With the dead-even result of our July 2010 comparative test between the Citroën DS3 and Mini Cooper S, all eyes have now turned to the arrival of Audi’s A1 to break the tie. Well forget the four-ringed boutique hatch from Ingolstadt for just a bit, because Citroën’s motorsports division’s unleashed the DS3 Racing.
While other manufacturers have made full use of their motorsport successes in marketing road-legal products, Citroën has been fairly modest despite winning five constructors’ titles in the World Rally Championship – and leading the current season by a significant margin. With the French manufacturers new product line-up that promises to excite, Citroen Racing’s lent a hand to grant the DS3 a touch more sporting prowess.
On top of the already-extensive options list of a regular DS3, these pictures show the DS3 Racing in special livery – boasting unique decals and chequered flag motif on the roof and in front of the rear wheelarches. The standout feature is a strong contrast in the colour of certain features, which on the car pictured includes a roof, alloys, side mirrors and grille all finished in a retina-searing orange. Carbon trim and chrome finishes round off the exterior charm.
The DS3 Racing employs a tuned version of the turbocharged 1,6-litre four-cylinder unit used by PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW. By tweaking the ECU and turbo characteristics, and employing a racier exhaust, peak power has increased from 115 kW to 152 kW at 6 000 r/min, and maximum torque has been bumped up to 275 N.m (available from 2 000 to 4 500 r/min) from 240 N.m.
Mated with a six-speed manual gearbox, this powerplant propels the DS3 Racing to 100 km/h from zero in a claimed 6,5 seconds and on to a kilometre in 26,5 seconds.
The engine enhancement is only half the job though. To make it a true Mini JCW challenger, go-kart-like handling characteristics had to be ticked off on the engineers’ to-do list as well, so the DS3 Racing gained significant enhancements to help it stick to the asphalt.
Steering response has been improved, with modified control system to handle the larger wheels and tyres (215/40 R18), stiffer springs with specially-adapted front and rear shock absorbers as well as widened front and rear tracks. The uprated brake system now features 4-piston racing calipers with new discs up front and drilled discs at the rear.
Inside, carbon trim is featured extensively, on the facia, centre console, steering wheel spokes, and door panels. The exterior colour contrast is continued in the cabin with a glossy orange strip on the facia, as well as on the gear lever and on the form-fitting sport seats.
It’s not yet know how many (if any) of this limited edition model will find its way to the local market, but two things are certain – Citroën loyalists are going to snatch it up as soon as is possible, and the Cooper S JCW had better watch its back.
Click here to watch a video of this new hot hatch in action.
