Citroën DS3 Racing Restores Mojo (w/video)

Chris — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:16:05 +0000

French manufacturers Citroën and Peugeot have both lost their way when it comes to making quality hot hatches, but with the unveiling of the new DS3 Racing it would appear that Citroën may have recovered some of their mojo.

The standard 150bhp DS3 DSport hatch is a funky looking Mini alternative but lacks the performance to trouble many performance hatchbacks, but that’s set to change with a tuned version of the 1.6-litre THP engine under the bonnet. Now with 200bhp at its disposal the DS3 Racing is ready to go chasing the 175bhp Mini Cooper S and John Cooper Works (that both share the same basic engine) and will give the upcoming Audi A1 a run for its money.

Unveiled at Geneva, the Citroën DS3 Racing will appear in the second half of 2010 and will be limited to a run of just 1000 units. This isn’t just a cosmetically enhanced model either, there are a lot of mechanical changes to the car to enhance power and improve handling.

The engine has been reworked to improve power by almost 30% over the standard unit, with torque up 15% to 275Nm. This is thanks to some new powertrain components, a reworked turbo and an ECU upgrade. Sadly there’s no word on the actual performance figures for the DS3 Racing, but rest assured it’ll be pretty fast.

A quicker steering rack promises improved steering response, while frot and rear shocks have been tuned to cope with the extra power. Stiffer springs are used, resulting in a drop of 15mm in ride height, while both front and rear track are increased by 30mm to improve stability.

The braking system has also been upgraded to ensure control over the car’s additional horsepower. The front wheels get 4-piston racing callipers and special disc-brakes, while the rear wheels gwet new drilled discs. On top of that, the ESP has been adapted to complement the sportier handling and improve control, but can be disengaged according to your preferred driving style.

The plan is for production Citroën DS3 Racing editions to be finished in a special workshop and fitted with a parts kit developed according to Citroën Racing specifications, in a similar way to how Abarth fit the Esseesse kits to their cars. But will Citroën ship the parts in a special wooden crate and allow you to take it home with you?

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Citroën DS3 Racing Restores Mojo (w/video) is a post from Driving Spirit. Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Citroën Confirm WRC for 2010/2011

Chris — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:08:11 +0000

Citroën have just confirmed that they’re willing to continue competing in the FIA World Rally Championship for the next two years.

The fact that they’ve had huge success and tons of publicity will no doubt have played some part in that decision. Citroën have a total of four manufacturers’ titles, five drivers’ world championships and 58 victories to their name, and they’re currently leading the 2009 manufacturers’ championship.

“In the current tricky financial climate, it is important to keep on expressing ourselves through motorsport and through the victories of our teams and cars. The FIA World Rally Championship, where the costs remain contained, is an excellent promotional vehicle. Citroën Racing is delighted by the trust that has been placed in us by Citroën’s board of directors and the PSA Group.

“We are currently working with our existing driver line-up to renew their contracts. I am confident that Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo will be continuing their adventure with Citroën Racing into the future.” - Olivier Quesnel, Director of Citroën Racing

So Citroën are set to continue rallying, but will we ever see a proper rally-inspired C4 in the showrooms? The VTS doesn’t cut it as a hot hatch, what we need is for Citroën to give us something with 250bhp+ and a wide body kit, a bit like the Focus RS. Come on, you can do it!

Citroën Confirm WRC for 2010/2011 is a post from Driving Spirit. Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Driving Spirit » Citroen

Citroën DS3 Racing Restores Mojo (w/video)

Citroën Confirm WRC for 2010/2011