MOTORS REVIEW: PEUGEOT RCZ R Sports Coupé

HARING through Bedford Autodrome’s first set of chicanes, Peugeot’s latest creation shrugs off any suggestion of understeer and tacks through the direction changes with determined precision.

Such was the efficiency with which the RCZ R dispatched the rapid left-right that the near-180 degree left hander that follows is now approaching faster than I anticipated.

Hauling on the massive 380mm front brake discs, speed is shed quickly, but I need to turn in soon if I’m to stand any chance of hitting the corner’s apex.

Still trail-braking, I turn-in, the front tyres biting hard, but the rear steps wide, beginning to slide.

I don’t lift off the throttle, though, and with a little steering correction the RCZ R tears onto Bedford’s straight with the breadth of its turbocharged powerband summoning all 270bhp and 243lb.ft. of torque to pile on speed.

It’s not neck-wrenching thrust, but the RCZ R adds miles-per-hour in a barely-abating and linear surge.

To consider that this kind of pace and power is being delivered by a 1.6-litre, four-pot engine is little short of astonishing.

Another left-hander follows at the end of the straight and a glance down reveals that as we’re travelling at more than 110mph, there’s a need to summon that braking power again.

Again, I’ve left it a little late — determined to get as much as I can from my six-lap stint — and this time I can feel the RCZ R understeering as I exit the corner.

Under the advice of one of Bedford Autodrome’s track instructors, I apply more power and Peugeot’s Torsen differential comes into play, channelling power to the outside driven front wheel (the one with more traction on the corner exit).

It works. The RCZ R trims its line, dragging its front end on course and the car up the next straight.

On track the RCZ R is addictive, and it should be.

Originally developed for track racing, the package was put together by Peugeot Sport — the same outfit that developed Loeb’s Pikes Peak car.

Among the modifications are a reinforced engine block, con rods and pistons for the engine, a new exhaust, those aforementioned giant brakes and a 10mm drop in ride height.

There’s also firmer suspension, 19-inch alloys, and a fixed rear spoiler and front splitter which contribute a degree of downforce.

Peugeot have shaved 17kg from the weight of the standard, 200bhp RCZ, too.

The result is a 5.9-second sprint to 62mph and an electronically-limited 155mph top speed.

The cost of all this motorsport-inspired wizardry? £31,995.

But Peugeot also wanted their road racer to be as usable as the rest of its range. So fuel economy stands at 44.8mpg — an improvement on the 200bhp version — with CO2 emissions of just 145g/km.

A short road drive revealed that the RCZ has lost little of its drivability, but gained a huge hit of intensity when called upon, in R spec.

The firmer suspension manages to take the edge off most tarmac’s imperfections.

Only over speed humps or lumpen tarmac does it manifest itself as anything other than steadfast chassis control.

The RCZ’s 2+2 billing remains optimistic — in reality it would still struggle to accommodate more than two people — but up front there’s plenty of space and excellent sports seats have been added to the mix in the R, along with stylish red stitching for the leather trimmed dash and door inserts.

Sat-nav, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth handsfree phone connectivity are all among the standard kit.

Boasting more grunt, greater fuel economy, better emissions and a dose more road presence than an Audi TT, the RCZ R should be a real winner for Peugeot.

My initial exposure came to an end all too quickly but was enough to have me convinced Peugeot now has a very worthy flagship model – it’s fun on the road and a blast on track.

Even away from that Pikes Peak hillclimb, it seems like the French manufacturer has what it takes to reach soaring new heights...

First published FEBRUARY 7, 2014