Thursday 30th September 2010

Paris: Citroen DS3 WRC

Wraps come off Seb's new company car

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This is the new Citroen DS3 WRC, unveiled to the public for the first time at the Paris show. Yes, it's pretty funky-looking but no, you can't buy one (not even if you're planning on creating your very own WRC team - we asked).

Now Citroen might not be the most super-exciting of marques (your humble scribbler had to stare at the brand-new C4 for a full five minutes before realising that it was, in fact, an all-new car). Even so, a brand-spanking contender for the WRC, where Citroen has reigned near-unbeatable for years (Sebastien Loeb is on the cusp of an incredible seventh consecutive world title) is pretty exciting stuff.

Monsieur Loeb's new wheels, like the new Mini Countryman WRC, have been designed to fit in with new leaner and cheaper WRC rules, which come into play for the start of the 2011 season.

That means simpler electronics and mechanicals, at the heart of which is a four-wheel drivetrain and a 1.6-litre turbocharged motor that should push out around 280-300bhp.

Unfortunately, the closest we're going to get is the limited-edition DS3 Racing - which will cost an eye-watering £23k and put out 207hp. If rallying's really your thing, though, there's always the front-wheel drive competition-spec DS3 R3...

[soad]

Can't decide...between those two.

[mightymouse]

soad said:

Can't decide...between those two.

Isn't there a third hiding in the shadows ??...........

[soad]

mightymouse said:

Isn't there a third hiding in the shadows ??...........

True true...there's a chap way back too.

But more interested in the closest thing eye catches first time round

[joz8968]

Great looking WRC machine.

Be'atches ain't too shabby either.

Edited by joz8968 on Thursday 30th September 14:14

[y2blade]

nice

[KennyGT]

Looks great. Cars not bad either. As a Mini owner it looks 100% better than the stupid horrible countryman wrc.

[Emeye]

Looks a bit generic to me, but maybe it's cos that bird is standing in the way of the only interesting design feature on the car - that B-pillar.

[vintageracer01]

With all the new rally cars with shorter wheelbases this might become quite an interesting WRC season.

[robsco]

I like this, nice to see Citroen injecting a little bit of pizzazz back into the brand. Only a little, mind. That said, the DS3 is an absolute hoot to drive.

[xkrGiles]

Nice to see you can buy a DS3R in the showroom to match the WRC credentials for a change. The C4 VTS was never a match for the WRC cars

[EDLT]

vintageracer01 said:

With all the new rally cars with shorter wheelbases this might become quite an interesting WRC season.

Loeb was interviewed on Dave's WRC program, he said the new car is much nervous than the C4. Fast, flowing rounds like Sweeden and Finland will be interesting.

[Mastodon2]

Citroen have always been behind in the rally to road field. Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford etc, all had great rally cars that filtered down into awesome road cars. The Citroen C4 VTS is a total wet blanket next to the likes of the Focus RS, Impreza WRX STi and the Lancer Evolution.

Loeb described this car as "nervous" compared to his C4. If anyone can master this thing then it will be him.

Also, he just won his 7th title didn't he?