer who is world-famous for her graphic prints and kitsch patterns. She produces Ready-To-Wear collections, homeware, furnishings, luggage and accessories, appealing to an extensive market. Orla has described her collaboration with Citroën as “such an exciting project as it is so different from all my previous work. I love the designs we’ve created and the way they’re incorporated into the car.”

The Citroën DS3 by Orla Kiely collection goes on sale from 1^st February 2011 and will be priced from £16,000.

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