Now the Peugeot RCZ hits our shores

 Standing next to an Audi TT at the traffic light, one would have an illusion that the TT is about to lose its title to the realm of French engineering just by looking at the mean sporty design of the Peugeot RCZ, the best way to shake off such a feeling is to wait a few more seconds for the light to go green though. You will soon realize that when it comes to guts the Germans will always stand one step ahead of most European nations in terms of automotive engineering. It is like asking the question; who between Adolf Hitler and Nicholas Sarkozy is more likely to pull the lever at the gas chambers. However we need to give props and commend Peugeot for picking themselves up and climbing back into the proverbial ring. The last compact coupe I could remember from Peugeot which I was not impressed with I might add, was the hard top convertible 206cc which was too much of a scram for my liking and quite girly too (no pun intended). The RCZ on the other hand may be their best compact by far as far as I am concerned.

This French production concept was first launched at the Frankfurt motor show in May 2010 and sold over Europe in a limited edition version and now hits the shores of sunny South Africa.

Besides the fact that the RCZ looks very much like the Audi TT, it will be recommended not to mention the two in one sentence if we were to have an objective review on the Peugeot.

Honestly, the RCZ is a true beauty viewed from the rear, until you go around and realize that it is indeed a Peugeot with an unnecessary thick black patch below the badge almost covering the whole bumper, that’s almost like getting married to a Brazilian sex worker. And the badge, I don’t think it would ever be big enough. While I would irrevocably admit that the RCZ is a beauty, I in the same breath cannot help using the word ‘but’ in the same sentence. Somehow the best way to get noticed in the RCZ would seem to always drive it in reverse. I believe the designers focused more on developing the rear perhaps to dazzle old people and quadriplegics who may not turn very quickly. Well, they managed to do that very well as you may not easily tell whether this is a rear or front engine make at first glance. The twin tunnel roof and rear window reminds me somewhat of a Ferrari 458 Spider, though in the Ferrari this would be meant to accommodate the 2x 6-cylinder V12 engines and heat ventilations respectively.

Directional Xenon headlamps and parking distance control comes standard in the RCZ with an option to add more extras like heated leather seats and WIP COM 3D. The 19” sport alloy wheels, ventilated disks and ruggedized brake calipers gives the impression that the car is meant to leave a cloud of smoke on the track and dismay the competition plus given all these other resemblances to mid and high performance sports cars, I must admit it came as a shock to learn that the RCZ is only equipped with a blasphemous 1.6 liter (petrol) engine at an insulting 115kw breaking a lousy 156 horse power  regardless of boasting a 6 speed manual gearbox and racing functionalities. The RCZ has a cross over between an engine powered enough for a pedophilic school teacher interested in young boys and a look designed for a high class exotic club owner’s gold digging wife. This is a truly disappointing phenomena about the RCZ, somehow Peugeot wanted to play it safe by not really signing themselves up for high performance and eco-unfriendly engineering like the Italians and the Germans. Perhaps the Kioto protocol and the Cop Mop 17 were received very well in France.

I must say, I still have my neck raised in anticipation for a bigger version of the engine, perhaps in a GTi, hopefully with a metal honeycomb grille replacement and a smaller badge, no pressure though it’s not like we are really queuing for it anyway. The RCZ is already available in selected Peugeot dealerships across the country at an estimated R 380 000.

www.autozeen.co.za

TMakhubedu- Editor- Autozeen

Peugeot RCZ hits our shores