Late last year, Citroen->ke22 unveiled the DS 5LS, a compact sedan->ke142 specifically developed for the Chinese market. The four-door sports an attractive design, a high-quality interior and turbocharged 1.6-liter engines that deliver up to 200 horsepower. In short, the DS 5LS is among the coolest ten cars we can't drive in the U.S.

And if that grinds your gears, then it's time to find out that the French are planning to unveil an even hotter version of the sedan->ke142 at the upcoming Beijing International Auto Show->ke2062. It's been christened DS 5LS R and packed with more power, a more luxurious interior, and wrapped in a sporty body that pays tribute to Citroen's racing->ke447 heritage.

No need to blow a fuse yet, the DS 5LS R is only a concept car->ke169, at least until the manufacturer says otherwise. However, we do feel the need to stress the fact that Citroen absence from the U.S. market is getting increasingly frustrating as their most impressive offerings are taking the road to China.

Click past the jump to read more about the Citroen DS 5LS R Concept.

2014 Citroen DS 5LS R Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Citroen DS 5LS R Concept
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 300
  • Torque: 295
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

To be showcased starting April 20th, the DS 5LS R differs from the production sedan already available in China by its lowered suspension and unique exterior color, the latter enhanced by carbon-fiber inserts, flared fenders and aerodynamic-enhancing bits and pieces.

The window surrounds are now black, as opposed to chrome on the DS 5LS, while the regular DS logos have been replaced by R badges. The anodized Carmine Red body, which is rounded off with a matte metallic finish for a premium result, is complemented by a carbon-like, matte black stripe that runs down each of the front doors.

Interior

Citroen opted to dress the entire cabin in black leather and Alcantara, with only a few Carmine Red inserts and stitches to lighten up the mood. Carbon-fiber inlays can be seen on the door panels and door handles, as well as on the flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Additionally, a new pair of sports seats wearing R logos have been created for this concept car.

Drivetrain

Now this is where it all gets spectacular. The DS 5LS R is powered by the same turbocharged, 1.6-liter mill fitted in the production car, but Citroen increased the output by no less than 50 percent. The sedan has 304 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, quite a lot given the available displacement.

That's about the same power as the DS3 WRC rally car, which means the French didn't exaggerate by saying the concept car is "a nod to Citroen’s World Rally Championship pedigree". The horses are transferred to the wheels via a sequential gearbox operated by paddles placed behind the steering wheel.

When Can I Drive One?

Err... this is where the dream crumbles to pieces. Even if the DS 5LS R is green-lighted for production, you may not get to drive it unless you sign up for a test drive in China or pack your stuff and move altogether.

Conclusion

Mixing a four-door body with luxury and 300 horsepower sounds damn good. You know, this concept car has more hp per liter than the 2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. However, we can't consider the DS 5LS R more than just a concept car for the time being, and a China-exclusive production version won't be enough for validation.