Peugeot RCZ-R Road Test - Sports Cars
Special RCZ
When in 2009 Peugeot decided to produce one sports coupehe knew it would be a difficult market. Coupes are less and less in vogue, and hot hatchbacks are cool, in vogue and offer the same speed, dynamics and more space than a low-profile sports car with two dry seats (2 + 2 if you're lucky).
RCZ did not have the commercial success it had hoped for, and for that reason, Peugeot CEO Maxim Pikat said the car would have no heir. It's a shame because RCZ has extra talent.
I face one R black, the most extreme version of the French coupe, artfully designed by the experts Peugeot Sports.
At first glance, the R is not much different from the regular RCZ; but if you look closely, you immediately realize that there is something special about it. Just look at the 19-inch alloy front wheels with 235/45 tires to admire the great design. brakes Disc 380 mm with six swinging elements; and the size of the brakes speaks volumes about the car's ability to accelerate.
Numbers R
1.6 THP has been deeply overhauled; now it produces 270 hp. at 6.000 rpm and 330 Nm of torque, which is a lot for the sixth thousand. BUT limited slip differential Torsen, while the skin was lowered by one centimeter and reinforced. 0-100 km / h is covered in 5,9 seconds, and the top speed is 250 km / h.
THE interior They are very neat: the Alcantara® leather seats are fantastic and the abundance of leather is adorned with red stitching. The steering wheel is the right size (we don't find the i-cockpit 208 GTi on the RCZ) and the driver's position is almost perfect. There's also a curious analogue clock on the dashboard (Maserati style?) And a few '90s-style car radio buttons that clash a bit in a cockpit like this.
I've already had the opportunity to test the RCZ in the 1.6 THP version of 200 hp: it's a great grand tourer, but lacks the liveliness and sharpness of a true sports car.
I turn the R key with some fear and some bewilderment, but I need a few hundred meters to clear my doubts.
From track to road
The R is tight, focused, and the frame keeps you informed of everything that's going on under the wheels. The presence of the differential is felt even at low speeds and is so “stretched” that it seems as if it was pulled out of a race car and brutally transplanted to the road version.
The sound also expresses belligerent intentions: with each flexion of the right leg sound it gets fuller and deeper, and the turbo blows and snorts with enthusiasm and, I must admit, with some satisfaction.
Once you find the right path - the one that leads to the top of Mottarone, a mountain located between lakes Orta and Maggiore - the true soul of Peugeot is immediately revealed.
No sport modes or fiendishness that changes the pitch and sound of the engine, just a little black button labeled "ESP OFF". R is a professional car with physical steering and uncompromising handling.
The determination he faces with a difficult and confusing mixture.
Dynamic skills
There is no set-up delay, just as there is no roll while driving, while the limited-slip differential pulls the front wheels to the cable point as if they were being pulled by a giant magnet.
There's not even a shadow of that slight, reassuring understeer that comes with approaching the limit; The RCZ, on the other hand, pays off with a genuine frame and steering so rich in feedback that you know exactly how much traction is left.
The front is firm and firm, and the back follows quickly and surely, like a dog; L ' balance it's a bit of oversteer overall, but thanks to the long wheelbase, oversteer is never caught off guard and can be corrected with a few quick steering wheel interventions.
Traction engine it's not the kind that sticks you to the seat, but it pulls resolutely to 6.000 rpm, accompanied by sound at altitude. The answer is delayed, but it is, nevertheless, held back, especially given the engine displacement.
Il Speed with a short stroke and slightly stiff grafts, it is a pleasure to maneuver, and the close ratio helps never to get out of breath. The only drawback is too much sticking between second and third, which is annoying for sporty riding.
At civilian speeds, the engine is resilient, and you can easily leave the sixth on and drive with a little gasoline, avoiding frequent gas stops. I don't remember what the last 270 hp car I tested was capable of driving 17 km on one liter on suburban roads.
findings
It's a shame the RCZ won't have an heir, because the R is the best Peugeot I've ever driven and one of the most efficient, fastest and most attractive front wheel drive sports cars.
The R price is € 41.900, which is XNUMX € more than the entry-level Audi TT.
If driving pleasure and performance are your priorities, the RCZ is the best you can find: brakes, gearbox, engine and suspension are perfectly tuned and work together to make the R deadly weapon.
It may not have the same appeal or the same amount of technical gadgets as the German coupes, but it is also the only one to offer you such an impressive driving experience.
