What is it?
Having turned the DS3 into a MINI Cooper S competitor the Citroen Racing engineers (the team responsible for the rally cars of a certain Mr. Loeb) were let loose on the DS4 with surprising results. The specially developed turbocharged 1.6-litre engine puts out 260hp making it not only the most powerful 1.6 in the world but also the most powerful road car Citroen has produced. Changes are not just limited to the engine with the engineers getting busy with the suspension (dropped by 35mm) the track (wider by up to 75mm) and special textured matt grey paint.
Why's it here?
Citroen is calling the DS4 Racing a concept but it also did so with the DS3 R and that car made it to production. We fully expect to see the DS4 R do so too although whether it will offer the full 260hp (a figure matched by the Mégane RS, Leon Cupra R and Golf R with 2.0-litre engines) remains to be seen.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Hot hatches will always draw a crowd at motor shows although we would imagine the majority of people will be queuing up to ask the Citroen Racing engineers exactly how they coaxed 260hp out of a 1.6-litre engine.
Paul Healy - 6 Mar 2012
