The VTS was the sportiest version of the little Citroen C2.
It was built for the masses but it received approval for a Rally Car. It was a nimble and precise tool in the right hands. In the others, it was just a faster super-mini hot-hatch.

The big battle for the super-mini category was spread from the compact hot-hatches to the small and the super-mini segments. While in the other two categories Renault scored important points with its Megane RS and Clio RS, Citroen tried its luck to get the crown for a smaller category and introduced the VTS.

The C2 VTS was available as a three-door hatchback only. It’s square and swept-back headlights on the front were continued to a very short hood and almost 45 degrees A-pillars. The car just wasn’t long enough to put some proper angled windshield on it. The small cabin was abruptly ended in the back, with a roof-spoiler over the tailgate. The car featured special VTS light-alloy wheels and VTS badges.

Inside, the sport-bucket seats with leather upholstery and the aluminum pedals inspired a racy atmosphere. The silver rim around the buttons on the center stack and the ring around the gear-stick amplified that feeling. There was no white dial speedometer or tachometer in the instrument cluster. Just a big LCD in the middle and two light-rows on its sides. That wasn’t sporty at all. The car was fitted with a pair of seats in the back, good for two small children.

The magic was under the hood, where the French engineers found a way to stick a 1.6-liter gasoline engine in there. It was naturally aspirated and offered 125 hp, which were enough to move the 1084 (2390 lbs) in a fast-pace. But the 5-speed gearbox was just not enough for it.