Peugeot Rcz-R

WHILE the Peugeot RCZ has always been an attractive car with decent performance  and handling, the flagship R model transforms this stylish coupe into a sharp, focused, track day special.

It benefits from bespoke, race-bred components developed by Peugeot Sport - the division behind Peugeot's successful rally and endurance programmes including uprated brakes, tuned suspension, more power and an aggressive bodykit.

The results are simply stunning, because as well as sharper looks, the  car has been endowed with fantastic handling that belies its front-wheel-drive roots. The fast steering has the RCZ-R pointing where you want to go before you've even had time to think about it, while the light rear end willingly follows.

A limited-slip di ff  helps the coupe find  its way around corners, with superb traction even in the tightest turns. Fire out the other side,  and there's instant throttle response, and the 1.6-litre turbo races to its 7,000rpm red line. The six-speed manual gearbox doesn't have the sharpest shift, but it's good enough to keep the engine on the boil and doesn't detract from the driving experience.

On top of all this, though, the suspension still manages to serve up a respectable amount of comfort - so this is one focused driver's car that you could live with on a daily basis.

Price:  82,000 
Engine:  1.6-litre 4cyl turbo 
Power:  270bhp
Torque:  330Nm 
0-62mph:  5.9 sees 
Top spd:  155mph