Looking to gain muscle recognition at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show later this month, Citroën has taken the wraps off the DS 5LS R Concept which packs a whopping 300 hp under the hood.
The concept is based on the Chinese-market long wheelbase DS 5, but that’s where the similarity ends. Citroën outfitted the 5LS R with a WRC-inspired 1.6-liter turbocharged engine (also found in the Peugeot RCZ), producing 300-horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The chassis has been lowered by 15mm and features a wider front-track than the standard DS 5, 20-inch distinctive wheels, and new brakes engineered to bring it to a halt.
Citroën hasn’t revealed how power gets to the ground yet although they have disclosed that it will be through a sequential paddle-shift gearbox.
A lower body kit surround is designed to draw attention to its aggressive stance and the purple-on-dark gray color scheme sports a vertical stripe on the front doors a la Audi R8. Inside the sports theme is also emphasized with leather upholstery, Alcantara, carbon fiber veneer and a stopwatch on the dashboard.
Whether the DS 5LS R makes in onto production and actually outside of China remains to be seen. We’re still waiting to see what becomes of the Numero 9 Concept that Citroën showed last year which was supposed to make it to the streets of Bejing.