My association with the Peugeot brand goes back a long time, to the time I was just 4 years old when I could barely pop my head out the sunroof of my father's Peugeot 404 in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), right up to my mom's 504 which she bought in 1978.
After that early impression it made on me, Peugeot more or less went into obscurity, at least, that's what I felt for the brand in the Thai market, and even if other models rolled out over time, like the 407 or the 308 CC, they didn't quite fit the bill, so to speak.
Rear spoiler can be manually activated.
More recently I whisked off to the Basque region of Spain for a Peugeot RCZ test drive and all of a sudden I willing to sing praise for its design, vehicle dynamics and on-road maturity.
First, it looks like just as it did when it made its debut as a concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show and was later announced as a series production at the 2008 Geneva motor show. Secondly, hats off to the Frenchmen for delivering the RCZ from clay model to production line in only two years! Last but not least, it looks darn near like an Audi TT, but that's only my opinion.
After driving some 240 kilometres in the RCZ, the beauty of the Basque region with its mountainous terrain asserts itself, its scenic magnificence laying to rest any qualms one may have that it is violence-prone and home to a separatist movement. Actually, during the test drive I was bombarded with questions about the situation back home.
Between the HDi’s ample amount of torque and the appealing sound engineering of the petrol head, my vote goes for the latter.
As we arrive at the Gaudi-esque Marques de Riscal hotel (yeah, one and the same with the Spanish wine label) it's obvious that the RCZ is a very well thought out product, possibly a torch-bearing Peugeot sports car.
Three engines were available at the time of the drive (see graphic). The test car was the range-topping 200hp 1.6-litre, which features unique technologies allowing it to attain a high level of efficiency in terms of performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Appealing design is what strikes the eye at first glimpse. Like the Audi TT, the RCZ has a low wide appearance, accentuated by a double-bubble roof that eases into the rear windscreen, and has a whiff of the Porsche Boxster after having watched standing behind the car for a while. An awesome coupe', probably best looking in the Peugeot lineup in a long time.
The two aluminum arches define a sense of continuity which supports the black roof and dark tinted rear windscreen. The rear spoiler can be manually activated 34 degrees by pressing a button on the centre console.
The interior is sporty and stylish with chrome instrument cluster, rich leather seats and steering wheel that's adjustable for reach and rake.
Turbo-petrol engine is eager.
I didn't try sitting in the rear based on the size and position of the seats which is compromised by the bubble-roof's position.
The RCZ uses the "Platform 2" shared by the 308 hatch, 308 CC, 3008 crossover and 5008 MPV, but with tweaked configurations, wider tracks and lower centre of gravity.
Ride quality on the 18-inchers is excellent over much of Basque's winding terrain and back roads to elicit the RCZ's engineering prowess on the tarmac.
On the first leg of the drive, the RCZ felt refined and ate up corners with an eagerness rarely felt in Peugeots of recent years, while the manual gearbox was quite precise in feel.
The engine is eager right from standstill, and still has enough oomph in the mid-range. But the highlight is the addictive "engine melody" produced by the turbo in the petrol head. On the contrary, the diesel fails or is lacking due to the conventional noise that we are all used to.
After deciding that it's pointless to try and keep up with my Malaysian colleagues, I proceeded to attack corners with a zeal that I'd term as overly enthusiastic for my age.
Chromed instrument cluster looks stylish.
The RCZ corners brilliantly and road grip is undeniably sufficient. It's so un-Peugeot, so to speak. Throughout the winding roads, sloping up and down at varying speeds (as bicyclists passed on unkind words thanks to some nifty but fast driving on part of the RCZs in front of me) the RCZ hugs the road effortlessly, and you begin to realise that this Peugeot can take just about anything you throw at it with the exception of sharp undulations and bumps that sort of jerked my navigator from her Blackberry every once in a while.
The steering is precise with lots of sensation to allow you to drive the bejeezers out of this coupe'. The brakes do not even contribute to slight fish-tailing while tapping it gently on turns (I don't recommend it but as a case in point). Wish I'd turn off the ESP, but the precious cargo and my esteemed navigator, were certainly not worth a corrective manoeuvre.
Cabin has rich amount of leather.
Between the HDi's ample amount of torque and the appealing sound engineering of the petrol head, my vote goes for the latter based on its eagerness and simply the way it sounded.
There's loads of technology on board: Intelligent Traction Control (more or less grip on each of front wheels pending road conditions), Hill Assist (holds the vehicle on gradients), WIP or World in Peugeot telematic range (audio system, COM 3D such as satnav, MP3 DVD/CD and WMA, Bluetooth, Jukebox function for copying favourite tunes to 10GB hard disc, and USB connector).
Actually, the navigation system saved the day on the second leg of the drive as I continued my dubious distinction of managing to get myself lost on the road, yet again.
The Peugeot RCZ is a looker by all means. Well, there's the Audi TT and even the BMW Z4 to choose from with higher price tags in the B4m range (expect the RCZ to fall in the B3m range on Thai shores) and slightly heightened image factors when compared to this gem of a coupe'.
But like I said, the RCZ is a delicious-looking babe magnet that justifies its road capabilities with enthusiastic performance and fine driving dynamics.
Rear seats are cramped to sit in.
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