Peugeot RCZ 2010 News

The French brand is channelling early Citroen influences with the left-turn styling of its RCZ coupe, which has a body sitting on a less-radical 308 platform.A choice of petrol and diesel engines, with a well-equipped interior and a single price for the three-model range, will draw the more outgoing motorist but cabin ergonomics and the discomfort of a jolting low-speed ride could disrupt the experience.WANT MORE?Road test and review by Craig DuffFirst drive in Australia by Mark HinchliffeAt the international launch by Karla Pincott

But it’s also war on the showroom.

 It is utterly curvaceous – right down to the brain-bending compound curves in the rear glass.  It’s designed, clearly, to take an elegant swipe at cars like the Audi TT.The RCZ is also the first Peugeot in the company’s history to drop the trademark numerical naming convention.  If it looks strangely familiar, you’re probably remembering the 308 RC Z concept car, which debuted on the global car show scene three years back.This production version, which is destined for Australian delivery from October this year, is amazingly similar to the concept car – something not all that many designs can claim.The RCZ is starkly different to the other cars in the French manufacturer’s lineup. It’s a 2+2 (four-seater) coupe with rear headspace enhanced and preserved thanks to the intricate Batmobile-like rearward roof curves, which continue into the rear glass.There is some commonality between the RCZ and other Peugeots, however.  This car shares the same platform as the more conventional 308, but it sits 20mm lower and has a significantly wider track (54mm at the front and 72mm at the rear).There’s a choice of petrol or diesel power. The petrol option is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four with 147kW and 275Nm (the same engine as in the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works) mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed tiptronic auto. The diesel is a 2.0-litre unit with 120kW and 340Nm, mated to a six-speed manual only, and capable of achieving an official fuel figure of just 5.4 litres per 100km.Another neat trick from the RCZ: there is an adjustable active rear spoiler, which deploys in one of two positions depending on travel speed. The first angle of attack is 19 degrees, which occurs at 85km/h (with retraction at 55km/h to help reduce drag when downforce isn’t required), while the second, which is unlikely to be of much use in Australia, is 34 degrees.The rear wing deploys to this angle at 155km/h and returns to 19 degrees when speeds drop below 145km/h.  All RCZs – the petrol manual and auto, and the diesel manual – are offered at the one list price of $54,990.

The French brand's all-out assault on a turnaround is spearheaded by the 2+2 coupe, which will challenge the seasoned sportscar heavyweights from Germany and Japan.

There is no timetable for either car but both are more than just dreams, according to Peugeot. It previewed the RCZ hybrid at last year's Frankfurt motor show and is considering a car that will pick

The RCZ is already being touted as Peugeot's TT and the 3008 finally gives it a well-priced compact SUV.

...as Europe and Japan push ahead with some cutting edge designs. Apart from the Citroen GT, the Mercedes-Benz SLS, Ferrari 458 Italia, Audi R8 V10 supercars and affordable Honda CR-Z and Peugeot RCZ,

The Peugeot 308 RC-Z bears a striking resemblance to the previous-generation Audi TT, particularly at the rear. But the French car-maker is pressing on with plans to introduce the sexy 2+2 next year.Our spy pictures of this black prototype caught by Carparazzi in southern Europe reveal an almost production-ready sportscar.Peugeot lifted the wraps of the 308 RC-Z Concept to an enthusiastic audience at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.The production RCZ is almost identical to the concept, with the sloping roof line and kink in the shoulderline behind the doors. From the front the car borrows heavily from the existing 308 hatch, with the wide-opening grille and feline-like headlights that reach back along the car's flanks. At the back the RC-Z gets a centrally mounted exhaust and rear diffuser.When it does go on sale, the smart coupe is tipped to line up against a wide range of rivals as diverse as the Mercedes-Benz SLK, Audi TT, Mini Cooper S and Alfa Romeo GT coupe.However, pricing is expected to be significantly under these cars.The RC-Z is expected to hit showrooms with the same engines as higher-level 308 models.A range-topping turbo 186kW four-cylinder expected from the same stable that builds the John Cooper Works Minis is also likely. Peugeot's 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbo diesels will also be part of the model mix.Inside the RC-Z's cabin will mimic the 308CC, with a high-quality leather interior, sports seats and 2+2 seating.The PSA Group, which consists of Peugeot and Citroen, is realigning itself with Citroen going up-market and Peugeot chasing the performance tag.Citroen's DS-line clearly shows its new direction but Peugeot is expected to continue to refine its sports line-up with cars like the RC-Z and continue its involvement with the Le Mans 24 hour race.The 308 RC-Z is tipped to be part of Peugeot's Frankfurt Motor Show arsenal in September, along with the face-lifted 207 range.

The spectacular 308-based coupe, the RC-Z — shown as a concept car at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show — was dismissed as a pure show car.But Peugeot last week confirmed it will go on sale in 2010 and is expected to be priced in the high $50,000s to substantially undercut its main rival, the Audi TT.The cheapest TT is $68,990.The introduction of the 308 RC-Z is part of a plan outlined by Peugeot director — and the fifth generation of the car-making family — Christian Peugeot. “We won't make boring cars,” he says.Of interest is that Peugeot has steered away from fitting the RC-Z — which uses the 308 hatch platform — with a big engine.But it does get Peugeot's most powerful four-cylinder yet — a highly tuned 160kW derivative of the existing 110kW and 128kW turbocharged 1.6-litre engines.These 1.6-litre engines, shared with the Mini Cooper, are standard fare in some 207 and 308 models.Peugeot says the company fleetingly considered a V6 petrol or V6 turbo-diesel engine but stayed with the 308-based drivetrain.“A smaller petrol engine with turbocharging gives performance plus low carbon-dioxide emissions,” Peugeot says. “That's our marketing goal and we've maintained that with the RC-Z. Downsizing is clearly a technical revolution.”Peugeot hasn't discounted a turbo-diesel engine for the RC-Z. It is certainly possible, given Audi's recent announcement that a diesel would be optional in its TT.There are a lot of similarities between the Audi TT and the RC-Z — a 2+2 seating arrangement, sloping rear deck profile, front-wheel-drive and even four-cylinder turbo engine — though Christian Peugeot says his coupe would be less expensive.“We aim to have an acceptable price,” he says.“The concept car will now be put away for a month while we decide on the finer details of the production car.”One feature that may not remain is the “double bubble” roof line. This scalloped glass roof is regarded as being too expensive for production and is likely to be replaced with a curved glass pane.“The RC-Z will not be a high-volume car,” Peugeot says.“It's not 200,000 a year, more like 30,000 to 40,000 a year.“The final car will be presented at Frankfurt in 2009.”Peugeot says a convertible version is “very unlikely” because the company already markets two folding metal roof convertibles, the 207CC and 307CC.It will also miss out on receiving Peugeot's hybrid powertrain, which is expected to be ready at the end of 2010.