CITROËN PREMIERES DS LINE FUTURE & SHOWCASES 40 YEARS OF RALLY HERITAGE AT TOP GEAR LIVE 2012
- Citroën DS3 Cabrio to make UK premiere on the Citroën stand at Top Gear Live 2012
- Also on display will be 40 years of Citroën rally history with five cars from the 1970s to the present day
- Citroën Total World Rally Team recently claimed its eighth Manufacturers’ Title with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena clinching their ninth WRC title earlier this month*
- Citroën DS3 Racing to take part in new feature ‘Hot Hatch Grudge Match’
Alongside a historic display that celebrates 40 years of rally heritage, Citroën’s striking new addition to the DS line, DS3 Cabrio, will be making its UK premiere on the brand’s show stand at Top Gear Live 2012.
Fresh from the model’s official unveiling at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, DS3 Cabrio features all the hallmarks and thrills of DS3, with bold styling, sophisticated refinement, extensive personalisation and enjoyable handling, combined with the pleasure of al-fresco driving. Visitors to Top Gear Live will be able to get up close and personal with the new range-topping model ahead of its UK launch in early 2013.
DS3 Cabrio uses intelligent design to make top-down driving considerably easier and more enjoyable. Continuing DS3’s personalisation options, three soft-top roof styles will be available -black, Infinite blue and a DS Monogrammed design. An innovative 3D rear light signature and original tailgate opening action add to the refinements. Injecting fresh modernity into the cabriolet segment, DS3 Cabrio offers drivers an electrically operated roof up to motorway speeds (75 mph); the only adult 5-seater in the class and the largest boot in the class (245 litres).
As the most successful car manufacturer of the World Rally Championship era, Citroën will take guests through 40 years of rallying history to celebrate the champion pedigree of the Brand in motorsport.
On show at the Citroën stand will be one of the most iconic rally cars of all time, a Citroën DS, which dates back to 1972. Joining this classic car and also representing 20th Century Citroën rally craftsmanship will be the ZX Rallye Raid car, which debuted in the early 1990s and enjoyed great success throughout the decade.
Representing the present World Rally Championship contingent, Citroën has lined up the three cars that have taken the Brand to eight manufacturers*’ titles in the past nine years. The 2004 Citroën Xsara WRC will be showcased alongside the 2009 Citroën C4 WRC and the latest championship-winning model – the mighty DS3 WRC that helped Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena secure their ninth consecutive World Rally Championship Drivers’ title* with their 75th career victory at Rallye de France earlier this month.
Developed by Citroën Racing and inspired by the WRC, Citroën DS3 Racing will also feature in a new section of the show called ‘Hot Hatch Grudge Match’. The 204hp DS3 with the WRC pedigree will be put to the test around a special 400-metre Top Gear Live track in the hands of professional drivers trying to set the best time against competitor models. The car will be run twice a day on Thursday 25, Friday 26 and Sunday 28 and three times on Saturday 27 October.
Marc Raven, Communications Director at Citroën UK, said; “There’s a lot of exciting Citroën activity at this year’s Top Gear Live with a few more surprises still in store. One of the most established and thrilling events for automotive fans, Top Gear Live is the perfect showcase for the UK debut of DS3 Cabrio – a model we’re very excited about – and it’s also a great opportunity to really put DS3 Racing through its paces.”
Top Gear Live takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 25-28 October 2012. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: topgearlive.co.uk/
*Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA
