This is the most powerful road-going Peugeot ever

We've been spoiled with stupidly powerful front-wheel-drive cars recently. Thanks to the Focus ST, Renault Megane RS and Astra VXR, front tyres have never been so scared. And now there's one more: the 270bhp Peugeot RCZ R, which is set to be unveiled at Goodwood this weekend.

Producing 169bhp per litre, Peugeot's curvy coupe now has the most powerful 1.6-litre engine... in the world at its heart. With some tinkering, Pug's engineers have managed to extract 70 more bhp, making it more powerful than the Focus and Megane, and just shy of the Astra's 276bhp.

Proper hardware has been installed to take care of all the extra power: most importantly a proper limited-slip differential between the front wheels. They've also added some sporty bits for a more serious look, rather like Kim Kardashian donning a sweatband and running spikes. You get a 10mm suspension drop, new 19-inch wheels, a rear wing, twin pipes and Alcantara and R badges stitched around the cabin.

Being all about style, its natural rival is Audi's four-wheel-drive TT-S. That'll do 0-62 in 5.5 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker than the RCZ R, but go on to the same limited top speed of 155mph. Even so, although prices aren't announced, we're expecting the big-bummed coupe to be a couple of grand cheaper than the Audi.

When the RCZ first came out it was obvious they put style before performance. But now with a 17kg weight loss plan and lots more power, could this be the hot Pug we've been waiting for?