Peugeot RCZ R
2014 2015
WITH ITS DOUBLE BUBBLE canopy, long rear deck and squat, wide stance, the RCZ almost looks like a mid-engined sports car, not a coupe on humble 308 underpinnings. Nine years on, the twoplus-two coupe still looks fabulous.
Peugeot initially offered the RCZ with two 1.6-litre petrol engines (154bhp and 197bhp) and a diesel. Today, those models are strong value. The 154bhp petrol and turbodiesel are now down below £7k for good cars showing 60k-70k miles, with occasional 197bhp petrols in the same bracket with higher miles. They’re solid but unspectacular things to drive, but perfect if you want head-turning looks with affordable running costs – the diesel claims 53mpg on the combined cycle.
But it’s the RCZ R that gave the RCZ the power and mechanical integrity to match its outlandish looks. Launched in 2014, with production outsourced to Magna Steyr, the R’s version of the 1.6-litre engine is warmed over with lightweight aluminium pistons, revised bearings, a heat-treated block and twin-scroll turbo, its 270bhp making it the most powerful roadgoing 1.6 ever.
The chassis was lavished with proper mechanical hardware, including dampers developed in-house by Peugeot Sport, Alcon brake discs with four-piston calipers and a Torsen diff.
Combine all that with a relatively low kerbweight of 1355kg and you’ve got all the ingredients for a great drive: sharp, supple, playful and with a raucous engine that takes a little time to wake up but then rips for the redline.
Peugeot stopped production of the R in 2015. Rare and overlooked today, it’s a great driver’s car available from £14k.