The Xsara World Rally Car, based on the road-going Xsara hatchback but ultimately having very little resemblance to it under the skin, was a major competitor in the World Rally Championship and one of the most successful cars in WRC history. The car took Frenchman Sébastien Loeb to 28 rally wins, three consecutive Driver’s Championship titles from 2004 to 2006, and Citroën to three consecutive Manufacturer’s Championship titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Although it is the Frenchman who has proved the archetype Xsara WRC pilot virtually since its 2001 conception, Jesus Puras, Carlos Sainz and Francois Duval are among the other drivers to have won.

World Rally Champions, Citroen, showed its latest look for the triumphant Xsara WRC car ready for the start of this year’s 16 event world rally championship at Monte Carlo this week (22nd to 25th January).

The Xsara has an enviable record on the Monte Carlo Rally having taken all three podium places last year, its first full season, and second place the year before when it competed as part of the car’s development programme.

Last year’s winner, 29 year old French, Sebastien Loeb will this year drive car number 3 whilst team mate Carlos Sainz, takes car number 4. Both Citroen drivers are unique in that they are the only two drivers in the entire field who have won the Monte Carlo Rally on previous occasions.

Yet despite this pedigree and starting as rally favorite, Loeb mixes caution with confidence, “Like everyone, I want to do well but starting favorite is an added pressure, but one I have had experience of. The five asphalt rallies we did in 2003 did not all end well, but I won three of them and momentarily led the other two. That’s good for confidence.”

During 2003 the Citroen Xsara WRC won the manufacturer’s title amassing 160 points with 13 podium finishes including seconds in Australia and Rally Wales GB and four outright rally wins (Monte Carlo, Turkey, Germany and San Remo).

Franco SBARRO, a well known French construction designer obtained a chance to modify and tune vehicles for Citroen and its best-seller Xsara Picasso. Conditions were clear: it should be a fully functional racing version meeting all necessary requirements of the motor sport. Except of one condition – it should be for four passengers.

The Citroen Xsara Picasso Cup has intestines as the engine or transmission from the Peugeot 306 S16. The engine is a 2.0 liter producing 175kw and it replaced its stock 1.8 liter gasoline aggregate. Also there’s a 6-speed transmission that come from the Peugeot model. The vehicle is proud of its beautiful massive 19“ rims with 255/40 tires. Of course, that its original suspension was replaced with a racing, fully adjustable version from the Citroen Xsara Kit Car. This is also the case of braking system where we can find 8-piston brake calipers and 370mm brake discs.

Besides these drastic changes of handling and performance, there are other changes all over the car. It was broadened with massive fenders and extreme front and rear bumpers. But the most noticeable changes were made on the central part. Franco Sbarro decided that four doors are too much so now we can enjoy two gull-wing doors. In addition to the unique entrance, the change makes the chassis more stabile and stronger to avoid torsional distortion.

Franco Sbarro and Citroen show that isn’t impossible to create the beast like this from an ordinary family car. One of the Citroen spokesman said: “This Picasso has same genetics as our Xsara Coupe VTS and unbeatable champion Xsara Coupe WRC. “ So we hope that this study will be pleasure not only for all Xsara owners but also for all enthusiasts and tuning fans.

So today we’d like to present you a car that was introduced few years ago on international motors shows, but its beauty lures nowadays too. It’s a design (but fully functional) study of Xsara Picasso by Citroen. There’s a word „Cup“ in the name, but it’s no simple, like we‘re used in the case of design and prototypes.