Peugeot->ke68 introduced the RCZ back in 2009 as a sports coupe iteration of the 308 compact. Built on PSA's ubiquitous PF2, front-wheel-drive platform, the RCZ->ke3470 has been well-received, gaining several awards in Europe and praise for its agile handling, powerful gasoline engines and frugal diesel mills. The performance-oriented RCZ R also received rave reviews, being described as a better option to the dull Audi TT. Come 2015, and the RCZ R has grown a bit long in the tooth, especially with a brand-new TTS around the corner. However, Peugeot isn't willing to give up just yet and introduced a new special-edition model.

Dubbed Bimota Special Edition,->ke2041 the coupe was created in collaboration with the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota, and is distinguished by an exclusive racing-like livery and various interior and drivetrain upgrades. Keep reading for the full run-down on the most powerful RCZ R ever created.

Click past the jump to read more about the Peugeot RCZ R Bimota.

Exterior

The exterior of the RCZ R Bimota is identical to the vehicle it is based on as far as body panels and aerodynamic features go, but it does stand out thanks to its unique livery. The coupe is wrapped in a special paint scheme that incorporates red, white and black with Bimota decals and the Italian flag on the rear fenders. The roof is finished in matte black, while the side mirrors received a gloss finish.

If you're not familiar with Bimota motorcycles, the car's livery mimics the paint scheme on the company's recent TESI 3D line. Rounding off the special exterior is a set of five-spoke alloy wheels painted black with red accents and red Peugeot center caps, as well as red brake calipers.

Interior

Modifications are a bit more comprehensive on the inside. The bolstered, leather/Alcantara front seats have been slightly revised and fitted with "Bimota" logos and "#51" lettering. The rear seats, on the other hand, have been replaced by an Alcantara-wrapped box that provides storage room for two helmets. More Alcantara and red contrasting stitching covers the dashboard, which now includes a new TomTom Bridge infotainment system with 7-inch display. Lastly, the GoPro cameras mounted in the headliner and the front bumper will enable drivers to document their weekends at the track.

Otherwise, everything else remains standard RCZ R equipment, meaning drivers will get the same "R" monograms on the front seats, a short-shift gear stick with aluminum knob and red highlights, embossed door sills, and leather steering wheel, door panels and armrests.

Drivetrain

Unlike most special-edition models, the RCZ R Bimota is more than just a standard version with visual upgrades inside and out. This coupe also packs a more powerful engine, with the turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder having been updated to 300 horsepower. That's a significant 34-horsepower improvement over the standard RCZ R. The RCZ R Bimota earned bragging rights to the most powerful engine of this displacement in any production car.

Although Peugeot has yet to release performance figures for the RCZ R Bimota, I expect it to be significantly quicker than the standard RCZ R from naught to 60 mph. While the latter needs 5.9 seconds to hit that benchmark, the Bimota Special Edition should need about 5.6. Top speed will likely remain limited to 155 mph.

Engine enhancements aside, the RCZ R Bimota also benefits from larger, 380 mm (15-inch) front brake discs and four-piston calipers. The suspension as also been dropped by 10 mm (0.4 inches) for improved handling.

Prices

Pricing for the RCZ R Bimota is still a mystery as of February 2015, but it's safe to assume it will fetch more than a standard RCZ R model. With the latter priced from €43,350 (about $49,300 as of 02/18/2015), I expect the Bimota-badged coupe to cost in excess of €47,000 (or $53,500). However, don't get you're hopes up on finding the RCZ R Bimota in U.S. dealerships. As you may already know, Peugeot pulled out of the U.S. in 1991 and a comeback isn't likely anytime soon.

Competition

Audi TTS

While the current RCZ is nearly six years old, the TT has been redesigned from the ground up for 2014, receiving brand-new styling, a revamped interior and updated drivetrains. Even though it won't arrive stateside until the 2016 model year, the new TTS will hit European dealerships sooner than that. Motivated by a 2.0-liter TFSI turbo unit that puts 310 ponies and 280 pound-feet to the wheels, the TTS is significantly quicker than the RCZ R Bimota, needing only 4.7 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standing start. Obviously, Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system plays a key role here.

While quicker and more powerful, the TTS is also more expensive than the RCZ R, starting from €49,100 (about $55,800 at the current exchange rates) before options. However, the TTS is arguably the better-looking coupe, while also boasting Audi's latest in-car tech.

Nissan 370Z

Significantly more affordable than the RCZ R Bimota, the Nissan 370Z packs quite a punch, despite using the same engine since its introduction in 2009. The 3.7-liter V-6 mill cranks out 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, which translates into a 0-to-60 sprint of only five seconds, a quarter mile time of 13.3 ticks, and a top speed limited to 155 mph. The V-6 mates to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control.

But while its interior combines practicality and sportiness, it's far from posing a threat to the Peugeot's, providing fewer premium features and a layout that's rather dated. On the flipside, the 370Z is the most affordable of the bunch thanks to its €33,150 sticker, which converts to $37,660 as of 02/18/2015. What's more, the 350-horsepower Nismo is only slightly more expensive than the RCZ R Bimota, and adds a host of race-bred internals, including the Viscous Limited-Slip Differential with a shorter final drive ratio.

Conclusion

Granted, the RCZ R Bimota has plenty to brag about. It's the most powerful RCZ R developed as of 2015, it employs the most powerful engine of this displacement in any production car, and comes with a track-spec, rear-seat delete as standard. On the other hand, the coupe is a little long in the tooth and its Bimota-inspired livery appeals to a very small crowd. The fact that it's likely more expensive than the 370Z Nismo makes it that much more difficult to promote among performance-oriented coupe enthusiasts.