Is there anything sportier, more desirable, even just a tad better than a Peugeot RCZ?
Actually, yes there is. It's called the RCZ Peugeot Sport and it has 25 per cent more power, 250 kilograms less weight and is built specifically for the track.
Sitting low on the tarmac on its 18-inch wheels, the RCZ Peugeot Sport is the RCZ's competition variant, and will begin its motor racing career next year within the framework of single-make championships to be run in several countries.
Built with the benefit of more the 30 years race experience at Peugeot it delivers an unrivalled quality/performance package and will sell to as many battle-hardened campaigners (who will be able to set up and fine-tune the car thanks to its data logging equipment) as gentleman racers who will savour every one of its 290 Newton metres of torque. All drivers will be won over by the precision of its chassis, its paddle gearshifts and its unequivocal brakes.
THE CONCEPT: PACKED WITH PEUGEOT SPORT EXPERTISE
The production of a 'premium' customer-competition car for saloon racing is something new at Peugeot and stemmed directly from the launch of the RCZ. The combination of this model's sculptural, innovative styling and its 1.6 Turbo Petrol engine provided a first class base for the development of a high-end racing version.
To ensure coherence with the production version, the RCZ Peugeot Sport retains the original styling hallmarks, from the bonnet and double-bubble roofline to the polished aluminium arches which contribute to the car's contemporary, sporting stance. In addition, the race version stands out through bespoke features such as the adjustable rear wing, exterior mirrors and cockpit-cooling roof vent.
Engineering work on the RCZ Peugeot Sport began early in 2010 and the car turned a wheel for the first time at Satory in August the same year. But the RCZ Peugeot Sport will not make its competition debut until the start of 2012 following an intensive development programme which includes wind-tunnel work and running at seven different circuits. Indeed, a single RCZ Peugeot Sport has already clocked up more than 8,000 km at circuits of varying profiles, from the abrasive asphalt of Dijon and the technically-demanding corners of Val de Vienne, in France, to the heat of Circuito de Navarra, Spain.
COCKPIT: RACE DRIVERS PAMPERED AT LAST
In addition to the RCZ Peugeot Sport's technical credentials, its drivers will be particularly pampered, too. Strapped into their HANS®-compatible bucket seat thanks to six-point harness belts, they can easily access the centre console which houses the different controls and the rear brake pressure regulator. Meanwhile, the perfectly visible colour screen displays all the information needed for precise, efficient driving.
On the track, the first thing that impresses about the car is the smooth, linear acceleration ensured by its 250 bhp 1.6 Turbo Petrol engine which delivers peak torque of 290 Nm. High torque is available from the very low revs to provide highly usable power out of the tightest turns.
The steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles permit ultra-quick gear changes while the electronic gearshift control system means that drivers do not need to clutch.
The RCZ Peugeot Sport's cornering performance is equally impressive thanks to its nicely balanced chassis and efficient, reassuring handling. The absence of a brake servo allows drivers to profit fully from the stopping power of its 355 mm-diameter front discs and six-pot callipers.
A CAREFULLY-ENGINEERED TECHNICAL TOUR DE FORCE
The RCZ Peugeot Sport is based on the production monocoque body shell which has been fitted with a welded roll-cage for driver safety and to give the chassis even more rigidity. The bonnet conceals a tuned 1.6 Turbo Petrol motor which features an optimised air intake system, a new turbocharger and specific conrods and pistons. It drives through a race-developed six-speed sequential gearbox. The majority of the suspension parts are carried over from the production version, while the dampers are made specifically by Peugeot Sport. In addition to ensuring low running costs this mix of production parts and specific racing components guarantees an outstanding trade-off between performance and reliability.
The transversally mounted, four-cylinder, 1,600 cc EP6CDTm block employs specific racing pistons and conrods. Other parts, like the crankshaft, flywheel, camshafts and valves, are standard as are the cylinder head and throttle butterfly. Air is fed to the specific air box via a scoop located in the centre of the grille while the Borg Warner turbocharger is cooled by the original intercooler which has been fitted above the bespoke water radiator. The production exhaust manifold has been extended by a 70 mm-diameter line in order to achieve a flattering engine pitch. All engines are run-in, sealed and bench-tested before going in the cars.
The Sadev-developed sequential six-speed gearbox incorporates a limited slip differential. Two steering wheel-mounted paddles activate the hydraulic gear selector for extremely fast gearshifts and outstanding long-term reliability.
The electronic management system uses a Magneti-Marelli SRT unit which comes with a chassis and engine data-logging system. The specific wiring loom is controlled by a centre console-mounted power box which incorporates all the controls. The RCZ Peugeot Sport is delivered complete with Wintax data analysis software.
All soundproofing has been removed and the steel monocoque body shell is fitted with a welded roll-cage – with links notably to the upper suspension mountings – for enhanced driver safety and to increase chassis rigidity. The shell itself has also been modified to accommodate three quick-lift hoists and the adjustable rear wing pylon.
The MacPherson strut-type front suspension arrangement, complete with anti-roll bar, is chiefly based on production components while the Peugeot Sport-developed dampers permit a range of settings (ride height, camber, toe). The original steering rack has been modified and the car is equipped with power steering. At the rear, the original trailing arms attach to a flexible beam while the spring/damper assemblies are specific to competition use. The car sits on hard-compound 25-64R18 slicks fitted to one-piece wheels.
Work aimed at lightening the chassis has resulted in a kerb weight for the RCZ Peugeot Sport of just 1,070 kg, a saving of 250 kg over the production version of the car.
The RCZ Peugeot Sport's durable, precise, high-performance braking is one of the principal contributors to the car's active safety, and the absence of a servo favours precise, consistent feedback from the pedal. The vented 355 mm x 28 mm front discs are equipped with six-piston callipers, while the solid 290 mm x 12 mm rear discs are the same as those fitted to the production RCZ. The front/rear brake bias can be adjusted thanks to a proportioning valve which acts on the rear brakes to prevent the car's wheels from locking under heavy braking.
In addition to the crumple-zone structures of the production model the RCZ Peugeot Sport comes with the necessary passive safety equipment required for circuit racing, including a multipoint welded roll-cage, a HANS®-compatible bucket seat, a six-point harness belt, a fire extinguisher and a battery cut-off switch.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Engine
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1.6 litre EP6 CDTm
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Maximum power
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250 bhp at 6,500 rpm
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Torque
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290 Nm between 3,500 and 5,500 rpm
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Turbo
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Borg Warner P154 turbocharger
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Exhaust line
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Ø70 mm
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Gearbox
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Sadev ST82-14, 6 speed sequential with steering wheel paddles
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Differential
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limited slip.
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ECU
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SRT MM + data acquisition system
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Length/Width
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4,290 mm / 1,840 mm
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Wheel base
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2,590 mm
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Track front / rear
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1,770 mm / 1,740 mm
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Minimum weight
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around 1,070 kg
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Structure
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Reinforced with welded multi-point roll cage
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Front suspension
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Pseudo MacPherson strut with anti-roll bar. Track- specific shock absorbers
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Rear suspension
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Flexible axle. Track-specific shock absorbers
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Front and rear set-up
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Camber / Toe / Ride height / Adjustable rear wing
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Jacks
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3 integrated pneumatic jacks
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Front brakes
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Ventilated disks Ø355 x 28 mm 6-piston callipers.
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Rear brakes
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Disks Ø290 x 12 mm
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Rear brake limiter.
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Hydraulic power steering
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Wheels / Tyres
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slicks 64/25/18
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