Citroen DS4 Racing hot hatch revealed

Citroen has revealed a surprise DS4 Racing concept car for the Geneva Motor Show 2012. The high-performance new variant has been developed by multiple WRC winners Citroen Racing and packs a potent 188kW 1.6-litre turbo engine.

While it is currently being billed as a concept car, it seems almost certain Citroen will put the hot DS4 Racing into production, as a potent new rival to the VW Golf R, Seat Leon Cupra and the much-mooted hot Ford Focus ST.

Citroen has visually turned the DS4 into a real road racer. It has lowered it by 35mm and widened the track by 55mm at the front and a full 75mm at the rear. Compete with 19-inch alloys (which fill the wheelarches brilliantly) and a brace of wings and spoilers, this means the DS4 Racing has immense visual purpose.

Citroen Racing has also tuned the engine. Its headline 188kW from 1.6-litres means it produces a staggering 118kW per litre, a record for a Citroen car. Despite this, it is also surprisingly green: Citroen claims CO2 emissions (via sporty twin exhausts) of 155g/km.