Wednesday 27th January 2010

Hot 200hp Citroen DS3 R3 Is Go

Rally-inspired name and big numbers for new Citroen hot hatch

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It looks like the hot hatch version of the new Citroen DS3 has been given the green light.

According to PH's network of spies within Citroen, the French marque's return to the hot hatch market will be aimed squarely at the Clio Renaultsport and will come armed with a 200hp power output.

As we predicted when we first revealed Citroen's plans for a hot DS3 range-topper last week, it is also likely to be called the DS3 R3, after the class of rally car of the same name.

The DS3 R3 is slated for production sometime in 2011. There's no word on prices as yet but, considering the DS3 range currently tops out at the £15,900 THP 150 DSport we drove earlier this week, the R3 is likely to cost north of that, probably somewhere close to the £17.5k that Renault asks for its hot Clio.

[zakelwe]

So this, the Fiat Evo Abarth and the new Polo GTi will all be pitching at the Clio's crown for the small hot hatchback with about 200bhp.

Can't wait.

Andy

[thewheelman]

I just can't seem to like any of the design features on this car,also as it's a Citroen it'll depreciate fast which means the chavs will probably get their hands on them just like they did with the Saxo. I'm not in the market for a small hot hatch,if i was i'd hope Ford actually bring out the Fiesta RS,until then i think the Clio is king.

[Sir_Dave]

Are you seriously trying to tell me that hand on heart, you think that cheap hot citroens are all owned by chavs. But cheap hot Fords & renaults arent.

Okay.

So the xr2i, xr3i, rs turbo & the latest 'asbo' are all high class?
And the newer Renault 1*2's arent slowly but surely being purchased by neds.

Trust me, i've used Cliosport.net for 4 years ...

[thewheelman]

Sir_Dave said:

Are you seriously trying to tell me that hand on heart, you think that cheap hot citroens are all owned by chavs. But cheap hot Fords & renaults arent.

Okay.

So the xr2i, xr3i, rs turbo & the latest 'asbo' are all high class?
And the newer Renault 1*2's arent slowly but surely being purchased by neds.

Trust me, i've used Cliosport.net for 4 years ...

You are right,chavs seem to get their hands on all sorts of cars. I'm just commenting from what i've seen that a high percentage of Saxo VTR's & VTS's are owned by them.

[CampDavid]

thewheelman said:

I just can't seem to like any of the design features on this car,also as it's a Citroen it'll depreciate fast which means the chavs will probably get their hands on them just like they did with the Saxo. I'm not in the market for a small hot hatch,if i was i'd hope Ford actually bring out the Fiesta RS,until then i think the Clio is king.

Why do you have "I hate car snobs" in your profile?

This should be a half decent car. Just depends if they can get it to handle properly. After the Saxo they've not really managed to make a decent handling car.

Odd isn't it that Peugeot say there is no future for the hot hatch with sister company Citroen going all out to create one. Left hand doesn''t know what the right one's doing...

[10 Pence Short]

thewheelman said:

Sir_Dave said:

Are you seriously trying to tell me that hand on heart, you think that cheap hot citroens are all owned by chavs. But cheap hot Fords & renaults arent.

Okay.

So the xr2i, xr3i, rs turbo & the latest 'asbo' are all high class?
And the newer Renault 1*2's arent slowly but surely being purchased by neds.

Trust me, i've used Cliosport.net for 4 years ...

You are right,chavs seem to get their hands on all sorts of cars. I'm just commenting from what i've seen that a high percentage of Saxo VTR's & VTS's are owned by them.

It would more than likely be down to the large availability, cheap purchase price and not-to-stupid insurance that made the VTR stand out as the chariot of choice for the discerning ned. Add to that the fact it looked nigh on identical to the VTS.

There's no reason this hot hatch would be like that, assuming the price, spec and supply is all lept reasonable.

[thewheelman]

CampDavid said:

thewheelman said:

I just can't seem to like any of the design features on this car,also as it's a Citroen it'll depreciate fast which means the chavs will probably get their hands on them just like they did with the Saxo. I'm not in the market for a small hot hatch,if i was i'd hope Ford actually bring out the Fiesta RS,until then i think the Clio is king.

Why do you have "I hate car snobs" in your profile?

This should be a half decent car. Just depends if they can get it to handle properly. After the Saxo they've not really managed to make a decent handling car.

Odd isn't it that Peugeot say there is no future for the hot hatch with sister company Citroen going all out to create one. Left hand doesn''t know what the right one's doing...

It has nothing to do with snobbery,my main point is that regardless of who makes this car i just don't like the design. And personally i prefer the look of the Clio & the renderings of the Fiesta RS.

[TomPenny]

It's going to have to be something very special to push the 200, especially at that price!

We've still got the Clio Gordini to come as well so this DS3 is going to have some hot competition. The new polo gti looks very tasty as well.

Should be seeing some great hatches on the market in the next couple of years.

[adycav]

I'm glad that there's lots of small, fast, cheapish, frugal cars coming out. It makes sense in this day and age.

[LuS1fer]

I doubt R3 means anytghing to 99.9% of the population and DS3 R3 is about as catchy as a Leonard Cohen dirge.

Why have all these cars got trigger's broom/Hitler's moustache on the front?

What happened to style and beauty?

[GR33NIE]

Think I'd prefer a Clio myself for that money, waiting on the Polo GTI too. Surely that will be the best in terms of build quality but I bet it comes at a cost

[soad]

adycav said:

I'm glad that there's lots of small, fast, cheapish, frugal cars coming out. It makes sense in this day and age.

Damn right, well said. Buyers will have even more choice, which is a good thing.

I'll take one in rally red (to remind me of Monsieur Loeb).

[JamesAsh]

Blah blah blah...too heavy...blah blah...no steering feel...blah blah...way too much safety equipment...blah blah

It's just getting too easy, isn't it?

Completely agree on the Saxo points above - most driven by complete idiots - funny how their numbers on the road have dwindled even faster than Citroen build quality could kill them....i.e. they've all been CRASHED by the oafs who thought they were untouchable.

That's why I bought a 106 GTi - possibly the ultimate Q-car. Looked like a shopping trolley, but could stick with a 911 if you knew the road well enough!

[Emubiker]

Yea a red one would look nice. I think someone else in the original thread said they only look good in bold colours, and i agree it doesnt look good in grey.
Now just need peugeot to re-think their hot hatch strategy. "There is no market for a GTi" may be a little off me thinks...

[TU Tuning]

Ah, the old 106 GTi / Saxo VTS mindset. Its hilarious seeing how many people particularly on forums actually think the 106 is a much better car, although they can never say why... Even Jezza said the GTi was better on top gear years back. Apparently the box on the Saxo was geared to get the best 0-60 time in second, the GTi was a better drivers car... the boxes are exactly the same, just like everything else (bar the rear ARB on some units for the anal). Gotta love mindless uninformed stereotyping .

Either way, PSA have been well off form for a while now I really hope they can bring it back with this one. This is Citroens first leap into blown petrol hatchback territory too. Personally I wish them the best of luck but doubt they can beat Renaultsport

Edited by TU Tuning on Wednesday 27th January 12:44

[Riggers]

soad said:

adycav said:

I'm glad that there's lots of small, fast, cheapish, frugal cars coming out. It makes sense in this day and age.

Damn right, well said. Buyers will have even more choice, which is a good thing.

I'll take one in rally red (to remind me of Monsieur Loeb).

Or Mr Raikkonen??

Agree with the small fast hatch thing - Golf-sized hot hatches are just that little bit too big for my tastes

[wab172uk]

This is good news. The more Hot Hatches the better.

If I was in the market for a Hot Hatch, I'd be more inclined to go Light weight 200bhp, rather than 1500kg 300bhp cars like the Focus RS.

[ross-co]

JamesAsh said:

Completely agree on the Saxo points above - most driven by complete idiots - funny how their numbers on the road have dwindled even faster than Citroen build quality could kill them....i.e. they've all been CRASHED by the oafs who thought they were untouchable.

That's why I bought a 106 GTi - possibly the ultimate Q-car. Looked like a shopping trolley, but could stick with a 911 if you knew the road well enough!

A Saxo VTS and a 106 GTI are not exactly a million miles apart are they? I would be hard pushed to call them a mile apart.

[Atrophy]

adycav said:

I'm glad that there's lots of small, fast, cheapish, frugal cars coming out. It makes sense in this day and age.

yes, there is no place these days for big bulky cars with engines bigger than them (apart from the race track) More hot hatches are needed!!

[TU Tuning]

Really, havent heard that before I thought they were all 19mm? Worked on more than I can count but cant say Ive ever measured the T bars . If they were increased in size the springs and dampers would need to be amended also which I wasnt aware of?

Edited by TU Tuning on Wednesday 27th January 12:55