Peugeot Aims for WRC with 207 RCup Concept
Worried about the current state of the FIA World Rally Champion (WRC) series? Are you jaded because many of the star manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Skoda, Citroen and Hyundai have pulled out, leaving only privateers plus Ford and Subaru behind? Fret no more, as French automaker Peugeot has something in store at this year’s Swiss Motor Show, a spicy new rally car concept that’s based off their all-new 207 subcompact, a production vehicle also being shown for the first time in Switzerland.
The subcompact 207 is one of Peugeot’s most important cars, hands down, no exceptions. Though the 207 is a subcompact no larger than the Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit, it’s got some enormous shoes to fill, as the 206, the car that it replaces, was the most popular car in the French firm’s near 100 year history. In fact, the eight year old predecessor is still such a strong seller around the globe that Peugeot will continue to produce it alongside newer cars like the micro-sized 107 and 1007 hatchbacks.
To stress the importance of the new car, Peugeot has been emphasizing this particular model by producing a couple of fun versions of it. The first in the series, and acting as a preview to the 207’s gaping-mouth grille was the three-wheeled 20Cup concept car, an open-roofed, windshield-less racer with a single rear wheel. To bolster the effort, Peugeot will also be presenting the 207 RCup (playing off the name of the performance version of the 206 called the RC), a preview at the WRC-spec rally car that will be hitting the Special Stages in far off lands sometime next year.
While it may look like a standard 207 with a white and red paint scheme, beneath the skin it features a tubular spaceframe that has stretched the car in all dimensions in accordance with the WRC rules. The larger width and track are present for the purpose of giving the 207 road-hugging grip, which in turn are expressed through extra-flared fenders and fascias, constructed from ultra-lightweight composites. Meanwhile, Peugeot aerodynamicists have added air-extraction ducts affront all wheels to lessen the dependency on oversized spoilers for downforce. The 207 RCup rides on wide, 235/40R18 rally-style magnesium wheels, with a ride height that’s a mere ten cm (3.9 inches) above the ground.
To get a good look inside the RCup, you’ll have to open the doors because the car has extremely dark tint on the windows. Inside, it’s a complete racer, with tubular frame roll cage, racing seats and four-point harnesses to keep driver and navigator strapped in place. Also, like most production-based racing cars, the RCup features the same dashboard, and instrument cluster as the 207, but no stereo, carpets or cupholders. All surfaces that the driver contacts - the steering wheel, sequential shifter and handbrake - are trimmed in suede, while the centre console has been gutted, and fitted with relevant switches, gauges and other rally car vitals such as the controls to the AWD system.
In the same way that the 207 RCup abides to all the WRC rules and guidelines, in construction materials and dimensions, its power comes from an FIA-sanctioned, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre gasoline engine with four valves per cylinder and dual overhead camshafts, but no variable valve timing or turbocharger, as with the production model. Nevertheless, the 207 RCup still generates an impressive 280-horsepower and has a redline of 8,500 rpm. That should make for one very fast car, concept, race or otherwise.
In the old ‘glory’ days of 1980s rally car racing, homologation vehicles, production cars that are closely related to the actual race cars in performance, appearance and technology, were mandatory. The latter-day equivalent of the 207 RCup, the Audi Sport Quattro and Peugeot’s 205 Turbo appeared on the roads in extremely limited numbers. Unfortunately, since the mid ’80s, the FIA dropped this rule, a burden to the manufacturers, and as a result, these fascinating machines became an extinct breed. Nothing new has sprung up in the FIA rule book concerning homologation vehicles, so, the 207 RCup Concept will remain just that: a concept.
Pictures on Page 2
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Comments
Just returned from Europe where a puegot 207 convertiable whizzed by at 180 k. Curious to see if this vechile is available and cost in Canada.
Please send a reply, Casper de Jong
yea my father owned a peugot a long time ago when I was little I remember it he loved it he traded it in for a nissan maxima though just because he works for nissan but im insterested in takin up street racing and i like this car even though I thinks this is a rally car does the 207 RCcup exist and if so were can I purchase this vehicle and if not what puegot is best suitable for street racing ?
The 207 producton vehcle is truly admirable. It has the fine dynamic handling adaptations of the feather light steering wheel and a firm precision that offers a comfortable and flexible ride.