Scorching Peugeot RCZ R Australia-bound

PEUGEOT will soon start building 500 versions of its hottest coupe ever — and as many of 20 of them could be destined for Australia.

Peugeot Automotive Australia managing director Bill Gillespie said yesterday that the French car-maker planned to start limited production of the 180kW-plus RCZ R at Austrian car-making specialist Magna Steyr around September, and could land here by early 2014.

“That’s due in Australia probably about quarter one (2014),” Mr Gillespie said. “We haven’t had confirmation of production allocation (of the RCZ R) yet, but they’re going to build 500 cars for around the world, and we’re hoping to get 20 of those cars in 2014.”

Mr Gillespie said the French brand was still working on pricing and specification of the RCZ R.

“It’s a very aggressive car with a big rear wing, and obviously we’d love to have the car in Australia,” he said.

Peugeot believes the Audi TT is the RCZ’s closest natural competitor even though it costs about $10,000 more than the lion-badged coupe.

Audi sells a couple of higher-performance versions of the TT, including the 200kW four-cylinder TTS coupe and roadster, and the 250kW five-cylinder TTRS.

The TTS coupe sells for just less than $100,000, suggesting the price of the RCZ R would sit at about $80,000 when it lands here.

Peugeot will release more details of the RCZ R, including full performance specifications, ahead of the launch of the hatchback’s production version later this year.

The RCZ R concept was unveiled at the Geneva motor show earlier this year.