Peugeot RCZ packs a punch
But while the sports car was visually stunning and completely unique, its capacity to thrill was always going to be something of a bug-bear for potential owners.
The main thing about the car was nothing to do with its sensational looks - characterised by such as the ‘double-bubble’ roof design - but more to do with performance.
Originally powered by a two litre HDi turbodiesel - not necessarily assured of getting the adrenaline pumping in any normal petrolhead - it was a decent performer, but not something that would get your hair standing on end. The RCZ certainly looked the part, but it never truly lit the fuse of enthusiasts.
Well, Peugeot took whatever criticism it got on the chin, went away for a little think and came up with a revamped RCZ - one with a little more rocket in its pocket.
They introduced a smaller capacity 1.6 litre petrol engine and handed things over to its’ Peugeot Sport division to revamp the rest of the running gear and suspensions. What they have produced is the fastest production Peugeot ever built and in doing so they have reaped the wealth of experience that Peugeot Sport has built up from years of competing in international rallying and at Le Mans, as well as thrashing the hill record at the Pikes Peak challenge in the States.
The result is a completely reformed character and one which will certainly perk up the interest of anyone with any sort of engine oil in their veins. In actual fact, the RCZ ‘R’ as it now is, is quite an astonishing technical feat and, while I did not get to drive it over a particularly long period of time - due mainly to the fact the press car is in such demand - it nevertheless left a very favourable impression.
The 1.6 litre engine (a variation of which is also seen in the Mini) is a good starting point for examining this beast. This is a 1,598 cc four cylinder turbocharged powerplant with 16V technology and stuff like forged aluminium pistons and new conrods, twin scroll turbos and a whole lot more. It produces some 199 kW (270 bhp) at a pleasingly screeching 6,000 rpm and a valuable 320 Nm of torque from just 2,000 rpm. The results are pretty astonishing.
The 0-100 kph dash is now achieved in under six seconds and the top speed is limited to 250 mph. But figures such as the 50-120 kph time of 5.5 seconds clearly illustrate the capability.You can assess the level of grunt here simply by getting onto the loud pedal early and often in the higher gears and while there are obvious levels of torque steer - not to mention a tendency to spin the wheels - the car’s willingness is pretty evident. However, for all the RCZ R’s ability, in poor conditions it will struggle badly to organise all its armoury and you really have to be careful before it bites you - as bite it will.
Worth noting too that on anything other than a billiard table road surface the roar from the bespoke 235/40 R 19 Goodyears is pretty dreadful and something owners will have to live with.
Even so, grip and traction levels are excellent and the handling is very confidence-inspiring once you don’t overdo the enthusiasm levels on the throttle. The mechanical limited slip diff on the front wheels plays an obvious part here.Certainly the stiffness of the revised chassis will not be to the taste of some driver, but for those with any bit of jizz in them, it provides a direct connectivity with the heart of the RCZ ‘R’ and bestows on car and driver a mutual symbiosis that will only gladden the heart.
The looks of the thing are still great - the only real visible difference between the two are the fixed rear wing and the matt black roof pillars. The interior is a joyous place to be and the combination of all these things can do nothing but good for Peugeot’s image.
Indeed, the only real down side of the RCZ R is the price. At north of €50,000, it may well be a push to sell them.
Sad, but true.
