When Peugeot launched the RCZ in 2010, it was welcomed with worldwide acclaim. A brilliant rival to the Audi TT? Yes, and no.

Design-wise, it became a flagship model for Peugeot with its double-bubble roof and, on the driving front, it was very good too. In fact, it was the best Peugeot in about a decade to drive, but there was something missing. To really take on the TT, more power was needed.

Now, at last, Peugeot has gone for the jugular and given us the RCZ R – a more powerful version of the sexy coupe – will it hit the spot or is the TT still way out in front?

Performance

The RCZ R is the hot version of the sleek-looking coupe from Peugeot and, boy, it can shift. Under the bonnet, the R is propelled by a 270bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and this is mated to a super smooth six-speed manual ‘box.

Performance is very good: this version of the RCZ will complete the benchmark sprint in 6.1 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 155mph. That may not beat the likes of the Audi TT RS that achieves it in 4.4 seconds, but let’s just put those time into perspective: the Peugeot has a 1.6-litre petrol engine while the Audi has a 2.5-litre petrol engine and add around £12,000 to price in the RCZ R’s favour.

Ride and Handling

The chassis from the RCZ was a very good base to start from, as it handled very well. However, the boffins at Peugeot Sport have decided to rework the chassis

From the off, you feel like you are in a driver’s car – what every enthusiast wants – the engine noise is filtered into the cabin, the twin tailpipes make a beautiful noise and burble on the downshifts. Music to this tester’s ears. This is my very own music hall, no need for a stereo, these are the musical notes that I could listen to all day and not get bored. The chassis from the RCZ was a very good base to start from, as it handled very well. However, the boffins at Peugeot Sport have decided to rework the chassis. The R has a wider track, a lower ride height and a clever differential to help get the power down while maintaining traction. Clever eh? Take all the subtle changes into account and Peugeot Sport has drastically improved this car. It corners better, feels more stable and, all in all, is tons of fun. There is one downside - the steering is a little off, it could be better weighted, and it’s direct but seems a tad artificial. More connectivity with the driver through the steering would be the order of the day. It may not be as good to drive as an Audi TT RS but the Lion is getting closer to its German rival.

Interior and Equipment

Peugeot says that the double-bubble roof design of its RCZ Coupe was inspired by the roof of its Le Mans prototypes

The cabin of the RCZ is a splendid place to spend time. You are cocooned by the svelte Coupe lines. The driver’s seat is brilliant, the seat can be lowered for those that like a racing driver set-up while vision is actually quite good front and rear for a coupe. Plenty of equipment comes as standard thanks to this being the flagship model. A few highlights include a twin sports exhaust and front sports seats which are really supportive and uber comfortable. There’s also dual-zone climate control, a USB input, front and rear parking sensors and an audio system which you’ll probably not use too much as that engine noise we mentioned above is a glorious accompaniment on any journey. And yes, there is boot space, a rather hefty amount actually, up to 384 litres.

Cost

Emissions are reasonable, with the R chucking out 145g/km of CO2. It also claims to return around 44.8mpg

On the costs front, the RCZ is actually fairly well-priced and is considerably cheaper than the Audi TT RS – over £10,000 cheaper – that’s a hell of a saving. Emissions are reasonable too, with the R chucking out 145g/km of CO2. It also claims to return around 44.8mpg, but in real world driving expect somewhere in the region of 35mpg – of course that is dependent on how liberally you use the accelerator.

Our Verdict

A bloody good effort. Peugeot has made a car that we wanted from the initial launch. We all wanted a hot version and the R has delivered on many points. This car is entertaining and keeps you on your toes from time to time and it looks a brilliant purchase when comparing to rivals. The TT RS is fast but a little old in the tooth and is much more expensive. It also has that ‘something a little different’ vibe about it, which if you want a sports car to make you stick out from the crowd, is always welcomed. The smart ones may just well plump for the RCZ R - I know I would.