Henry Ford famously offered the Model T painted in any colour you wanted as long as it was black.
The remark was probably playful, as in fact Model Ts were offered in a choice of colour early in the car's lifetime, and it was only later, when Ford was cutting costs on a quick-moving assembly line, that he switched to using a type of fast-drying paint that was only then available in black.
Even readers of a certain age will recall when new cars came in red, white, blue and black, with a few other choices, and if you were pushing the boat out, silver.
How times have changed. Fashion, rather than function, now firmly rules the roost, especially in the high-style world of the refined 21st-century supermini,
The stylish DS 3 Cabrio tested here sashayed in in shimmering Whisper Purple with a 'Topaz Monogram' roof and Parisian scenes etched on the rear windows and dashboard. Unnecessary? Certainly. Entertaining? Definitely. Successful? Without a doubt.
Since the French rival to the Oxford-built Mini was launched six years ago, about 400,000 have been sold worldwide.
The attraction of the five-seater car is obvious, blending distinctive personality, unique styling, driving pleasure and leading-edge technology.
Inside, the beautifully-crafted leather-trimmed cabin is dominated by a seven-inch colour touchscreen, that gives simpler access to all of the main vehicle functions, removing no fewer than 20 buttons from the central fascia. It also houses Mirror Screen, linking smartphones to the car with either Apple CarPlay or MirrorLink. Drivers can use Apple CarPlay to intuitively make calls, consult maps, and listen to music and check messages, either by using the Siri voice recognition technology or via the touchscreen.
Optional packs include a system that makes automatic emergency and assistance calls; a virtual maintenance manual that automatically monitors mileage and upcoming services; a mapping system that lets you find where your car is parked and a tracking pack that transmits the car's position to police if it is stolen.
All versions are now equipped with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, with visual guide lines on the seven-inch screen.
Outside, there is a liberal use of chrome and even the headlights have a gem-like quality, combining LED and Xenon technology, with sequential LED indicators and new LED fog lamps.
Most DS 3 buyers will probably not be that concerned about what goes on under the bonnet but it is here that some of the biggest advances have been made.
The test model was powered by a distinctive-sounding, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. While only having a capacity of 1.2 litres, the so-called Pure Tech engine develops 130 horsepower, which puts it on a par with the output of a standard 1.6-litre engine.
In a nutshell, this ingenious power plant gives the punch of a much bigger engine with improved economy and lower emissions.
The boot is a decent size, though access is limited by a narrow letterbox opening and the roof can be opened and closed at up to 70mph.
With 78 body/roof combinations and options available for rear-view mirror housings, dashboard and gear knob, no fewer than ten roof decals for the hatchback and a choice of four fabric roofs on the cabriolet, not to mention interior trim, DS says that there are now more than three million personalisation options. So the chance of seeing two identical DS 3 cars on the road is remote.
And that individuality is obviously a huge appeal to UK drivers, as more DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio models were sold here last year than in France, or any other global market.


Auto facts
Model: DS 3 Cabrio Prestige PureTech 130
Price: £21,095
Insurance group: 26
Fuel consumption (Combined): 62.8mpg
Top speed: 126mph
Length: 394.8cm/155.4in
Width: 171.5cm/67.5in
Luggage capacity: 8.6 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/50 litres
CO2 emissions: 105g/km
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles