Citroen DS3 R3 Rally Car

PARIS — Citroën Racing has been stunningly successful in the World Rally Championship, winning five FIA constructor's titles, and now offers a DS3 R3 model to the public; it will also make its rallying debut at year's end. The car will be available in both kit and race-ready versions.

The DS3 R3 is built to meet the new FIA Group R3T regulations, Citroën says. A welded multipoint roll cage, along with racing camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, exhaust and turbos and ECU, are among the modifications to the car for rallying purposes. A battery and automatic fire extinguisher are located behind the seats. The suspension has alterations to the production subframe to permit the addition of tubular wishbones, as well as to the production crossmember in back, and the axle is lightened and strengthened. The shocks have been adapted to off-roading in conjunction with BOS. Citroën is offering a choice of suspension setup options.

The DS3 R3's 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, based on the PSA Peugeot Citroën production engine, is fitted with a high-pressure turbocharger. It makes 210 horsepower and what the automaker calls an "incredible" 258 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed semiautomatic sequential gearbox, which Citroën says is its first use of that technology for a customer-racing product.

Citroën Racing has tested the DS3 R3 since last summer on more than 6,000 miles of rough-gravel tracks, tarmac and "flowing gravel roads" to simulate the harsh conditions of Mediterranean rallies.

The automaker says the car will be "affordable" but has not yet released pricing.

Inside Line says: Looks like fun. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent