South Africans had to wait a while, but the hottest Citroën is finally here…
The standard DS3 1,6 THP, which offers a perky 115 kW and 240 N.m from its turbocharged petrol engine, hasn’t exactly set the hot-hatch world alight so, to remedy this, Citroën has launched the DS3 Racing. With the help of the Citroën Racing team, power delivery is up to 152 kW at 6 000 r/min and the 275 N.m of torque is delivered between 2 000 and 4 500 r/min. This helps the R to reach 100 km/h from standstill in a claimed 6,5 seconds before it tops out 235 km/h.
As can be seen from the pictures, the car has not only received a jump in power; the interior and exterior has gained some attention-grabbing changes, too. Exterior and interior parts are draped in a bright orange as well as chrome, while the DS3 R also boasts a rear diffuser, racing dials and sporty seats.
But it’s probably the mechanical and electronic changes that will interest most of us. To develop the additional power, the engine control unit (ECU) has been remapped while the exhaust system has been updated. The turbocharger has also been tailored for this specific engine and the steering system has been differently mapped and modified.
The braking system has been improved and now includes four-piston callipers and discs that are better suited for the job. To cope with the extra speed and cornering this little hot hatch will generate, the shock absorbers on all four corners have been adapted. Finally, the Racing sits 15 mm closer to the ground than the standard DS3 and the tracks front and rear are increased by 30 mm.
With only 10 units available in South Africa – from a total of 1 000 worldwide – be sure to take a cheque for an eye-watering R399 900 to your nearest Citroën dealer. This price at least includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty and four-year/60 000 km service plan.
