Power boost for French super hatch
2011-09-28 08:31
AMPLIFYING THE R: This Superchips DS3R really does its racing heritage justice…
If you’re a huge Sebastien Loeb fan, you’ll love this.
British aftermarket tuner Superchips has released its latest software upgrade – and it applies to the road-going version of Loeb’s current WRC steed, Citroën’s limited-edition DS3 Racing (DS3R).
Although the factory specification DS3R is hardly underpowered, producing 152kW/275Nm from its blown 1.6-litre in-line four, Superchips technicians have found room for improvement.
MORE POWER, RIGHT PLACES
Exhaustive software testing and calibration of the DS3R’s engine control module (ECU) enabled Superchips to produce an upgrade to the tune of 19kW and 46Nm. Crucially the additional urge courtesy of Superchips does not come at the thin end of the wedge, so to speak. Peak power is online at 6312rpm, to a value of 171kW, augmented by 321Nm of torque, peaking at 3130rpm.
Although peak power registers at higher engine revolutions in the Superchips car (only by a scant 312rpm, though), its 321Nm is available at 1370rpm less than a factory DS3R – guaranteeing a notably crisper mid-range acceleration driving experience.
Superchips is not at liberty to quote official performance figures but we’d venture that the DS3R’s 6.5sec benchmark 0-100 sprint time would be trimmed to about six dead after the ECU upgrade.
So, if you feel your standard DS3R’s not enabling you to live out your imitation Sebastien Loeb driving style optimally, a Superchips upgrade could be just the remedy…
