Stand out!
That’s what it was printed on the white Peugeot RCZ I drove out of the dealer’s parking. Obviously, if they hadn’t written that, it would’ve been the same, because you just can’t miss the chameleon white car. The more so after putting my foot down and finding out what the 2l, 163hp diesel engine can do.
The exterior
The design of this Peugeot is great! Although at first I found it a bit imbalanced, I was wrong: the car looks amazing and it surely catches ones eye. I saw the car live for the first time when it was just a concept, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009, and I felt sorry at the time, thinking that there would be nothing left of the concept until the end product would be revealed (because I hadn’t yet seen a concept that would keep its design until the series car was produces). Fortunately, the RCZ kept its shapes since the concept stage, and a very cool car came out, with smooth, particular lines, as you can see in the pictures.
The coolest thing about it is the roof. It has a great shape (the first time I saw the car I thought it was a cabriolet). 
The interior
The interior took me by surprise. I was expecting to see more cheap plastic, to be honest. This a wrong perspective on the Peugeot brand, because, if I come to think of it, the 307 I had 7 years ago did not have a cheap interior at all. Anyway, I didn’t expect to find a small, sports car steering wheel, leather seats sewn with white thread, sporty pedals – a proper sports car! The pictures are proof.
The ride
Driving this car is amazing! Like I said before, the 2L, HDI, 163hp engine is really something. You can go up to 140-150km/h in the fourth gear if you need to and the car won’t even flinch. It just eats up the road like it’s the end of the world.
Moreover, when I saw what the car can take, I thought about testing it on less crowded roads, so I took it on a deserted road through Dobrogea’s Canyon, in Romania. Although there was no tarmac, the car didn’t get scratched or hit any bump. It simply let itself be driven (carefully), because even if it has a crazy driver, it’ll play along.
Still, it’s natural environment is the tarmac. The road in Dobrogea are straight, good and empty, all for the RCZ to enjoy, so that’s what it did.
The medium consumption is reasonable, about 8-9l/100km (and don’t forget that I’m quite the aggressive driver, I change gears when the engine is really revved up, especially on a car that can take it). I was expecting it to eat more fuel, but the car is small and light enough as not to burn to much diesel. You can barely feel your wallet getting lighter when you hit the gas station.
I couldn’t wait to see how it can handle a bumpy road and I got to see that, because some road in Dobrogea, as good a tarmac as they may have, have bigger bumps that the desert dunes. The car didn’t let me down: it’s perfectly composed on the road and not even once did I have the feeling that I was losing control.
The price
Everything I described comes at a price, though: 29457 Euros (about $42535) for the basic version I told you about. You have to add to that the price for other options such as: 19 inches rims, the leather package, etc. It’s quite a lot of cash for a car that can only fit 3 persons (the back seat is not exactly comfortable and it’s more for… horizontal use).
The RCZ is a ton of fun! It’s good for the city and it’s good for taking trips. It’s a rare car, so it’s a head-turner. In the end, it’s a toy: expensive, but useful, and, above all, FUN. If you have the money, go for it! The feeling it gives you are more precious that what other cars can offer you. Of all the sporty cars I’ve driven, the only one I’d buy is the Mini Cooper S, which is almost as expensive.
Shortly:
What we liked:
- the great design
- the poweeerrrr!
- the interior.
What we didn’t like:
- the one thing I didn’t like is the lack of personality of the nose, which looks a lot like the 308. It’s such a shame.
Post tags: Tags: peugeot rcz, Peugeot RCZ 2011, Peugeot RCZ drive test, Peugeot RCZ pictures, Peugeot RCZ specifications, Peugeot RCZ specs
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In my humble opinion, the Peugeot RCZ is at the moment one of the most beautiful cars available on the market and this special edition Asphalt looking even more breathtaking. Available only in United Kingdom, this sexy coupe is based on the top-spec GT trim and is powered by a 4-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that produces 200 hp.
The base price for this special edition starts from 29,995 pounds ($47,840) and features an exclusive Telluric grey finish on the outside, a black roof, 19-inch Solstice black alloys, black brake calipers and Asphalt badging.
The inside is Asphalt branded and comes with a stitched Nappa leather trim, Asphalt floor mats and sill covers and a steering wheel plus gear stick wrapped around in leather / Alcantara.
Besides the standard equipment that you get in the GT version, this one features front & rear parking aid, upgraded JBL sound system, Peugeot Connect Media Navigation and auto lightning.
Source: Peugeot via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: peugeot rcz, peugeot rcz asphalt, special editions
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The Peugeot RCZ is in my opinion the most beautiful car the French manufacturer ever made, followed closely by the 607. Last week they’ve unveiled the race car version which will participate in various races across Europe together with the Nokia team.
The Team Peugeot RCZ Nokia will take part in the entire VLN 2011 championship, along in the epic 24 Hours of Nurburgring in the D1T category. Last year, the RCZ finished on the first (Michael Bohrer) and third place (Stephane Caillet) in the endurance race.
We don’t have that many information about the car, except for the fact that it will be powered by a 2.0-liter HDi FAP engine that produces 200 hp. In comparison to the production model, this race-ready RCZ features a big boot lid wing, new wheels & tires, and probably a roll cage.
The official debut of the car occurred during a special event and it will be sponsored by Jean-Philipe Peugeot and Miss France 2011.
Source: Peugeot
Post tags: Tags: nokia, peugeot rcz
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The French automaker Peugeot will be bringing to this year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show the facelifted 308 lineup, including hatchback, estate and the CC model, along with two special edition models.
The first one is going to be the beautiful RCZ Asphalt which is going to be based on the most powerful configuration of the coupe, offering 200 hp from the 1.6-liter turbocharged power unit. Set to go on sale this spring, the car will be available with a matt grey paintwork, two-tone 19-inch alloy rims as well as a whole bunch of interior and exterior upgrades.
The second limited model will be based on the 3008 Hybrid4 crossover, which will feature a 163 hp TDI engine with front-wheel drive and an electric motor that will develop another 37 ponies to the rear wheels, rounding up the power figure to 200 hp. The car will have a “0 emission” mode and it will do 61.9 mpg (3.8 liters / 100 km). Only 300 units will be produced and all of them will be available with a Pearlescent White exterior finish along with a two-tone full leather trim.
Peugeot will also bring two older concept studies, the EX1 and the HR1, plus their new 908 Le Mans racecar that was revealed a couple of weeks ago by Peugeot Sport.
Post tags: Tags: geneva-motor-show, peugeot rcz, peugeot-308
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Peugeot is gearing up to release the first model, in a long time, that promises to revamp the image of the French carmaker: the RCZ roadster.
As such, the company released the first ad for the attractive coupe. While the message is pretty good, the RCZ, at least from this ad, does appear to a be a bit creepy rather than menacing.
Hit the jump to check out the first Peugeot RCZ ad and then share your thoughts about it in the comments sections below.
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Post tags: Tags: ad, Peugeot, peugeot rcz, roadster, Video
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New details about Peugeot‘s future compact hatchback model, the 208, have been revealed by the guys at Autocar. The replacement for the 207 will likely receive new features, including a hot hatch GTI variant.
It seems that Peugeot is keen on resurrecting its brand image and plans to spearhead this offensive with cars like the recently revealed RCZ roadster and the future 208 GTI. As you may remember, the company is still fondly remembered for the iconic 205 GTI.
For the next generation of its compact hatchback, the company is likely to use the new design line found on the SR1 sportscar concept, and for the GTI in particular, the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine will definitely be used.
The 208 is expected to appear sometime around 2012, with regular variants sporting reduced weight and more efficient engines, while the GTI will appear further down the road, with increased power, exclusive features but also fuel-saving systems.
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Post tags: Tags: hot hatch, Peugeot, peugeot 205 gti, peugeot 207, peugeot 208, peugeot 208 gti, peugeot rcz, peugeot sr1
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The 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race will definitely attract a lot of people this year. Not only through its long heritage, but also through the plethora of new and interesting cars that will line up on the grid.
We already know about the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid model and about the special Lexus LFA race cars, but now, French carmaker Peugeot has also revealed the two models it will enter in the race. As you could have guessed, they are based on the upcoming RCZ roadster, being called RCZ 200 Ans (hint: that’s the anniversary the French company is celebrating this year).
The Peugeot RCZ 200 Ans will use the 2.0-liter HDi diesel engine, but instead of its stock 163 HP output, it will be boosted to a more race-worthy 200 HP. As you can see it has also received a new aerodynamic body kit, and you can certainly expect many alterations on the inside. The drivers of the two cars that will race haven’t been announced, but it’s safe to say that one will be French and the other German.
Overall, you’d better clear up the days between 13 and 16 May, as the 24 Hours of Nurburgring are certainly going to offer a spectacle for any motorsport fan.
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Post tags: Tags: 24 hours of nurburgring, endurance, Motorsport, nurburgring, Peugeot, peugeot rcz, peugeot rcz 200 ans
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Peugeot is borrowing a page from Citroen’s play book, and has just announced that it will establish, with the release of the RCZ roadster, a new premium sub-brand, called Hors-série.
As you may remember, Citroen is getting a lot of attention because of its new DS lineup, which takes regular models from the French company and adds luxury features, moving them upmarket in terms of quality and price. Seeing that, its partner in the PSA Group, Peugeot, will do the same, as hors-serie means “built outside the regular, mass production, in French.
The RCZ is set to lead the pack, followed by a wagon variant of the future 508 sedan, which will also feature some interesting additions to the standard trim line. After this, another model, which hasn’t been detailed, will follow in 2012.
For what it’s worth, Citroen is set to make some pretty big sales with the DS lineup, so Peugeot might be onto something. Hopefully it will be able to market it correctly and succeed.
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Post tags: Tags: hors-serie, luxury, Peugeot, peugeot 508, peugeot rcz
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Peugeot preparing baby RCZ, targets compact coupe market
Although it broke the hearts of many fans with the announcement that it will drop the GTI badge from its portfolio and will never deal with hot hatchback models in the future, Peugeot is quite confident that the upcoming RCZ roadster will more than make up for its image with performance enthusiasts.
But just to be certain, it seems that the French company is hard at work developing a smaller model of the RCZ, which will take on the compact coupe segment, against cars like the Mini John Cooper Works. The new car, according to some sources, will feature a Ferrari-design but with a very affordable price tag, right up the alley of many customers these days.
The design, which is being created under the supervision of the chief designer at PSA Peugeot Citroen, Jean-Pierre Ploue, will focus on the new type of grille, with the logo floating in the center, just like present-day Ferrari models. Styling cues will also be implemented in its overall looks, not only in its badge mounting, as the model will have an imposing road presence.
In terms of engine, rumors indicate that the same 1.6-liter turbo engine from the Mini JCW will be fitted to this new hot coupe model which will share the same platform as the replacement of the current 207, which will arrive in 2011.
What do you think about this new initiative from Peugeot? Will it be successful with its fans? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
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Post tags: Tags: compact coupe, Peugeot, peugeot rcz
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The hot hatchback market definitely has many members these days, from the Golf GTI to the Ford Focus RS or Honda Civic Type R. But an iconic series of models paved the way for these models in the hearts of many people: Peugeot’s GTI lineup.
Mostly remembered due to the fantastic 205 GTI, which made history not only on the streets but also in rallying, the brand has made many fans up until now. And it seems like they will be in for quite a disappointment, as the French carmaker announced that it will not be using the GTI badge for any other hatchback models.
“For us, the GTI concept is dead,” said Peugeot marketing director Christian Stein. “We will move away from hot hatches towards premium sports coupes. The GTI means a lot to English people but it is time to move on.”
Although Peugeot made lots of heads turn when it introduced the RCZ, in my mind they should still focus on the GTI badge and many other hot hatchback models. What do you think? Should the French carmaker revive the “dead” GTI badge? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
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Post tags: Tags: gti, Peugeot, peugeot rcz
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There are still two whole months until the Frankfurt Motor Show will debut, in September, and we’ve already got a few great cars whose debut is scheduled for the German show. After yesterday we wrote about the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Gullwing and the Kia Cee’d facelift, today we’ve got another one, the Peugeot RCZ. Exactly two years after the 308 RCZ concept debuted at the Frankfurt show, Peugeot will now introduce the production version of the concept, a 2+2 Coupe which the French car maker promises to be “full of emotion, aimed at enthusiasts who are particularly discerning with regards to driving enjoyment.”
So far there’s not much official info available about the car, but we’ve seen several spy shots in the past and now these teaser photos and we can tell Peugeot has managed to keep the car’s styling pretty close to the original concept, which is really great. As for the engine range, there are some rumors about the RCZ being powered by the high-end units from the 308 range, but that’s only speculation; we’ll know more when Peugeot will release further details, closer to launch date.
Full Photo Gallery: Peugeot RCZ teaser photos
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Post tags: Tags: frankfurt motor show, Peugeot, peugeot rcz
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