The rise of floating roofs
![Citroen DS3 Citroen DS3](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Pe2QZR_KoWPo01GPHqqrRKNhIKWDmeJITwINAoPSyuafPJJ1DtfapgEKs7Fm5jk9u6rmo7kyGs9GK2foDW-t_T0FHpqWN-BBi4NCHETxw7fj70O8hB36-9KcnKenE8srQhVwbYkzE3O2/s660/citroen-ds3-floating-roof.jpg)
Cars with contrasting roofs have become big business. This article for Car Design News looked at the trend and its adoption by three modern brands in particular: Mini, Range Rover and Citroën.
All three have a strong connection with contrast coloured or floating roofs in the past. The original Austin Cooper variant of the Mini was sold with a two-tone paint scheme in the early 1960s. The first Range Rover featured a bolt-on roof and its rear pillars were covered with vinyl from 1973, leading to a the familiar floating roof look. And similarly the early Citroën DS19 was produced with a fibreglass roof panel painted a different colour to the rest of the bodywork.
The story included some explanation from Citroën designer Andy Cowell about why a contrasting roof is such a useful design feature.