Peugeot RC Spades and Diamonds: Proving Diesel Could Be as Desirable as Petrol

Driven Contradiction - At the beginning of the 2000s, the automotive world was saturated with concept cars designed more for spectacle than substance. Many dazzled briefly under show lights, only to disappear without leaving a meaningful trace. Peugeot chose a more ambitious route, using the concept stage to challenge entrenched ideas about performance and pleasure. That ambition took shape in two closely related cars—the RC Spades and RC Diamonds—which were created not just to be seen, but to be driven, tested, and debated in real conditions. 

The Peugeot RC Spades and Diamonds—which were created not just to be seen, but to be driven, tested, and debated in real conditions.. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

Unveiled in 2002, the RC Spades and RC Diamonds were conceived as a matched pair with a clear purpose: to confront the belief that diesel engines had no place in driver-focused sports cars. Designed by Nicolas Brissoneau, both cars shared the same compact 2+2 coupé layout and mid-engine configuration, differing only in color and powertrain. The RC Spades appeared in black with a 2.0-liter petrol engine, while the RC Diamonds wore red and featured a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel. This deliberate symmetry allowed direct comparisons, making the experiment impossible to ignore. 

The Peugeot RC Diamonds sported a striking red exterior and was powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine, combining bold style with efficient performance. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

Driving enjoyment sat at the core of the RC concepts, and their engineering reflected that priority. Mounting the engines amidships provided near-ideal weight distribution, resulting in composed, neutral handling. Peugeot also committed to lightweight construction, forming the bodyshells from carbon material impregnated onto honeycomb panels and cured in an autoclave. The structure was exceptionally rigid yet light, with a roll cage integrated directly into the shell, reinforcing the idea that these were serious machines rather than decorative prototypes. 

The Peugeot RC Diamonds and its sibling, the Spades, balanced brand identity with creative freedom, featuring profiles and rear views shaped more by functional proportions than by branding. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

Visually, the RC Spades and Diamonds struck a careful balance between brand identity and creative freedom. Teardrop-shaped headlights referenced Peugeot’s production models, grounding the cars in familiar design language. Beyond that, the profiles and rear views felt more universal, benefiting from proportions dictated by function rather than branding. With the cabin pushed far forward to accommodate the mid-mounted engine and four seats, practicality was clearly not the priority; the space ahead of the windshield served safety and structure more than storage. 

The Peugeot RC Spades debuted in a sleek black finish and was equipped with a 2.0-liter petrol engine, blending elegant design with responsive performance. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

One of the most distinctive exterior features was the sharply kinked A-pillar, which enabled an unusually wide, panoramic windscreen. This design choice also allowed Peugeot to rethink something as mundane as windscreen wipers. Instead of a conventional linked system, each wiper arm had its own electric motor and rain sensor, synchronized electronically to operate automatically when needed. It was a small but telling detail, underscoring how deeply the concepts explored innovation beyond headline features. 

The Peugeot RC Spades and its sibling, the Diamonds, featured a sharply kinked A-pillar that allowed for an unusually wide, panoramic windscreen. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

Inside, the cabins embraced simplicity and focus. There was little visual clutter, dominated instead by a prominent central console running the length of the interior. Red and black leather wrapped most surfaces, contrasted by aluminium and stainless-steel accents that added a modern, technical edge. 

The Peugeot RC Diamonds featured an interior of focused simplicity, dominated by a central console and wrapped in red and black leather with aluminum and stainless-steel accents for a modern, technical touch. (Picture from: Story-Cars)

Both cars shared identical mechanical hardware aside from their engines, including a six-speed sequential manual gearbox with an automatic mode, double wishbone suspension front and rear, and 18-inch magnesium wheels fitted with Michelin Sport tires. The true statement, however, came from the numbers and how they translated on the road. The petrol-powered RC Spades produced 178 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque, while the diesel RC Diamonds delivered a similar 173 horsepower but an imposing 295 lb-ft of torque. | id8JxWm3EQ4 |

Far from being a lesser alternative, the diesel proved itself equally engaging, if not more forceful in everyday driving. Through the RC Spades and Diamonds, Peugeot didn’t just present a concept—it staged a quiet but confident challenge to automotive prejudice, one that still resonates in today’s evolving performance landscape. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BELOW-THE-RADAR | STORY-CARS | WIKIPEDIA ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.