200-HP Citroen DS3 Racing

Take that, John Cooper Works Mini Coopers! Or maybe not. Citroen doesn't say that their 200-HP Citroen DS3 Racing was built to directly go up against the hottest hatch in the Mini line up, but I (for one) would like to see them duke it out on the track. (No, not the street. I don't condone excess amounts of speed on the street. Nope. Not me. (Then again, "excess" is a qualitative term.).)

Anyway, it seems that although Citroen intends for the DS3 to be a road car, that didn't stop them from asking the company's racing department – the same outfit that fashioned so many nasty-quick WRC-winning rally cars – to create a hotter version of the little hatchback. And so, the DS3 Racing was born.

Sadly, only 1,000 examples of the hot DS3 Racing will be manufactured when production begins in the second half of 2010. But I can understand this. Special model, don't want too many of them running around out there, too much of a good thing and all of that. OK, got it.

Anyway, all 1000 of the Citroen DS3 Racings will be propelled by a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four that has its boost upped from 156 horsepower to a full 200 hp. Given the size and weight and size of the Citroen DS3, that should be the right amount.

Yes, that's a healthy amount of power for a front-wheel drive car, so the motorsports guys have given the suspension and steering a serious working over. They've added more robust springs and dampers and they've also thrown in a new wheel and tire package. This ends up lowering the car by 15 millimeters and has extended the track by 30 mm. Stopping is accomplished by four pot calipers on the front end.

It looks like Citroen has added the standard assortment of carbon-finished bits and bobs on the bumpers, wheel arches and rocker panels. They've also added DS3 Racing graphics to the car as well. Not sure if its actual carbon fiber pieces here and there on the DS3 Racing since Citroen didn't specify, but it looks like it at least.

On the inside, the stock front chairs have been traded out in preference of more heavily bolstered buckets so you won't get all slopped around like rag doll when fully exploiting the handiwork of the rally team's mods.

Source: AutoBlog