Citroen has given its DS3 model a very fine hot hatch treatment and made a limited edition for this year’s Geneva Motor Show, called the DS3 Racing Edition. Developed by Citroen Racing department and backed by many WRC victories, the Racing DS3 comes with unique visual features and a hotted up engine, which is powerful of course, but not that racing-ish!
This car being a motorsport-derived model, the designer have used carbon fiber extensively to trim the car in a cool and exciting way. DS3’s dark grey body is tastefully contrasted with a vibrant, bright orange-coloured roof, side mirrors and brake callipers. The alloy wheels and front grille surround – with integrated chevrons – are finished in orange chrome. It also gets lower body trim and wing extensions, whilst large 18” alloy wheels, chrome door handles and even a chrome-finished exhaust complete the dynamic styling.
It’s all good and it definitely looks pretty now that it’s fresh, but it’s too fashionable and such cars depreciate as fast as they accelerate! Plus, how many people do you know who want a car with orange roof, mirrors and wheels?! So second hand market won’t be good either.
Inside the cabin, smart carbon trim adorns the dashboard, centre console, steering wheel embellisher, armrests and door side mouldings. The vibrant orange bodywork and decals continue into the cabin with the glossy strip of the dash, gear stick and gear stick surround finished in the same bright tone. The sporty, figure-hugging seats are also touched with orange elements and are embossed with ‘Citroën Racing’.
Now it’s time to take a look under the bonnet of the DS3 Racing to see how much of the racing pedigree actually exist here! Well, not much to be honest, it’s a turbo-charged 1.6-litre THP 150 engine, which is tuned from 156hp to 200 hp and 275 nm of torque. But they have done a good job stiffen up the car by giving it a wider track, stiffer, lower suspension and refined steering system, plus upgraded brakes and high performance sticky tires.
Citroen DS3 Racing Edition is limited to a 1000 units.
