By Stewart Smith on 2014-03-23 - Stewart was the former motoring editor of the Coventry Telegraph and is now a freelance contributor to Eurekar. He is based in Scotland and specialises in First Drive reviews.
Lucky 10 get chance
of DS3 Racing Cabrio
LIMITED editions don't come much more limited than Citroen's when it comes to its storming new open-top DS3 Racing Cabrio which will have a production run of just 100 for the whole world.
Ten of them will be on offer in the UK, so you'd better get in quick if you want one of these ultra-exclusive motors.
It's based on the DS3 Racing, and offers sporting performance, dynamic styling and has a price to match at £29,305.
Under the bonnet the DS3 Racing Cabrio has a 207bhp, four-cylinder, 1.6-litre THP engine - the same as in DS3 Racing, but it delivers 30 per cent more power and 15 per cent more torque than the standard THP 155bhp unit on which it is based.
Performance is more than brisk, with 0-62mph achieved in just 6.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 145mph.
It's also striking to look at with a body colour scheme in matt grey, a black fabric roof, 18-inch sports alloy wheels with DS logo centre caps and red painted brake callipers plus a red vertical stripe down each of the doors.
The cabin is also special with hugging sports seats, carbon inserts, a numbered plaque near the gear lever.
On a short drive the new cabrio was stunningly fast and surefooted with the slick six-speed manual gearbox offering excellent driving fun.
It is pricey, but I've no doubt there will be a rush to get this unique motor on someone's drive.
Getting back down to earth, like many manufacturers Citroen is downsizing some of its engines to just three cylinders but retaining performance as well as cutting fuel consumption and damaging emissions.
The latest petrol engine, part of the Citroen PureTech family, is going into the mid-size C4 and its claimed it will reduce CO2 by up to 25 per cent as well as costing 23 per cent less to full up at the pumps.
The new unit produces 130bhp and is turbocharged and the new e-THP 130 C4 has the latest generation six-speed manual gearbox
If you think three-cylinder engines can't offer good performance, you're wrong. I found it exceptionally feisty with swift acceleration and plenty of torque and noise levels just as muted as bigger more powerful units.
Also new to the Citroen range is the DS5 Blue HDi 180 BVA6 which has been fitted with the new two-litre turbocharged diesel engine which also includes stop-start fuel saving.
This new engine gives an impressive claimed 64mpg on a combined run, according to Citroen and emission levels of CO2 have dropped to just 114 g/km.
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