Citroen unwraps its hot hatch DS3  23 | 08 | 2010

THE STUNNING DS3 Racing model from Citroen will be available to order from Scottish dealers from September 1; but even though it's 5000 grand more than the RenaultSport Clio 200 — the current small hot hatch benchmark — at £23,100, it's still set to be a sell-out.

Developed by Citroen Racing — the team which has taken five WRC manufacturer’s titles and Sebastien Loeb to six driver titles, as well as working with Colin McRae when he drove with Citroen — the hot DS3 has a tuned 1.6-litre THP engine which produces 207bhp. With a top speed of 146mph, it'll catapult from standstill to 62mph in 6.5secs.

Based on the top-of-the-range DS3 DSport THP 150, the new model — which has been toned down only slightly from the concept which first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in March —includes carbon fibre components such as the rear diffuser, front bumper, side rubbing strips and wheel arch extensions. The interior features a revised centre console, steering wheel and door inserts.

And you can have any choice of colours, as long as it's black with an orange roof or white with a carbon grey roof! The colour co-ordination extends to the roof which is matched to the 18in alloy wheels, door mirrors, chevrons, grille surround, tailgate spoiler and, on black cars, the dashboard fascia.

Only 200 RHD cars are coming to the UK and Citroen — which will switch from its C4 model to a DS3 WRC for the 2011 World Rally Championship — told Scotcars it has already had 1500 enquiries through its website. We'll have to wait and see whether anyone's been lucky enough to buy one in Scotland.