PEUGEOT unveiled their 308 RCZ concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, a couple of years ago. Last month, the commercial RCZ was unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, ahead of its launch in Europe late next spring in dealers such as Adam’s of Glin.
The transformation from concept car to production vehicle in two years required real determination, boldness and inventiveness. Stylists and engineers worked closely together to ensure that the commercial vehicle lived up to the promise of its exciting concept form.
The end result is an exclusive, compact 2+2 coupé aimed at particularly demanding customers with expert opinions on what constitutes driving pleasure.
The RCZ has a number of key styling features. The double bubble of the roof, which was a major talking point of the original concept car, is retained in the production car. The aluminium roof arches, another feature of the concept car are also retained and help highlight the front windscreen, black roof panel and dark-tinted rear windscreen.
At launch in 2010, three engines will find their place under the large aluminium bonnet of the RCZ: a 1.6 litre 200bhp petrol engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox, 1.6 litre 156bhp petrol with six-speed manual or automatic gearbox and 2.0 litre HDi diesel 163bhp six speed manual.
All three engines are high-performance engines with high torque and power outputs, low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and all meeting the Euro 5 emission standard. The reduction of the environmental impact of the vehicle was one of the project’s key priorities.
The RCZ symbolises a distinctive positioning in the Peugeot range, since it is the first Peugeot passenger vehicle not to use the numbering system. It will be produced at a production centre that specialises in exclusive vehicles built in small production runs, inside the Magna Steyr plant in Austria.
