Citroen used a camouflaged rally mule to give us the first taste of its new Cactus-inspired C3 road vehicle, before showing us the real thing in all of its detail a few months ago. It also rides on a wheelbase that’s 55mm longer than the production car’s. The French carmaker was absent for this year’s iteration of the WRC, as it had been focusing on designing the team’s 2017 vehicle.
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Citroen says that this “concept car” is very close to the race model, which still has a few tricks up its sleeve when compared to this example.
The massive rear wing, which has been moved further back for greater downforce on the rear axle, has been created to fit the upcoming FIA WRC regulations, as have the protruding front bumper and rear splitter. It has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol that makes 380bhp, 80bhp more than the 2015 auto.
When compared to the standard auto, the C3 WRC is larger and wider, for more aerodynamic performance. Moreover, Citroen has also integrated an electronic differential control, which is another feature that is allowed by the 2017 rule book.
Based on the latest C3, the conceppt measures 4,150 mm long and 1,900 mm wide, making it longer and wider than the previous Citroen DS3 WRC. The illuminated badge and two-tone roof treatment both carry over, and the accents on the bodykit have been chosen to match exterior colors from the production vehicle.
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The C3 WRC concept vehicle will be shown to the public at next month’s Paris Motor Show and is a clear indication of the direction the final design will take. In the meantime, you can check out the C3 WRC Concept in action below.
