GOTTA LOVE THE FRENCH; Peugeot gives its hot 206 compact some RC appeal.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: MATT DAVIS

Yes, the French exited North America some 20 years ago leaving a trail of rusted and busted cars. Yes, Jacques Chirac has not recently helped his country's case with the American people. And yes, probably 95 percent of Americans don't know how to properly pronounce "Peugeot'' anymore.

Shelve all that baggage now and hop in with us for a drive in a real firecracker of a hot three-door, four-passenger unit from the French automaker. It's the 175-hp Peugeot 206 RC inspired by the company's dominating World Rally Championship car, the 300-hp 206 WRC. Along with several other models in Peugeot's lineup, the 206 family is the equal of the best American sheetmetal in its class. In the first quarter of 2003, the Peugeot Citroen group sold more passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Europe than any other automaker-a first. Since its September 1998 launch, more than 3.3 million 206s have been sold worldwide, putting it on track to be the best-selling Peugeot in history. The RC (also called the GTI in some markets) could fit right in as a calendar car for the SEMA crowd.

Turkish designer Murat Gunak created the original 206 design. The RC version leaves the infectious styling of the 206 intact while adding performance trim bits, horsepower, and a 7300-rpm redline vs. the 6500 of the normal car. This 2.0-liter four-cylinder takes you from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, and 149 lb-ft of torque is delivered to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission with a really long first gear good up to 41 mph at 7000 rpm. You have 80 percent of torque at your disposal at just 2000 rpm.

Outside, you notice right off the bat the gaping front breathing hole book-ended by fog lamps. Then come the 17x7 five-spoke alloys with 205/40 Pirellis, the "cheese-cutter'' spoiler above the back window and the carbon fiber side-view mirror housings. Inside, the tall performance seats wrap around your hips and shoulders, and there's the classy stitched-leather binnacle with four Jaeger dials (fuel level, rpm/water temp, speed, oil ...