Citroën to increase DS3 Racing production?

Citroën is considering building 1,400 more DS3 Racings.

Citroën inaugurated their luxury DS line in 2009. The C3-based DS3 was the line's first model and attempted to dethrone premium compact heavyweights such as the MINI and the Fiat 500.

While the DS3 hasn't exactly decimated its competition, over 100,000 of them have been sold in about two years and it has become a popular car among chic urbanites.

A sportier version of the DS3 called the DS3 Racing was launched in the summer of 2010 in response to the MINI Cooper S and the Fiat Abarth 500.

Somewhat ironically, the DS3 Racing used the same 202 horsepower 1.6 THP four-cylinder engine found in the MINI Cooper S. Bolted to a six-speed manual it propelled the DS3 Racing from 0-62 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and enabled it to reach a top speed of 141 miles per hour.

On the outside the Racing was recognizable thanks to its specific decals, rims and paint job.

Unlike the 500 and the Cooper S, the DS3 Racing was a limited edition of only 1,000 examples. Despite costing 30,000â,¬ ($41,000), or almost twice the price of an entry-level DS3, most of them quickly found a home.

In fact, the car was been such a hit across Europe that Citroën is reportedly planning on building a second batch of them.

"We originally thought we would build a little more than 1,000 DS3 Racings," said Thomas d'Haussy, Citroën's product planning director, "but in the end we will produce around 2400. I think another version of the car is very likely, before too long."

The next installment of the DS3 Racing will be mechanically identical to the old one. The only changes between the two will be visual; Citroën is likely to give it new rims, new exterior colors and new roof decals.

A Racing edition of the DS4 is also rumored to be in the works.

References
1.'Citroen's big plans ...' view