Citroen DS 3 GT set to challenge mighty Mini

By Matt Brogan | April 16th, 2009

It’s a bold claim, but Citroen have indeed announced that its new rally-inspired hatch, likely to be named the DS 3 GT, is set to challenge Mini’s popular Cooper S as the new must-have hot hatch.

Featuring white alloys, a big rear wing, flared wheel arches and body kit with muscular bonnet vent, the GT has several hallmarks to distinguish it above its slower siblings.

The GT version is expected to have a stiffer suspension set up for ever better handling characteristics than the regular DS 3 and will most likely be powered by a 130kW, 1.6-litre turbo (petrol) engine similar to that found in the 207 GTi.

Source: AutoExpress

Iz

Pretty cute looking car, and I’ve always appreciated Citroen’s ‘different’-ness (even though their models pre the current C4, 5 and 6 were pretty mainstream).

But carmakers announcing “rally” inspired items (well.. Citroen is guilty itself here) means slightly under-done product. C3 by Loeb anyone?

That said, would be interesting to see this when it comes out.
topdog

This looks prety good cant wait to see one in the flesh
MatthewM

What, no Hydromatic suspension? How dare they call it a DS…
Alex

This is going to be an immensely cool car. It shows that you want to be different and you won’t buy the Mini norm. Now you might say that that’s the case with many cars except on this one, you’ll be sacrificing badge credibility too. And it certainly looks interesting enough, lose the body kit though.
I must say though, it’s much more likely to poach Fiat 500 buyers than Mini buyers. I’m more interested in seeing a full sized DS.
http://mredge.com/content_photo-chop.html NacaYoda

I think the ticket price will place it well above the Fiat 500. Maybe just short of the Cooper S… but still a large outlay for a small car in Oz.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR

Wow I doubt they will make it cause that would be the first good looking Citroen ever

Quote “and will most likely be powered by a 130kW, 1.6-litre turbo (petrol) engine similar to that found in the 207 GTi.

So let me get this straight ,Citroen are going to use a similar engine to the 207 GTi that comes from BMW and also found in the Mini Cooper S ……..and they want to compete against the Mini ……..I guess BMW doesn’t care they still sell engines and a better product
Alex

BM, your first good looking Citroen view is yours only. Considering the original DS was voted best looking car of all time, you sound a bit silly. The 2CV, C4, C5 (new) C6 and Picasso look excellent as well.
The engine comes from PSA, not BMW. BMW buy it from Peugeot to put in the Mini, not the other way round.
And I doubt it will be a better drive than a Mini Cooper S. That would be pretty hard to do, especially for Citroen. And at the end of the day, the Mini still looks great too.
Lowbrow

Alex, sorry, but it has to be said. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but geez you come across as a pompous English twat in your condescending comments.
Alex

Lowbrow, yeah, I know. It’s not the easiest personality to drop and unfortunately for me, it’s just the part of England where I grew up. I was forced to grow up around people who were always “so very jolly chuffed” with everything and try as I might to avoid it, it did rub off. Just stating fact though, or I may have misunderstood BM’s comment. I’ll wait and see.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR

Alex I understood BMW and PSA teamed up to make the engine didnt they,it won Best 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre in the Engine awards last year didnt it ? Funny how BMW entered it and not Peugeot in the awards

SO they share the engine dont they…………….gee dont be so crotchety…..

I understand you have selected taste when it comes to what you perceiev as a good looking car ,so lets just leave it at that
Bavarian Missile (.)(.) AKA DA COGAR

Sorry not trying to be a smart arse here Alex that was what I understood from what I have read on the engine……….

At least we agree the Mini is a better car

Lowbrow……….nah Im sure hes ok really .Cupid Stunt was the same with me years ago on this site , email and Facebook mates now,so there you go!
Technofreak

looks wicked
prolly wont see it here though
the pig

Looks cool, if not a little overstyled. I think if they’re serious about challenging Mini in the ‘cool’ market they’ve gotta nail the marketing; mini have that ipod-esque market appeal down pat that comes from a consistent edgy marketing campaign that takes commitment.
Alan

Not sure about the styling, looks bit cartoonish, i actually prefer Mini or fiat 500. I have liked the styling most of recent citroen such as C4 and C6, but this looks bizzare.
Alex

For people commenting on looks, you’d be much better looking at the pictures of the DS Inside Concept which is what this mock-up is based on. It looks much nicer and far more convincing as a Mini rival.
John

Awwww arent you a cutie wootie. BARRRP BAARRRP BBAARRRP heel toe shift gears heal toe BARRRP BAARRP BAARRPP
Frenchie

A french answer to the Mini?

Makes a Smart car look pretty lame.
Danster

Looks like Citroen have jazzed up a Suzuki SX4, taken away the rear doors and given it a trendy gaping mouth grille.

I love Citroen, even owned a BX, they’ve always made innovative cars, but quality has never been a strong point.

If you take away innovation all you have are good looking poorly made cars like C3 C4 C5 & C6 so calling a car DS and charging more for what is essentially a standard Euro small car seems hopeful in the extreme.
D

Bavarian Missile,
BMW didn’t enter the engine, the two companies entered it. The award was given to “BMW-PSA” for their 1.6 turbo petrol engine. PSA is Peugeot/Citroen’s parent company.
Here is a link confirming this: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_08/14_18.html
Snowman

Me likey! If you glance at it quickly in that colour scheme, its very much like a Mini, you can tell straight out who they are gunning for Good luck Citroen, and now can I please have a C4 hdi lol?
Alex

Danster, so in other words, it looks like Citroen have designed a completely new car? There is no SX4 in there at all.
As for saying they’re poorly made, I disagree. I think that every completely new model that came after the C4 is well built but Citroen’s biggest problem is electrical systems. They seem to rely on slightly iffy software updates to make them work but most are usually OK. Still, they could improve.
And nobody said that they will be charging too much more it’s just that it looks as if Citroen are going to try and carve out DS to be their Lexus or something. And for all we know now, although it is unlikely, there’s nothing saying that it won’t be as good as a Mini. I think the bigger models that are planned for the future will be a bit more impressive though.
http://integra crusty

Now pay attention you dozers , this is a worry its borderline clown car , looks a bit cartoonish .

Clowns love the mini its just big top cool , very contempory , no this is a miss .

Roll on the mini the coolest small car
http://integra axel

Crusty iam with you , here on the estate , there is no way we would entertain such a crass piece of french rubbish .

That is not a cool car .
http://integra axel

By the by wheres my old adversary dan , its all a bit tame with no dan .

Typical the thought police step in and censor free speech , i loved dans little comments .

Then again cupid stump and alex , my posh mate , their still giving good comments , such educated young men , so stylish almost 60′s boys .

You boys are always welcome down on my estate .
o

For people who say that citroens are unreliable yes they were in the past but the new models have excellent reliability.It also looks great