Peugeot RCZ - 2010

Peugeot RCZ - 2010

Picture the scene. A one-off, almost irreplaceable concept car has been let loose on the public road by the man who built it. Inside are two people, neither of whom is an employee of the company whose car it is. The driver (me) is enjoying the power and the pep, revelling in the fact that this concept car, unlike many, not only works, but works convincingly well.

People point, jaws drop – for some have seen this neat little coupé in the motoring press and can't believe they are now seeing it for real. I am trying to get past a slow cement lorry, and splatters of cement have formed on the Peugeot RCZ's unique, show-car bonnet. It's a surreal moment.

The car is returned to its creator. You must make a production version, I say, and so does everyone else who encounters it. What better way to rekindle Peugeot's lost art of style and driving fun?

Now, two years later and encouraged by the positive vibes, Peugeot has done just that. It looks almost exactly like the concept, right down to the double-bubble roof and rear window shaped to match. The bold rails that form the roofline were aluminium in the concept car and are aluminium-clad in the real thing, and you can have the roof in real carbonfibre if you like. There are changes from the concept, but they are mere details.

As a concept, it was known as 308 RCZ, because it was based on the 308 hatchback, but with wheels set further apart on the axles. This is still true, and the dashboard is still clearly 308-derived, albeit with posh leather and a smart clock in place of the central air vent. The air of luxury tells us this is a "premium" coupé – costing from £20,450 to £22,750 – perfectly placed to compete with the Audi TT whose profile it obviously resembles. But look past the leather upholstery and the metallic accents and you'll find hard plastics for the middle section of door trim and the glovebox. That's a pity.

The RCZ does look exotic from the outside, though. It's a neat, taut coupé with minimal rear seats and a self-raising rear spoiler, and in black with black wheels and the black chrome roof-arch option it looks particularly purposeful. Three engines will be offered, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 163bhp for the CO2-watchers, and a pair of 1.6-litre, direct-injection, turbo petrol engines with 156 or 200bhp. Part of a joint venture between Peugeot and BMW, similar engines are also found in Minis, but this new 200bhp unit uniquely combines variable valve timing and lift with a twin-scroll, fast-response turbocharger.

Most recent tales of sporting Peugeots have been laced with regret at a once-great talent lost. But Peugeot's newest family cars (308, 3008 and 5008) do show a return to form with their combination of precise steering and a supple ride. So I am optimistic as I settle into the seat of a diesel RCZ and head for the hills.

The dashboard may be 308-like but the driving position is lower-set and more sporting. Straight away some optimism is rewarded, because this RCZ is smooth, quiet, supple over bumps, and accurate in the steering. The engine pulls with the gusto expected of a modern turbodiesel, yet it spins more freely than most and sounds as if it enjoys the process. This is a promising combination of engine and sports coupé, but something is missing. Could it be just a little sharper when turning into a tight bend? Could it give its driver just a little more chance to balance the flow of power and steering on an interesting road? Rehabilitation isn't complete yet.

And so to the RCZ 200 THP, with that new turbo engine and a standard-fit Sport pack. This includes a slightly smaller steering wheel which should clearly be standard, because it's one reason for this car's greater flickability on tight, twisty roads. Another is the lighter engine, a third is that the front suspension uses stronger pivots on a stronger subframe and so feels crisper and more direct in its responses.

And yes, this is it. This is the Peugeot that puts things right, the Peugeot that augurs well for the next hot hatchback that the company has hinted is on its way. The engine pulls with crisp-edged energy, and the way this RCZ copes with one of the best driving roads I have ever experienced (in the mountains west of Bilbao) will stay with me a long time. This is one entertaining car, a car which involves you in the art and science of automotive dynamics in the way a TT just does not.

I'd have one over any TT, because it's just as well made, it's more fun and it costs less. Convinced? You should be.

Like the original Audi TT, Peugeot's new RCZ is a stylish and compact sports coupe built on the platform of a mainstream, front-drive hatchback. But it's been a dozen years since the Volkswagen Golf-based German went into production, and three more since the TT concept was first revealed at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. Perhaps the French just wanted to be absolutely certain the idea would stick...

While Peugeot can't be accused of creating a hasty imitation, the similarities between the RCZ and TT are remarkable. The French car began as a concept unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt show. Turning it into a production car took three years. It's built on the platform of a volume-production European C-segment model, in this case the 308. Every one of these steps treads in the faded tracks of the TT. Price is the only point where Peugeot departs from the blueprint. Going on sale across Europe through May, the RCZ will wear price tags 20- to 25-percent lower than equivalent TT models.

This is a big discount, but the RCZ does not lack for style. It's easily the most convincing and cohesive car turned out by Peugeot's studios in recent years. The cab-forward proportions are pleasingly attractive, hinting at the presence of something powerful in the coupe's tail, even though in reality its four-cylinder engine resides up front. The stepped waistline provides a launching pad for a pair of athletically muscular haunches, while genuine aluminum garnishes the artful arc of pillars and roofline. And the rear of roof features a double-bubble form that continues through the rear glass. While vision to the rear and sides is good, the A-pillars can make properly sighting some corners impossible, and the front of the car is pretty much invisible from the driver's seat.

RCZ's interior is less original than its exterior. The Peugeot's circular air vents are reminiscent of the TT in particular and the neat stitching of the leather trim and upholstery of Audi in general. Like the TT, the rear seats aren't designed for full-size humans. Peugeot describes them as intended for "occasional use." Still, when flipped forward, the coupe's already reasonable 11 cubic feet of cargo capacity is doubled. One of few differences between RCZ and TT is that the Peugeot doesn't have a liftback. There's a normal trunk instead, with a two-position spoiler built into its lid.

Peugeot used to enjoy a stellar reputation for dynamic excellence, artfully blending ride and handling. The legend has lost its luster over the past decade, as the French futilely attempted to imitate the German chassis setup recipe. Instead they produced cars that lacked autobahn-speed handling precision, often combined with poor low-speed ride.

But renaissance is a French word, and the RCZ shows Peugeot knows what it means. Despite its relatively humble suspension design -- simple struts at the front, even simpler twist beam at the rear -- the coupe delivers an appetizing blend of grippy balance and bump-blotting ride, especially on 18-inch wheels and the standard spring and damper combination. With optional 19-inch wheels and sports suspension package the firmer rebound damping reduces comfort, but boosts cornering ability. The rack and pinion steering isn't particularly feelsome, but is quick and sharp, and the brakes are able to take a reasonable amount of punishment before turning -- like many a fine French cheese -- soft and smelly.

The RCZ's best engine does encourage brake abuse. Although closely related to the engine of the Mini (Peugeot parent PSA cooperated with Mini-owner BMW in its development), its 197-horsepower 1.6-liter direct-injection four with twin-scroll turbo version was French-developed. Peugeot engineers cite the RCZ's intercooler and Valvetronic variable valve timing and lift system tuning as being major points of difference. This is a good engine, combining a sweet rush of turbo thrust with exemplary refinement. Quick as opposed to manic, it delivers strong real-world performance.

Two other engines are available. One is a 154-horsepower low-tech 1.6-liter gasoline (minus direct injection and other refinements) that's the only RCZ engine teamed with an optional six-speed automatic transmission. The 161-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel (like the high-power 1.6-liter gasoline) is offered only with a reasonably slick six-speed manual.

Peugeot obviously sees the RCZ as a turning point for the brand. It's the first Peugeot ever to not have the company's usual three- or four-digit designation with one or two zeroes in the middle. It's also the first to feature a redesigned version of Peugeot's rampant lion badge. And derivative though the RCZ may be, it truly does deserve to stand apart from Peugeot's recent parade of mainstream mediocrity.

Specification

Model: Peugeot RCZ

Price: From £22,750 (range starts at £20,450). On sale now

Engine: 1,598cc, four cylinders, 16 valves, turbo, 200bhp at 5,500rpm, 206lb/ft at 1,770rpm

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive

Performance: 146mph, 0-62 in 7.6sec, 39.8mpg official average, CO2 159g/km

for more info check here

2010 Peugeot RCZ
Base Price	$32,000-$38,000 (est)
Vehicle layout	Front engine, FWD, 4-seat, 2-door coupe
Engine	1.6L/197-hp 203-lb-ft direct-injection turbo DOHC 16-valve in-line 4
Transmission	6-speed manual
Curb weight	2800-3000 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase	102.8 in
Length x width x height	168.8 x 72.6 x 53.5 in
0-62 mph	7.5 sec (mfr est)
EPA city/hwy econ	Not rated
On sale in U.S.	No