The automotive industry is a strange mix of science, art and engineering. Science and engineering is understood because it follows certain rules, logical and methodical principles. Art is much more emotional, instinctive, its like mixing water and oil or trying to connect negative and positive magnates.
The art side then is illogical because the thought process is trying to resist the constraints placed upon it by engineering and science. Art is about unleashing the imagination which is counter intuitive to the clinical coldness of science and engineering.
However when these three forces combine and work together we are left with the RCZ. When the inevitable facelift appears the changes are all to often difficult to spot and that’s the case for the RCZ, a set of new headlights and bumpers, yet the changes really have sharpened up the over all look and given the RCZ a new lease of life.
The RCZ features five trim levels and two engines, the 2.0 litre turbo-diesel or 1.6 litre turbo-petrol, and an options list longer than the dead sea scrolls. Prices start from around £22k and rise up to £32k for the top of the range, some say deranged, RCZ-R
“…its the driving that counts the most, the RCZ has the looks but does it have the swagger? At first no. The low speed ride feels a little ‘scratchy’ its an odd term to use but it feels as if the tyres are not fully in contact with the surface.”
The mid-range RCZ Sport THP 200 costs £24k numerous options bumped the price up to £26k, 18 inch Alloy wheels, check. Bombastic speaker system and Media /Sat Nav, check. Alcantara Leather Seat upgrade, check. Carbon Fibre roof check and mate, indeed just some of the highlights you can opt for and that’s fine we like options especially when they would cost a whole lot more on say the TT.
But its the driving that counts the most, the RCZ has the looks but does it have the swagger? At first no. The low speed ride feels a little ‘scratchy’ its an odd term to use but it feels as if the tyres are not fully in contact with the road surface. Then there is the steering, again at low speed it doesn’t feel particularly energetic and the RCZ will tend to understeer. Pick up the speed and the RCZ shows a more swashbuckling, wilder side.
The chassis/ride is absolutely stable, at speed the steering picks up and the RCZ darts into corners, feeling sharper, more alive and you feel as though you can change the world. And don’t be fooled by that little 1.6-litre, 4 cylinder, turbo petrol, it pumps out 200bhp and 275 Nm of goodness, its clean smooth and made more engaging by a responsive and by a slick shifting 6-speed gear box.
Performance figures aren’t important, though a 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds might interest you. And if you want to know about fuel consumption and CO2 emissions then you really don’t get what a sports car is all abut.
