Everyone loves a surprise, especially when it's a hot hatch shaped one like the new DS3 Racing. Set for a Geneva debut, the car is production ready and will be sold in a limited run of just 1,000 units.

It marks a stunning return to hot hatchery from a maker that lost its way in that respect some time ago, not producing a properly quick, exciting small car since the Saxo VTS.

The DS3 Racing will hit showrooms at the end of this year, and gets its lofty power output from a tuned version of the 1.6-litre THP turbocharged petrol engine already found elsewhere in the range. Torque goes up to 203lb.ft. A higher boosting turbo and remapped ECU does most of the work in extracting about 30 percent more power from the THP 150 engine.

Apart from the body kit and the orange bright-work (which we hope is optional), the DS3 Racing has a 30mm wider track front and rear, stiffer springs and dampers, and is lowered by 15mm. There's a carbon diffuser at the back too and a new tailpipe finisher and muffler.

The steering is sharpened up and stopping power is augmented with four-piston racing callipers at the front and vented discs all round. The ESP is slackened in standard mode, too, and it can even be turned of fully.

Inside the cabin, the thin bucket seats are finished in orange to match the outside, and carbon trim is swathed across the dash, door linings, steering wheel and armrests. We assume that's carbon 'effect' material, but Citroen's release is vague on that point.

There's no word on cost or performance figures yet, so we assume Citroen is withholding that so it's got something to say in Geneva. We'll be listening.

Mark Nichol - 19 Feb 2010