Citroen DS3 GT and GS3 Racing supermini

[mikeyb]

GT version of bold new Citroen is getting ready to turn up the temperature in the hot hatch class.

Feast your eyes on the model that’s set to put Citroen back at the top of the hot hatch charts! Auto Express has learned that the French firm is planning a rapid supermini based on its new DS small luxury car.



Likely to be called the DS3 GT, the model will go head-to-head with rivals such as the Abarth 500, MINI Cooper S and forthcoming Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA. As you can see from our illustrations, it promises even more visual impact than the DS3.



Rally-inspired white alloys, a big rear wing and muscular bonnet vent mark the GT out, while flared wheelarches and a chunky bodykit provide a more purposeful look.


Elsewhere, the DS3 GT retains the same remarkable styling as the standard car, with anose dominated by an oversized chrome chevron badge. The newcomer should be every bit as sharp to drive as it looks.



The standard DS3 is based on the chassis of the next-generation C3, but will be optimised for better responses. Expect the GT version to take it a step further with an even stiffer set-up.



Under the bonnet, the engine most likely to be used is a 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo unit from sister firm Peugeot’s 207 GTi and the MINI Cooper S. Performance should be similar on paper, with 0-60mph in around seven seconds and a top speed approaching 135mph.



These are exciting times for Citroen. The launch of the DS3 revives a badge that was first used on the revolutionary DS of the Fifties – and this car will be the first of a whole new model line-up.



Next to appear will be the DS4 – a premium take on the C4 that’s likely to be based on the C-SportLounge concept which debuted at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.



Following this will be the DS5. Sharing mechanicals with the C5, it aims to take luxury executive cars to a new level.



Citroen’s focus isn’t only on opulence, though. Eco-friendly stop-start technology will be offered as standard across the range, while Peugeot-Citroen’s diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain is set to debut in a DS model.

Source: Autoexpress

 

[Kymerik]

ooo yum yum...i like

 

[mikeyb]

Citroen targeting Mini Cooper S with DS3 hot hatch

Citron's got big plans for its DS3. Not only is the premium hatchback launching the new DS line for the French automaker, but the vehicle itself is set to breed some serious performance variants. Now, following a batch of spy shots showing a rally-prepped version of the DS3 comes reports that parent company PSA is considering giving the green light to a street-legal performance version. So with the likes of the Alfa MiTo and upcoming Audi A1 closing in, the Mini Cooper S has been put on notice yet again.

Just how close to home will the prospective DS3 hot hatch hit? Considering that the Citron shares its PSA/BMW co-developed engine with the Mini, pretty close. As it is, the top-of-the-line DS3 packs a 154-horsepower version of the 1.6-liter four, hitting 60 in an admirable 7.3 seconds. With output expected to come between 170 and 200 hp, the hottest DS3 could not only take on the Cooper S, but also other hot hatches like the SEAT Ibiza Cupra and Clio Renaultsport 200, to name just a few. Sources peg its launch for some time next year, so stay tuned.

[autoblog]

 

[NRRfrogmanP5]

man that looks hot

 

[mikeyb]

I think Mazda when I look at the front.

 

[ms6acton]

soo nice! too bad we will never see any of these little hot hatches

 

[chowhoundMSP]

Not feeling the 2-tone. The roof colors are too far from the body colors.

 

[genericuser]

I can't tell if I like it or not.

 

[BlackCherry06]

LOVE the blue one. Paint the roof to match and it's ready for me!

 

[mikeyb]

Fresh, stylish and fitted with the latest technology, Citroen’s new DS3 looks set to be the most DSirable car the French firm has produced in decades.

The hatch is the first in a three-model line-up of exclusive DS models. But while the badge may hark back to the legendary DS of 1955, the new design owes more to the contemporary than the past.

A mind-boggling array of personalisation options is available – you can pick from 38 body and roof-colour combos and the range of trims, finishes and decals is almost infinite.

Buyers can choose from DSign, DStyle and DSport trim levels, as well as three diesel and three petrol engines. The range kicks off with the 95bhp 1.4 VTi DSign at 11,700 and tops out with the 150bhp 1.6THP DSport at 15,900. Go mad with the options and you could end up spending as much as 19,000.

In the flesh, the DS3 looks like no Citroen that has gone before. And while some may think the floating roof a retro touch, the cut-off B-pillar, LED running lights and distinctive colour combinations leave it with a cutting-edge flavour.

Sporty touches include a rear diffuser, twin exhaust pipes, chunky alloys and a gaping grille. The shoulder line, that connects the shark-fin B-pillar with the door, combines with widening silver trim along the sill to give the illusion of a wider rear end – the result is a squat, purposeful shape.

A quick glance inside might suggest the experience will be a copy of the latest C3 but appearances can be deceptive. Although the dashboard is shared, most plastics are high quality, while the extra soundproofing heightens refinement levels. Only a touch of wind noise around the door frame lets the DS3 down when on the move.

As with the body panels, the cabin can be personalised with your choice of seat material, coloured panels and trim. The sports seats on our model were comfortable and supportive, and in conjunction with the adjustable wheel, made getting a decent driving position easy. Even tall drivers will find plenty of room, and the cabin feels more spacious than its rivals.

This theme continues into the rear, although the third back headrest is probably wishful thinking rather than a useable proposition. However, the 285-litre boot space is one of the biggest in the segment and combined with the split-fold rear seat makes for a practical compact hatch.

The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine has been co-developed with BMW, and is also found in the DS3-rivalling MINI. Fire it up and you’ll see the speedo and rev counter dials perform a sweep of their range, before settling at zero again. A quick blip of the throttle reveals a pleasantly sporty note from the twin exhausts, but the real revelation is the precise six-speed gearbox, which changes ratios superbly.

With 240Nm of torque available from only 1,400rpm, and an impressively linear power delivery, you could be forgiven for mistaking the 1.6 for a much larger, naturally aspirated powerplant. Plus you’d expect a Citroen to ride well, and the DS3 is no exception. The engineers shied away from the extra-stiff benchmark for this sector and added a degree of compliance that was instantly noticeable on our French route. It might roll a touch more in corners, but the difference is marginal, and in our opinion the car is the better for it.

Push hard and it won’t involve in the same way as a MINI, although it is still a tidy handler on twisty roads. Steering weight is well judged, too, but ultimately the rack doesn’t offer enough feedback, and you are left questioning what the tyres are doing.

On its own the DS3 is a great little car, that will likely give some of its rivals a real scare, but as a taster of what the revitalised Citroen car firm is capable of, then a new French revolution may be on the way.

Rival: MINI Cooper
The MINI shares the DS3’s engine, albeit in a lower power output. But the Cooper leads the way in chassis dynamics and interior quality. The original customisable hatch has great residuals and running costs, too.

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[autoexpress]

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[EvilJen]

This picture makes it look like a rabid beaver.

Otherwise, not a bad looking car.

 

[BlackCherry06]

I wish America was ready for something like this. I couldn't have resisted it if it had been available when I traded the MS6. It's exactly what a hot hatch should look like, IMO.

 

[mikeyb]

Citroen DS3 1.6 THP DSport

What is it?

It depends on your outlook. Were you feeling particularly uncharitable you might view the DS3 as little but a three-door version of the Citroen C3 supermini.

Citroen, however, would rather you saw it as more than that. The DS3 is the first in a line of 'DS' models that will, in status (and price), sit above the regular model (the workaday C3 in this case).

So this three-door-only supermini-sized variant features neat design touches you won't find on the regular C3, an interior constructed from higher-grade materials and a different chassis set-up. There's more soundproofing too, to add to the premium feel.

Think of the DS3, then, as a rival to the Mini, Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo Mito. Eyeing the success of the 500 and Mini, Citroen has given the DS3 a vast range of options and accessories to match. So although prices start at around 12,000, it's possible to spend 18,000 upwards on a DS3.
What's it like?

More than just a three-door variant of a Citroen supermini; that much becomes obvious quickly. The DS3's cabin is tastefully finished and most surfaces carefully finished, although Citroen has done nothing to alter switchgear and the cockpit's lower surfaces are ordinary.

It's spacious, too. Because the DS3 is based on a 'proper' supermini (and because it's not forced to follow a retro styling theme), the DS3 has more boot and rear seat space than its similarly fashion-conscious rivals.
Our test car was kitted with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, very similar to the one you'll find in a Mini Cooper, albeit with a different output: 154bhp at 6000rpm and 177lb ft at 1400rpm. It drives through a six-speed gearbox, and it's nice that neither engine nor gearbox is traditionally Citroen-like in feel. The 'box is precise and slick, while the engine does its best work at the top end, yet pulls well from the mid-range onwards and makes a willing noise throughout the range.

The ride and handling don't feel like a recent Citroen supermini either and, though Citroen might not thank me for saying it, they're all the better for it. The ride is firmly supple yet well controlled; it's far less soft than than a normal C3 but, conversely, because the body doesn't rock and the roll rate is slowed, I'd argue that it's actually a more comfortable experience overall. The seats are more supportive too.

The DS3 steers nicely. Slightly worryingly, Citroen says it has damped it thoroughly to suppress kickback, but as it turns out, weighting is good and consistent, and it's accurate, too.



Handling is tidy rather than stupendous, but it's engaging enough. Limits are respectable; initially it'll understeer, of course, but there's some playfulness in the chassis if you give it a lift or a bung. A Ford Fiesta Zetec S would shade it for engagement, but the DS3 would give a Mini Cooper a run for its money, which is no mean feat.</P? Should I buy one?

Maybe. We've only tried the fastest one so far and it was well equipped, so it's worth remembering that it's a nigh on 18,000 car, which is a lot of money for a small Citroen. However, the range starts far more cheaply and, pace apart, you get the same experience. Residuals are predicted to be in line with its rivals.

It's not an easy journey for a company to decide it's going to 'do premium', and my hunch is that it'll take Citroen a little while before consumers are prepared to engage with it as they might with a Mini. But the DS3 is a thoroughly positive start, a genuinely good product and quite a tempting one. One thing I'm certain about: it's a heck of a lot more than
just a three-door supermini.
<!-- Author name included in article text?
-->First drive data

How much?

• <LI done23="1" done21="1">Price as tested TBA
• Price as tested TBA

How fast?

• <LI done23="3" done21="3">0-62 mph 7.3 sec
• Max speed 133 mph

How big?

• Weight no data

How thirsty?

• <LI done23="6" done21="6">Combined 42.2 mpg
• CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions 155 g/km

Engine

• <LI done23="8" done21="8">Layout 4 <LI done23="9" done21="9">Max power 154 bhp
• Max torque 177 lb ft at 1400 rpm

[autocar]

 

[Kymerik]

more cars we'll never see :'(

 

[ms6acton]

I like the pokadot roof. And 42 mpg is awesome

 

[Kymerik]

anyone else think vodka when they see Citroen?

 

[mikeyb]

Citroen DS3 Racing

Hottest ever hatch from Citroen gets set to blast off with 200bhp engine.

Citroens hottest ever hatch is under starters orders! The 196bhp DS3 Racing, is set to get the green light at the Geneva Motor Show, and these are the first official pictures.

We outlined top-secret plans to build a performance DS3 12 months ago - and a recent leak provided exclusive spy shots proving that the car is on the way. But as these images show, the production version is raring to go ahead of its Geneva World debut next month.


The hot-hatch will be highly exclusive too. With only 1,000 units scheduled to be sold when it hits showrooms later this year.

But if you do manage to get your hands on one, you wont have much problem standing out from the crowd.

Sharing the same bold styling blueprint as the standard car, the DS3 Racing comes with a dark grey body contrasted with vibrant, bright orange-coloured roof, side mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, brake callipers and front grille surround with integrated orange chrome chevrons.
The Racing also gets a sporty carbon finish around the front bumper, wheel surrounds and side skirt.

Under the bonnet theres a more powerful version of the firms turbo-charged 1.6-litre THP (Turbo High Pressure) engine, with the Racing spec unit capable of producing 196bhp, compared to the current DSport range-topper, which delivers 147bhp.

This means the fastest DS3 in the line-up will take only 6.9 seconds to go from 0-62mph and will be capable of a top speed of 140mph. This amount of power sits the Racing between MINIs Cooper S and JCW, both of which use a version of the same engine, and on a level with rivals like
the Renaultsport Clio 200.

And its not just straight-line speed that has been fine-tuned. As well as a 30 per cent increase in power from the same sized engine, the DS3 Racing gets adapted suspension, with both front and rear tracks gaining 30mm in width and the ride height has been lowered by 15mm too.

The front and rear dampers have also been appropriately tuned to handle the extra power.

All this results in more precision, control and sportier handling. An enhanced braking system with 4-piston callipers incorporated into the front discs drastically improves stopping power, while the exhaust system has also been restyled.

On top of all this we expect the DS3 Racing to come with its fair share of limited edition badges and plaques, helping to further distinguish it from the rest of the range.


[autoexpress]
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[mikeyb]

 

[robin2660]

Looks mo betta without the hood scoop.