And unlike many of the concepts transitioning to the real world of regulations and production feasibility, the RCZ was satisfyingly close, if not quite identical, to the original. The soft longitudinal indentation that ran from the roof and into the rear window was still there, creating the so-called double-bubble profile of many Zagato-bodied cars, so were the swooping polished aluminium roof trims and so was a front-end design heavily reminiscent of the rather less exciting 308 hatchback it was intended to glamorise. Although the 308 prefix was dropped for the production model, making this the first production Peugeot not to carry a three-digit number with a zero in it.
Being 308-based, the RCZ was front-wheel drive – potentially a slight downer for enthusiasts except that, in the past, Peugeot’s supremely entertaining 106 Rallye, 205 GT, 306 GTi-6 and 405 Mi16 demonstrated that you could have at least as much fun with this mechanical format as with a rear-driver. Engines included a 1.6 turbo petrol of 154bhp (the so-called Prince engine shared with Mini), the same unit with 197bhp and an HDi diesel of 161bhp, the last of these a popular choice in the era before oil-burner vilification. The result was never less than brisk performance: the diesel pumped enough torque to lightly outsprint the base petrol engine’s 8.4sec 0-62mph time, while the 197bhp version achieved the same feat in 7.5sec.
So, did it handle? It did. The Pug’s thrusting nose was an eager nuzzler of apexes, its steely grip and fine balance allowing high cornering speeds. This was a better-handling Peugeot than of late, the more so because you were enjoying it in a low-sling, glamorous coupé. Truth was, though, that the RCZ’s steering was largely mute, and its suspension well short of serving the exquisite poise delivered by those fabled earlier models.
Still, the RCZ had a classy, well-made cabin, it looked terrific and it was relatively affordable. It sold well, and the spotlight once again shone on its slinky curves when the RCZ R was announced, this a 266bhp version with a Torsen diff, Alcon suspension upgrades, reduced weight and a 5.9sec 0-62mph. The R’s girded chassis easily handled the extra power and turned the RCZ into a truly rapid machine, if still one of somewhat dulled tactile messaging.
