The French have long made beautiful, if quirky, cars. The latest addition to this fold is the production version of the 260-horsepower Peugeot RCZ R, a hot and sporty version of the standard RCZ.

Introduced last year as a concept at the Paris Motor Show, the RCZ R gets its stout power output from a mere 1.6 liters of turbocharged four-cylinder fury. That puts it among the most potent production cars in the world on a power-per-liter basis--at 160 hp/liter, it's 10 hp/liter ahead of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and Super Sport.

A unique suspension setup, lightweight wheels, and a Torsen limited-slip differential will also enhance performance over the standard model.

Full details on the Peugeot RCZ R will be unveiled along with the car at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Stay tuned for more, but don't expect to see this punchy little beauty on our side of the pond.

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