What is it?
Citroen's 2011 contender for the World Rally Championship. This is Sebastien Loeb's new company car basically. A limited edition DS3 Racing will be sold to the public to celebrate its existence.
Why's it here?
The French firm has squeezed really rather a lot of power out of the 1.6-litre THP engine for the Racing model - 204bhp to be precise, along with a hearty 203lb.ft of torque. That adds up to 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 146mph - not bad at all for a diminutive hatch. Citroen also reckons that the DS3 Racing will dispatch a standing kilometre in 26.5 seconds - all while emitting only 149g/km of CO
2. Not bad at all.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Due to hit the gravel sideways next year, the WRC version features a 296bhp 1.6-litre turbo lump with the usual four-wheel drive and a six-speed sequential transmission. New regulations have meant that Citroen has had to cut down on the amount of lightweight materials it uses, so the competition will be very stiff indeed.
Full Paris Motor Show report
Jack Carfrae - 1 Oct 2010
