Tuesday 6th March 2012

Geneva 2012: Citroen DS4 Racing

Citroen's hot hatch concept tempts with 260hp from 1.6 litres

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This is the new Citroen DS4 racing concept, unveiled at the Geneva motor show today, and it's likely to spawn a production version.

Power for Citroen's DS4R super-hatch comes from a 1.6-litre turbo four and gives 260hp. That's an impressive 160hp per litre and has caused certain sections of the French media to crow patriotically that this comfortably outpunches the 211hp that BMW Mini have managed to get from the engine (PSA and BMW jointly developed the motor).

Citroen also claims an eco-friendly 155g/km of CO2.

As well as matt paint and chunky 19-inch wheels, the DS4 Racing is distinguished from its lesser brethren by a carbon fibre air diffuser, front splitter and wheel arch extensions. Underneath it's also got suspension that's 35mm lower, has a track that's 55mm wider at the front and 75mm at the rear, and has been fitted with.

At last, some proper hot hatchery from the company that has dominated rallying for the past decade... so fingers crossed for the production version.

[anonymous-user]

Looks quite good, though a bit tall! Certainly a bit different from the other hot hatches.

[Dave Hedgehog]

kinda funky

[ZOLLAR]

I like it, one of a few cars that look good with a Matte finish.

[kambites]

That paint is horrible.

Impressive stats from the engine, though. I wonder if that's really production ready with those numbers.

[RevOne]

Best looking hot hatch in recent times (IMO). Now where is the four wheel drive so it can actually go rallying....?

[EviLScooB]

I love it but its French so I just can't buy one, on that not I am inspired by 260bhp from a 1.6 but will you get a full life as it must be stressed to high heavens!!!

[TaylotS2K]

RevOne said:

Best looking hot hatch in recent times (IMO). Now where is the four wheel drive so it can actually go rallying....?

I think I agree with you. Great looking car imo.

[Krikkit]

Citroen have completely missed the game here - with such enormous rally victories a 4wd hatch of the C4 should've been out years ago, and it would've sold bloody well.

[V8mate]

Heart says buy this. Head says buy the RS Megane.

[Dr Interceptor]

Excellent power figures... possibly hints at what MINI will offer when they do a GP version of the current lineup.

[Dr Interceptor]

Oh, and can someone finish the article please??

pistonheads article said:

As well as matt paint and chunky 19-inch wheels, the DS4 Racing is distinguished from its lesser brethren by a carbon fibre air diffuser, front splitter and wheel arch extensions. Underneath it's also got suspension that's 35mm lower, has a track that's 55mm wider at the front and 75mm at the rear, and has been fitted with.

Fitted with what?

[V8mate]

Dr Interceptor said:

Oh, and can someone finish the article please??

pistonheads article said:

As well as matt paint and chunky 19-inch wheels, the DS4 Racing is distinguished from its lesser brethren by a carbon fibre air diffuser, front splitter and wheel arch extensions. Underneath it's also got suspension that's 35mm lower, has a track that's 55mm wider at the front and 75mm at the rear, and has been fitted with.

Fitted with what?

A little je ne sais quoi, of course!

[IAJO]

and fitted with...

seb loeb in the drivers seat
four wheel drive
an ejector seat
a personality like kitt from knightrider

[re33]

EviLScooB said:

I love it but its French so I just can't buy one, on that not I am inspired by 260bhp from a 1.6 but will you get a full life as it must be stressed to high heavens!!!

Eh? 260bhp from 1.6 turbo petrol is not impressive in any way! Only impressive figures are the low CO2/ high MPG. Its only been about 15 years (more?) since Subaru had a production 300bhp 2L turbo. If block can take the cylinder pressures the only limit on your power in a turbo engine is the size of the intercooler and how much lag you are prepared to put up with (based on increasing turbo size). Add in multiple turbos and lag problem can be reduced.

[stuckmojo]

I think it looks good, with the exception of the fact that it's bloody huge. I've seen one on the road yesterday (the standard DS4) and it was the size of a transatlantic.

[Kong]

Looks good, much better than the new Astra VXR

[MrTappets]

That's one heck of a big bottom. Probably looks better in the metal.

[hiscocks]

Not sure if wide angle lens perspective is making it look fatter/taller than it would in the flesh.

[V8mate]

MrTappets said:

That's one heck of a big bottom.

Like that's ever a bad thing

[TobesH]

Nope, not for me, don't like it...