Peugeot RCZ - Turbo

One of Sydney Sports Car Hire's golden asset is its 2010 Peugeot RCZ - Turbo.

The Peugeot RCZ offers a state-of-the-art DOHC 1.6 litre (1598cc) four-cylinder engine that Peugeot sources from BMW. Producing a liquid 147kW @ 5500rpm and 275Nm @ 1700rpm (with overboost), it is a cracker unit. With a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection, variable valve lift coupled with variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust camshafts, it will happily spin its head off. Even better, thanks to a vibrating membrane in the inlet plumbing, it provides a neck-tingling aural accompaniment while doing so. Growly at lower revs, above 4500rpm it sounds sensational. You will find yourself rowing through the box just to savour the urgent rising throttle-body howl. Mated to a slick-shifting six-speed manual, Peugeot is claiming a 0-100km/h sprint time in 7.5 seconds.

This has it shy of hot boxes like the Evo and Renault Megane Turbo,but it feels quick nevertheless (and with the fun of a go-kart). Importantly, it manages this while returning a claimed 6.9 l/100km, combined with emissions of 159 g/km of CO2.

A Proffesional review