The most potent Peugeot EVER

Meet the most potent production Peugeot ever made – the RCZ R.

The French brand’s new performance flagship, the R finally gives the RCZ coupe the grunt to match its designer good looks.

Touted as the most powerful production Peugeot ever, the RCZ boasts 199kW/330Nm from its tiny 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a new Torsen differential designed to reduce wheel-spin and torque steer, with Peugeot claiming a blistering 0-100km/h sprint of 5.9 seconds.

That makes it quicker than Renault’s Megane RS265, the Volkswagen Scirocco R and the Opel Astra OPC.

But don’t think Peugeot has simply chucked more power at the RCZ. The coupe’s suspension has been lowered by 10mm, the track widened and new dampers included to improve handling.

Weight is down too, with the RCZ R stripping 92kg to weigh in at 1280kg.

Just 40 RCZ Rs are expected to make their way Down Under in March 2014, with a price tag of around $75,000.