2014 Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing

Tue, 28 Oct 2014

When you think of hot hatches, one French automaker comes to mind... but it's not Citroën. Maybe it should be, though, because some of the industry's best hot hatches are honed on the rally stage, and nobody has dominated the modern World Rally Championship like Citroën has. With the legendary Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel, Citroën won nine Drivers' and eight Constructors' titles between 2003 and 2012. And the last two were scored in the DS3 WRC. The 2014 Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing you see here is the road-going version of that dominant rally machine.

Citroën first launched the DS3 Racing back in 2010 with a limited run of 1,000 examples, all clad in dark gray with (optional) bright-orange accents. Production was further extended to a total of 2,400 units, but after those all sold out, the French automaker followed up in 2013 with 200 additional examples, this time with an opening roof panel, a matte anthracite finish and metallic red trim. Since Citroën does not compete in the North American market, we recently took the opportunity to drive it at Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK to see what all the fuss is about.

Driving Notes

The Chevron marque's pocket rocket is based on its avant-garde Mini challenger: a pseudo-premium hatchback geared towards fashion-conscious urban-dwellers, sans the retro styling favored by the Cooper Hardtop. This being a Cabrio, it also features a fabric roof opening (similar to that of the Fiat 500C), letting in the fresh air and sunshine without sacrificing much structural rigidity. Unfortunately, typically British heavy rain precluded us from opening it up, so the only difference we noticed was the restricted rear visibility and a bit more ambient noise in the cabin.
Power in the Racing model comes from a 1.6-liter turbo four (the same jointly developed BMW/PSA Prince engine as you'd find in a second-gen Mini Cooper S) driving 204 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual transmission to the front wheels. Despite the extra 143 pounds added by the retractable roof, Citroën quotes the same 6.5-second 0-62 time and a top speed of 145 miles per hour. Keep the turbo spooled up and it feels at least that quick.
Those figures make the DS3 Cabrio Racing incrementally more powerful and quicker than the Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo, or (to put it in American context) the Ford Fiesta ST. In terms of power and performance, it's in another league from the Fiat 500 Abarth and splits the difference fairly evenly between the Mini Cooper S and JCW.
Beyond the engine upgrade, Citroën Racing (the department responsible for the company's winning WRC and WTCC entries) has equipped this go-fast DS3 with a lower and more aggressive suspension, beefier brakes and upgraded rolling stock. The result is a ride that's sportingly firm but sufficiently compliant, and a body that pitches and rolls with the G-forces just enough to tell the driver what's going on.
Inside the well-appointed cabin, you'll find a fully adjustable driving position, seats that are both supportive and comfortable, and meaty steering wheel and aluminum pedals that provide reassuring feedback.
Better yet, the DS3's chassis is smooth and agile and the shifter has one of the smoothest actions we can recall – a stark contrast to the Renault's oft-derided DCT. Even the exhaust note is sufficiently inspiring for a turbo four.
Turbocharger aside, the Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing feels decidedly linear and old-school compared to its chief rival that's added doors and clutches in pursuit of a wider appeal.

This Citroën's biggest downside, however, is its price. At £29,310 all-in (there are no options), the DS3 Cabrio Racing is nearly £10k ($16,000) more expensive than the Clio RS and the better part of twice what Ford gets for a Fiesta ST in the UK. You'd have to go all the way up to the hardcore Mini JCW GP to even come close to what Citroën's charging for this limited-edition hot hatch. And as much as we enjoyed our quick spin, we're not sure it's worth that princely sum.

You might say that's just as well, since the DS3 isn't available in the United States, but it's with the DS brand that parent company PSA Peugeot Citroën is rumored to be plotting its 2020 return to North America. By the time it does, there'll likely be a new DS3 to replace this now five-year-old model line. Here's hoping it'll include a performance version as good as this one – one which we can actually get our hands on... at a far more reasonable price.

Vital Stats

Engine:: Turbo 1.6L I4
Power:: 204 HP / 203 LB-FT
Transmission:: 6-Speed Manual
0-60 Time:: 6.5 Seconds (0-62)
Top Speed:: 145 MPH
Drivetrain:: Front-Wheel Drive
Engine Placement:: Front
Curb Weight:: 2,714 LBS
MPG:: 32 City / 58 HWY (Euro)
Base Price:: 29,310 pounds

By Noah Joseph