204bhp French hot hatch returns for another limited
run, this time with a convertible roof
For starters, this Racing is based on the
soft-top DS3 Cabrio. An electric mechanism concertinas the cloth roof into the
rear, leaving the side rails and the overall silhouette intact. The matt
‘Moondark’ grey finish is appealing, the gloss black 18-inch wheels neat and
modern, and Citroën has done a far better job with the forward-slanting
‘floating’ pillar than Land Rover has with the new Discovery. In short, the DS3
shape, aside from a few overwrought flourishes, has aged well and remains
distinctive. However, the vertical gloss stripes on the flanks look like they
were applied with a parcel-tape dispenser.
Its
exterior cosmetic upgrades give the DS3 Racing Cabrio a distinctive look
Underneath, the Cabrio is the same as the
hard-top Racing model. The 1.6-litre single-turbo four-cylinder engine produces
204bhp (up from the 154bhp of the THP version) thanks to an ECU remap and a
freer-breathing exhaust. Modified dampers are fitted, the track is widened by
30mm and the car lowered by 15mm. The braking system is uprated with four-pot
Brembo calipers up front, the electric steering has been remapped, and unlike
the run-of-the-mill DS3s, the electronic stability control programme can be
deactivated.
So what’s it like? Well, the last time we
tested the DS3 Racing we had to have an audience with Citroën because they
didn’t adequately ‘position’ the car for us and thus we didn’t ‘understand’ it.
We countered that anything with a Racing moniker, co-developed by an
organization that led Sébastien Loeb to a gazillion WRC titles and fitted with
a 200-plus bhp engine should be better and more thrilling than it was. It was
explained to us that the car was never meant to be an extreme hatchback.
Among
the Racing DS3's interior touches is bespoke carbon fibre trim
Three years later, we still don’t
understand the car. It is neither a tear-away hatchback in a Mini JCW vibe, nor
is it a hugely chic or desirable urban cute-box. The foldaway roof adds very
little to the driving experience and adds a fair degree of structural quake,
and while the engine and gearshift action are real gems, the car never delivers
on its promise of being a unique and enjoyable steer. This is a huge shame,
because the DS3 Cabrio Racing (and the hard-top) is exactly the kind of offbeat
curio we would champion to the hilt if Citroën had invested another 10 per cent
into the steering, damping and wheel control.
Yep, like the Abarth 500 Competizione we
tested last month, the Racing falls short of being a decent drive because its
chassis can’t cope when you deploy the full horsepower. The steering is
over-light around the centre, with little feel, and while its variable gearing
provides a sharp response, the only meaningful feedback is delivered via
dollops of torque-steer.
With
the roof down, you can hear the rasping exhaust note from the Racing Cabrio's
engine
The suspension offers similar
characteristics. On first impressions, the Racing rides with a satisfying
firmness, changes direction quickly and remains flat. But up the pace and
there’s a sense that the springs and rear beam are over-damped, meaning the
tyres never feel fully keyed into the surface, especially when crests and
cambers are involved. It’s here where rivals Renault sport and Ford kick it out
of the park.
You can probably sense our disappointment.
There is real appeal to the DS3 – any DS3. They offer good engines, wide
personalization options, strong interiors and decent value. Used DS3s start at
around $13,450; a relatively standard car with an ECU tweak and subtle
suspension mods would be a fascinating sleeper. Citroën Racing’s version is not
without appeal, but its rarity (just ten of 100 will be sold in the UK) does
not justify the expense.
