Citroën introduced its latest C3 this summer. The little hatchback has taken on a funky likeness to the larger C4 Cactus?making the smaller C3 the, um, Shrub"?it’s otherwise a run-of-the-mill French ball of weird. Not so the WRC version, which Citroën showed off at the 2016 Paris auto show in nearly final form. It’s an angry ball of French weirdness with 380 horsepower.
Compared with a regular C3, the WRC version is fully FIA compliant and fitted with aggressive, aerodynamic bumpers and a rear spoiler, as well as an electronically controlled differential. Citroën kept the C3’s signature design elements, namely its unique roof treatment and the front end’s chrome chevron badges. Predictably, the race car looks the business and is quite cool, but we’d be remiss for not mentioning that the loss of the production model’s Air Bump body-side-protecting air bladders is a shame. Think of how handy they’d be when, say, bombing down a rally stage!
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Air Bump bumps aside, the C3 WRC car will be a serious machine when it makes its debut at the 2017 Rallye Monte-Carlo in January; Citroën intends to build on its eight manufacturer’s titles and 96 rally victories in WRC competition.

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