The racy RCZ R is sexy, aggressive and sleek – and it’s not German for a change writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? The RCZ-R is the most powerful and performance-focused road car ever offered by the French car maker.
Who is it aimed at? Inspired by the Peugeot RCZ Racing Cup track car this is a car for keen drivers.
Styling? The R’s extra power is evident from every angle, it sits 10 millimetres lower than the standard car on wider wheels and the matt black roof arches, rear spoiler, Xenon headlamps and a twin sports exhaust give it a much more sporty and aggressive look.
Under the Bonnet?The engine is the same 1.6 used in the standard RCZ but the power has increased by 70bhp to 270 so it now goes from 0-100 in just under six seconds and has a top speed of 250kph.
What about inside? The RCZ R looks as good inside as it does from the outside with the sport instrument cluster red stitching throughout, and body-hugging leather seats. Lurking beneath that big rear wing is a surprisingly practical. The rear seats in the RCZ-R are for “occasional use” claim Peugeot but no occasion springs to mind that would allow anything human fit in them. Passengers in the rear of both Audi’s TT and BMWs two series certainly fare better
On the Road? Instantly it is clear that the R does indeed stand for racing with tight handling, responsive steering, the power just surges when you accelerate and the RCZ R is furiously fast. Another big surprise about this car is the tenacious grip, this is no rear wheel drive car so sending so much power to the front wheels is optimistic at best but the chassis is responsive enough to cope. The steering is really sharp with loads of feedback and the six-speed manual shifts seamlessly.
And Safety? The regular RCZ hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP but with four airbags as standard and a wider track to improve traction on the R Version safety wont be a problem but fending off admirers might be.
Will it break the bank? The R version comes with a price tag of €53,000 that’s a hefty €12,000 more than the standard RCZ.
Economy?It can deliver an impressive 6.3l/100km or 44.8mpg and boasts 145g/km CO2, all of which are astounding figures for a high-performance car.
Verdict? Sports coupes are all about compromises and practicality is not the main consideration. So once you abandon all thoughts of shoehorning actual people in to the back seats you begin to appreciate the RCZ R for what it is; a race-bred road car. It will turn heads and put a smile on your face and in a market that the Germans have dominated for so long it is nice to see the French providing some serious competition.
Why you’ll buy one? Good looks, Driving dynamics
Why you won’t? Price; Cramped rear
Rivals
Audi TT – From €46,700
BMW 2 series – From €38,480
Watch our video review below (Video Filming by Kyran O’Brien)
Peugeot RCZ R
Engine: 1598cc, 270bhp @ 6,000 RPM, 330 Nm @ 1,900rpm
Max speed: 5.9 seconds
0-100 kph: 250kph
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 145g/km (€390)
Model price: €53,000
No of Doors: 2 doors
Euro NCAP : Not tested
Fuel type: Petrol
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 6.3l/100km or 44.8mpg
Boot Capacity Seats up: 309 litres
Length: 4294mm
Width: 1845mm
Height: 1352mm
Wheelbase: 2612 mm
For more information visit peugeot.ie or the Peugeot Ireland Facebook page.or view our video review
Geraldine Herbert
7th November, 2014
