More than just the embodiment of a concept car, the RCZ Sports Coupé marks a new stage in the line up of Peugeot’s “leisure vehicles”, while also being the first product to benefit from the latest Peugeot Lion brand identity.
Its expressive and innovative style, exclusive interior, dynamic and environmentally-friendly engines and the driving enjoyment it produces project the Peugeot brand, buoyed by 200 years of history, into a future that promises more emotion than ever.
The Peugeot RCZ, a sporty and compact 2+2 Coupé, is designed to become an exclusive vehicle, something special, exuding a real air of excitement:
- its name, RCZ, symbolises its exclusive position in relation to the Peugeot range: it is the specialist car not to use the numbering system with a central- or double-zero;
- illustrating the Marque’s “new identity”, the RCZ displays on its body the new, redesigned Lion.
The RCZ is aimed at the modern customer, particularly demanding and well informed when it comes to cars, who looks to stand out… and is ready to succumb to automotive temptation.
As such, the RCZ is the first exclusive vehicle in the Peugeot range and will be followed by other exclusive models in the years to come, all distinctive, with a specific identity, building on the strong personality and the promise of new motoring enjoyment.
The first stage of the RCZ project began in September 2007, at the Frankfurt Motor Show when Peugeot unveiled a concept car which excited all those that saw it, born of the passion and expertise of Peugeot’s design and engineering teams. The decision to commit it for series production was taken shortly afterwards and announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008.
However making this dream a reality called for real determination, boldness and huge inventiveness – qualities the Peugeot brand has in abundance as its rich past history can testify.
Stylists and engineers began designing a specification to match the sensations evoked by the car’s exterior appearance.
While the primary intention was to conserve the stylistic blueprint of the concept, despite the challenge of incorporating the constraints inherent in its production and commercialisation, the challenge went far beyond this. Ambitious targets were set in terms of driveability and production quality to give it an extremely strong, specific identity.
Another challenge was to develop the RCZ in a particularly short time span. To do this, the vehicle was assembled at a production centre specialising in exclusive vehicles built in small volume production runs at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria. As a result, just two years after the decision was made to go ahead with its development, the RCZ will be available early in the Spring of 2010. At the same time buyers quick off the mark to reserve the first available 200 “Limited Edition” RCZ models, which were sold out in less than 48 hours at last September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, will take delivery of their new RCZ. The RCZ was indeed born under the sign of exclusivity, strong design and emotion…
EXTERIOR EMOTION
Athletic, elegant and aerodynamic, the style of the RCZ offers a new experience and energy derived from the original architecture. The sensuality of the car’s double-bubble roof and rear windscreen, combine with its two aluminium arches to produce its most distinctive features.
INTERIOR EMOTION
An ideal driving position, a fluid and streamlined fascia panel, traditional and hi-tech materials… the passenger compartment of the RCZ instantly immerses the driver in an elite, sporting ambience.
The RCZ is also practical, offering two occasional rear seats whose backrests can be folded to open up a boot with a generous capacity in its category (from 384 to 760 litres).
ENGINEERING EMOTION
With its reduced weight, finely honed aerodynamics and modern engine technologies, the RCZ offers an innovative blend of performance and environmental friendliness.
The range of engines available:
At the time of launch:
- 1.6 litre THP 115 kW (156 bhp) €5, 240 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox – CO2: 155 g/km
- 2.0 litre HDi FAP 120 kW (163 bhp) €5, 340 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox –CO2: 139 g/km
From the Summer:
- 1.6 litre THP 115 kW (156 bhp) €5, 240 Nm, 6-speed automatic gearbox – CO2: 168 g/km
- 1.6 litre THP 147 kW (200 bhp) €5, 275 Nm, 6-speed manual gearbox – CO2: 159 g/km
The THP 147 kW (200 bhp) engine is new and – a world first on a 4 cylinder engine – featuring unique technologies allowing it to attain a very high level of efficiency, both in terms of performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Taking this philosophy further, the study of an RCZ powered by HYbrid4 technology will be shown on the stand at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. With this innovation, the Sports Coupé would offer low CO2 emissions of around 95 g/km of CO2, while benefiting from a potential 147 kW (200 bhp) and four-wheel-drive.
DYNAMIC EMOTION
Expressing all of Peugeot’s expertise in terms of road holding, the RCZ provides a thrilling experience with precision and driveability, creating a sense of real excitement and occasion for the driver. The RCZ benefits from a strong base – that of the ‘platform 2’ architecture (MacPherson type front suspension, rear suspension with deformable crossmember). It also has a particularly low ride height and centre of gravity, wider tracks and generous wheel dimensions, (18” or 19” diameter). Lastly, the RCZ can be specified with the THP 147 kW (200 bhp) engine. Uniquely to this version, the front suspension incorporates a special lower anti-collision bar to give the car even livelier and more agile handling response, while guaranteeing exceptional stability.
TECHNOLOGICAL EMOTION
To match its dynamic, exclusive positioning, and in addition to its stylish and mechanical innovations, the RCZ comes equipped with sophisticated equipment and driving aids to ensure both peace of mind and safety while driving: intelligent traction control as standard with ESP, hill start assist (as standard), WIP COM 3D (top of the range multimedia system), directional bi-Xenon headlamps, etc.
EMOTION À LA CARTE
So that customers can transform their car into a unique extension of their personal preferences, the RCZ can be specified in line with the car’s exclusive character: carbon roof, arches of different colours, a wide range of alloy wheel designs, etc.
MAXIMUM SAFETY
The RCZ benefits from a high level of secondary safety with an optimised structure including three force channels at the front, efficient means of restraint, an automatically activated bonnet…
Peugeot also intends to maintain its leadership in terms of tertiary safety. For example in 2010 the Marque will be deploying, at no extra cost and throughout the RCZ range – in a world first – services including PEUGEOT CONNECT SOS (emergency call) due in particular to the adoption of a “localised communication unit” system.
