Test: Citroën DS3 1.6 THP (152 kW) Racing
Content
This DS3 Racing is special. Look, it's not great that they still send cars to the markets, why even before you take a closer look, let alone sit in it, you say: uh, what would you like? Fiat 500 owners are following it with curiosity, and Audi A1 owners are also a little jealous, although the crowds of potential buyers for each other (probably) don't overlap to an alarming degree.
The DS3 is generally cute, but this one is really cool.
At the Auto magazine we were already impressed by the sporty 150 THP, and this one still beats it. After almost a year, it's hard to compare, but it seems that those extra 50 "horses" are either a little (too) young, or the number may even be exaggerated. But such a comparison does not give a meaningful result: Racing is a car in which it is impossible not to notice the extra "horses" - in traffic - with a sober look.
What a coincidence! Notice the first letters: De Es Three and nine, one, three. After a coincidence, Test Racing found itself next to "our" submarine No. 913; we are not going to look for parallels (although I argue that we will definitely find some significant ones), but one thing is for sure: both of them are special in some way.
At Citroën, we are now used to making the manual transmission much better than we were used to a few years ago, even so good that gear shifting became a pleasure. This is even more true of the engine: this one sounds like a BMW name too, but it also feels great in a small Citroënček.
Sound is one of its best features. Not loud either outside or inside, but impressive. Inside, everything from low revs is promising, and in some places the engine rumbles just fine, as if at this moment it would feel especially good. However, interestingly, as the speed increases, the decibels do not reach tiresome values. So there are no races, but they are very well tuned - so as not to bother too much and so that everyone can understand whether to listen to it from the side or ride in it so that it doesn’t go like a cherry.
Many people on the road don't respect what they see and racing can be very amazing. In no case should the turbo engine be driven into the red field, it is obvious that already somewhere in the middle it gives the wheels a decent amount of Newton meters. At just over five thousand rpm, it is powerful enough to satisfy most demands and desires. Its responsiveness is lightning fast, and the desire to rev up quickly convinces the driver to do so.
Care should be taken with cold tires; when you pick up the throttle in a (too) fast corner, the rear comes off quickly and fairly, but the steering wheel can handle it easily if it's in experienced hands. The fun more or less ends with heated tires and thus invites the driver to push the boundaries. It feels great on the wet road: its "soft" handling allows you to feel softly the slip limit, so turns can get darn fast.
A little less that softness is pleasant on dry roads and with excellent grip, but it doesn't spoil the overall experience, just think about the fact that after a few laps on the race track, things will be much less fun than you think. the name of this baby.
Accelerating at top speed is surprisingly smooth, but best in fast, short corners. Its only drawback comes to the fore - traction. A good two hundred “horses” are difficult to get onto the road in a turn, as well as on a Cooper (JCW) or Clio RS. But perhaps the most interesting thing is that the driver constantly uses a good (fairly rigid) chassis, engine characteristics, a tendency to slip the rear end when the gas is released, the need for skillful dosing of gas in a turn and its constant coordination. significant track.
ESP is also great, which allows you to turn itself off completely, but it turns on quite patiently at the request of the driver.
No, there is nothing to be afraid of. The races are friendly and you don't have to think about everything that is written within the limits of the permitted speeds. Even the least experienced and unpretentious will easily tame it. I just want to say that he will be able to serve the demanding and experienced with such pleasure that some Quattro or similar masterpieces of modern technology will envy him.
Such a package is really one that is easy for a person to assimilate. But it ends, as always, at the box office: before taking the key, you will have to sign for 30 thousand euros. For a little Citroen. This is also special. But it looks like it won't work any other way.
Vinko Kernc, photo: Vinko Kernc
Citroën DS3 1.6 THP (152 KW) Racing
Basic data
| Sales: | Citroën Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 29.990 € |
| Test model cost: | 31.290 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 152kW (156 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 7,0 with |
| Maximum speed: | 235 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 9,8l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder – 4-stroke – in-line – turbocharged petrol – transverse front installation – displacement 1.598 cm³ – maximum power 152 kW (207 hp) at 6.000 275 rpm – maximum torque 2.000 Nm at 4.500– XNUMX XNUMX rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 6-speed manual transmission - tires 205/45 / R17 V (Bridgestone Potenza RE050A). |
| Capacity: | top speed 235 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h 6,5 - fuel consumption (ECE) 8,7 / 4,9 / 6,4 l / 100 km, CO2 emissions 149 g / km. |
| Transportation and suspension: | limousine - 3 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single wishbones, spring struts, double wishbones, stabilizer - rear axle shaft, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc 10,7 - ass 50 m – fuel tank XNUMX l. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.165 kg - permissible gross weight 1.597 kg. |
| Box: | Trunk volume measured using AM standard set of 5 Samsonite suitcases (total 278,5 L): 5 places: 1 × backpack (20 L); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 1 suitcase (68,5 l) |
Our measurements
| T = 16 ° C / p = 1.035 mbar / rel. vl. = 32% / Mileage condition: 2.117 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 7,0s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 15,3 years ( 156 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 6,4 / 9,4s (IV/V) |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 9,1 / 10,0s (Sun./Fri.) |
| Maximum speed: | 235km / h (WE.) |
| Minimum consumption: | 6,7l / 100km |
| Maximum consumption: | 13,0l / 100km |
| test consumption: | 9,8 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 37,3m |
| AM table: | 40m |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear | 56dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear | 55dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 5rd gear | 54dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 6rd gear | 54dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 3rd gear | 64dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 4rd gear | 63dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 5rd gear | 62dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear | 60dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 4rd gear | 65dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 5rd gear | 62dB |
| Idling noise: | 38dB |
Overall rating (321/420)
Collector's word; this is an unlimited edition product and there will be few of it. Useful for every day, but also with races, well, at least with very sporting ambitions.
Exterior (14/15)
Aggressive, but also unusual, which is pleasant to look at.
Interior (91/140)
Compared to the DS3 150 THP, it is a little more inconvenient to enter, the back is quite cramped.
Engine, transmission (55
/ 40)Great engine, but not too aggressive. Inconvenient chassis, makes it a little difficult to corner on the road.
Driving performance (59
/ 95)Unpretentious for the average driver, fun for the discerning driver.
Performance (28/35)
Small and fast. Very fast.
Security (37/45)
At the moment, we cannot expect more from a car in this class.
Economy (37/50)
Quite a moderate consumption for such objects. But quite an expensive toy!
We praise and reproach
exterior and interior
seat: shape, side grip
driving position
engine
position on the road
Transmission
stability
inner drawers
fuel consumption (for this power)
Equipment
fast cornering
uncomfortable chassis on shock pits
slightly too soft chassis for racing
the softness of the front seats (supports)
sensors (not racing style)
conditionally suitable mesh on the backrests
only one (and bad) place for a can
audio system without USB input, poor interface
slow awakening of the power steering after
