Peugeot RCZ R priced at £31,995

Peugeot has priced the most powerful road-going model in its history, the Peugeot RCZ R, at £31,995. Order books open next week, ahead of the first deliveries in January.

The sports coupe, which was first seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine which delivers 270bhp and 243 lb ft of torque. The RCZ R can get from 0-62mph in 5.9sec and has a limited top speed of 155mph. 

The RCZ R saves 17kg over the 200bhp RCZ THP on which it is based, meaning it weighs 1280kg. Peugeot says this has been achieved by using lightweight components and by utilising a smaller, lighter engine.

The manufacturer claims that achieving 270bhp from a 1.6-litre engine is a class first. At the same time the downsized engine has also allowed the RCZ R to cap its CO2 emissions at 145g/km and return 44.8mpg on a combined cycle.

Externally, the RCZ R is lowered by 10mm over the standard model. A new fixed rear spoiler gives the car a more aggressive stance, as do the 19-inch alloy wheels, while plenty of Peugeot Sport and 'R' badges adorn the exterior. 

Braking force is supplied via large 380mm brake discs mounted on an aluminium hub. Peugeot says the RCZ R can brake from 80-0mph in less than 61 metres.

Cornering stability and traction have also been addressed on the new model, which uses a Torsen differential to more controllably put its power down. The exhaust is teamed with a sound system to amplify the noise of the engine.

Inside, the RCZ R is very driver focussed, with bucket seats, and a smaller steering wheel and shorted gear lever, which Peugeot hopes will prove more engaging. The demonstration car we've seen had prominent R badging on the seats, but Peugeot says these will be changed for stitched logos for the production version.

The car will have a limited production run, says RCZ UK Project Manager Vince Clisham. "It’ll be limited in terms of the amount we produce, but remember it’s a small segment of the market. The sales volumes will be small, but the sector gets a lot of attention.

"It’s a significant tick in the box in the RCZ range – it’s something we’ve been looking to do, to give the RCZ a top-end option. We’ll get a big chunk of the volumes because the current RCZ sells well here."

In fact, the UK is the biggest market for the RCZ, closely followed by Germany, France and Switzerland. Peugeot says that while the car has been developed to meet the needs of both road and track users, there hasn't been any compromising to get the best of both worlds.

The RCZ R will be available in four colours - red, black, grey and white.

Read all the news from the Goodwood Festival of Speed.