BOSS PEUGEOT RCZ R HEADED FOR MZANSI

Peugeot has revealed the RCZ R, a more powerful version of the RCZ. And luckily, you will be able to get and close and personal with the car at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS) this October. Mzansi sales begin in mid-2014 sometime.

For its sins, the RCZ R gets a revised version of the 1.6-litre turbo engine already found in the normal car. But instead of the 147kW delivered, it boosts itself to 199kW at 6000rpm, with maximum pulling torque of 330Nm from 1900rpm. The 0 – 100km/h time is slashed to just 5.9 seconds, while top end is limited to 250km/h. It is still being pulled by the two front wheels using the same 6-speed manual gearbox, so expect gigabytes of fun and frolic. The only major difference now is that a Torsen limited slip differential (LSD) makes things even more engaging by increasing road grip.

“Our specification was ambitious, to develop a more intense version of the RCZ, that is ultra-high-performance for sporting use on a circuit, retaining the qualities of comfort and pleasure for everyday use, and all with benchmark consumption and CO2  emissions,” says Xavier Nicolas, RCZ Product Manager. As such the car is said to drink only 6.3 litres per 100km, breathing out 145g of C02 emissions per km.

The suspension system has been lowered by 10mm, while it runs on 19-inch alloy wheels. Other standout features include R badging, carbon fibre roof, red brake calipers, a large fixed rear spoiler, a rear diffuser and two chromed tailpipes with a new sound. Inside there are sports bucket seats with leather and alcantara, vast red stitching, a short stubby gear lever finished in aluminium, a short flat-bottom steering wheel and piano black touches.

RCZ R, being a tight 2+2 seat coupe of that kind of power, probably competes with no other car directly, with the Volkswagen Scirocco R and the susbtantially more powerful Audi TT RS perhaps being the closest rivals.