Citroen hatches rally plan

The DS3's bold shapes, creases and curves certainly make it stand out from the crowd. Photo / Supplied

Citroen is using its new DS3 hatchback to try to cash in on its domination for much of the past decade of the World Rally Championship.

The DS3 will become Citroen's new WRC showpiece, under new WRC rules. Citroen wants the DS3 to do what the C4 was never officially assigned to do - become the face of Citroen.

The C4 is one of the most winning cars in WRC history, but Citroen - one of the most innovative carmakers - seemingly capitalised less on its success than rival WRC nameplates did with their winning models.

Subaru, Ford, Mitsubishi, Audi ... each traded on its WRC record, building nearly-but-not-quite examples for sale on Monday of the cars that won on Sunday.

The closest Citroen has come to producing such a car is a three-door C4 with a WRC-type rear spoiler, swept-up interior colours, and star driver Sebastien Loeb's signature.

It is called "C4 by Loeb". Its 1.6-litre engine delivers 88kW to the front wheels. The turbocharged 2-litre unit in Loeb's four-wheel-drive WRC car produces upwards of 235kW.

Citroen says insurance costs ruled out a street-legal C4 modelled on Loeb's car. "Citroen motorsport's fan base in Europe is predominantly amongst younger people who would find it impossible to insure a high performance vehicle based on the WRC car," says Edward Rowe, public affairs manager for New Zealand and Australia.

"For this reason Citroen took the decision to produce a series of vehicles that carry Loeb's name and feature a number of elements from the rally car that clearly indicate their interest in following the success of Citroen but do not affect the cost of insuring the car.

"Insurance for young people [under 25 years of age] in Europe is very expensive."

Rowe says Citroen is instead encouraging buyers to start with a "fairly prosaic" Citroen model, such as the Citroen C2 and, now, the Citroen DS3, and buy from Citroen Racing the parts to turn it into a competition car.

"Indeed, we have already been approached by people in New Zealand and Australia who wish to enter motorsport with the new Citroen DS3 R3 when it becomes available later in the year," says Rowe.

The DS3 RS is based on the FIA's new Group R3T regulations. The RS is a DS3 with a roll cage and a 1.6-litre engine boosted to deliver 156kW at 4750rpm and 350Nm at 3000rpm via a six-speed sequential gearbox. There are other go-fast bits too.

A wide range of set-up options for the RS suspension system are available, to suit different road surfaces. The R3 will be marketed by Citroen Racing in kit and ready-to-race versions. Mini is running a Countryman under the new FIA regulations; Ford is using a Fiesta.

The standard DS3 is about to go on sale in New Zealand. It is the first of Citroen's new DS range. The DS4 will arrive next year, the DS5 in 2012.

DS3 is available in two trim levels: DStyle and DSport, one leaning more towards comfort and style, the other adding a sportier drive. DStyle starts from $37,990; DSport from $41,990.

Citroen says the DS3 is a bold, definitive statement of intent. "It's a confident step in the opposite direction to its main competitors, in that it brings a real alternative to a market sector dominated by retro designs," says Citroen NZ general manager Lawrie Malatios.

"It is fresh, modern and totally in tune with the times, not harking back to a supposed golden age. This means it can use all the latest technology to best advantage without being restrained by a design ethos from a previous era."

For "retro designs" read Mini. Indeed, Citroen is aiming the three-door DS3 at the Mini, although the French car - 3.95m long, 1.72m wide and 1.46m or 1.48m high - is bigger inside and out. Its boot has 285 litres of space. The 60:40 split/folding rear seats open the boot up further.

DS3 oozes French go-it-alone design, with the "shark fin" B-pillar, the "floating" roof and the signature LED strips down either side of the front bumper.

Citroen designers have ignored the retro-route taken by the Mini, Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500. Although it must be said that the French carmaker, unlike Mini, VW and Fiat, has nothing in its history to hang a small retro design on, apart from the glorious 2CV.

The DS3's bold shapes, creases and curves certainly make it stand out from the crowd. It is different and certain to polarise opinion. The make-believe carbon fibre dash will do the same. It is carried over from the C3 and mixes eye-catching dials with a logical layout.

DS3 is available in a wide range of colour combinations. Owners can colour code the roof, wheels and door mirrors, as well as add decals and extra chrome trim. Even the key fob is tailored to suit the driver's chosen body or roof colour.

Infotainment runs to connections for USB and Bluetooth. There is also an optional eight-speaker stereo system.

The car comes with a five-star crash rating and safety equipment includes six airbags, child restraints and the usual mix of electronic braking and stability aids.

Two petrol engine options are available, both of 1.6-litre capacity and co-developed with BMW.

The naturally aspirated unit under the bonnet of DStyle delivers 88kW at 6000rpm and 160Nm at 4250rpm and is mated to a six-speed automatic.

The twin-scroll turbocharged plant in the DSport puts out 115kW at 6000rpm and 240Nm between 1400 and 4000rpm and uses a six-speed manual. Much of the torque in both engines is available low down, to make progress easier. A Gear Efficiency Indicator - standard on the 115kW version - helps, too. It encourages more economical driving by signalling the optimum moment to change gear.

Citroen claims town-and-around fuel economy of between 6.7 and 7-litres/100km and CO2 exhaust emissions of 155 and 160gr/km.

A brief drive of DSport showed a pretty capable performer, with no gremlins. Body control is good, grip is strong, steering predictable. The sports suspension provided a better ride than expected and the turning circle of just over 10m is reasonably tight.

The manual six-speed is not as snickety-snick as some performance units but it won't cause sleepless nights. Neither will the road noise, on rainy or dry days.