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2011 Citroen DS3-R 155kW Hot Hatch In The Works: Report

THE REGULAR MODEL has yet to hit Australian showrooms but already Citroen is working to bring a faster Citroen 'DS3-R' to market in 2011, according to reports and a batch of leaked images this week.

While the photo above could arguably be n


THE REGULAR MODEL has yet to hit Australian showrooms but already Citroen is working to bring a faster Citroen 'DS3-R' to market in 2011, according to reports and a batch of leaked images this week.

While the photo above could arguably be nothing more than a digitally modified image of the regular 2010 Citroen DS3, new photos this week suggest it is the real deal and could be on its way to Geneva next month.

Targeting the likes of the MINI Cooper S and Renault's Clio RS, the hot hatch - dubbed 'DS3 R3' - is expected to produce around 125-150kW, covering the 0-100km/h run in six to seven seconds.

"I can't tell you anything for certain," an inside source told PistonHeads.com. "But let's just say that Citroen is seriously researching the possibility of a more powerful version of the DS3."

Like the MINI Cooper S the DS3 R3 would square off against, power would be provided by the 1.6 litre turbo-charged petrol engine co-developed by BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen.

The current range-topping DS3 is powered by a 115kW version of the same engine, hustling to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

According to the report's source, power in the DS3-R will be up around 155kW, with a 0-100km/h time of around 6.8 seconds - not a huge improvement over the standard model.

The source added that the DS3 R3 would likely hit the European market sometime in 2011.

Whether we'll see it in Australia remains to be seen, and will likely depend on pricing and whether Citroen can cover demand in Europe.

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