Citroen Australia has combined with European design and styling specialists Sbarro to produce a one-off “rally” version of the Xsara Picasso MPV (minivan) which goes on sale “Down Under” later this year.
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The importer says the modified Picasso meets Australia#;s “kit car” rallying regulations but still has seating for five, albeit in racing seats with full racing seatbelts.
The Citroën Xsara Picasso Cup has a 175 kW two-litre engine in place of the 1.8 litre petrol unit specified for Australian production models and this is matched to a six speed manual gearbox.
Huge 19 inch alloy wheels with 255/40 series tyres complete the lowered sports suspension and stopping power is provided by four 370mm disc brakes.
Aside from flared wheel arches and deep front and rear body extensions, the major change to the Xsara Picasso’s body is the replacement of the four standard doors with two enormous “gull wing” doors which provide access to both the front and rear seats and allow substantial strengthening of the body shell so that it can cope with the much greater torsional stresses caused by racing and rallying the much more powerful model.
“Before anyone asks, we have no plans to go racing or rallying the Picasso when it is launched in Australia later this year,” says Miles Williams, general manager for Citroën in Australia.
“But the Cup does show what can be done.”
