Launch of the Peugeot RCZ gives sports car buyers a difficult choice and in many ways it’s ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to the Audi TT’s dominance.
Direct comparisons with the Audi are inevitable - clearly the Peugeot RCZ wins on price, power, interior space, and luxury features. And if you think the Audi TT’s pure styling looks good, just wait until you see the head-turning, athletic and elegant looks of the Peugeot RCZ – a generation newer than the Audi and yes, it really is that good.
Apart from the Audi TT, buyers who are looking at BMW 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz CLC and even the Nissan 370Z should definitely consider the seriously impressive Peugeot RCZ.
Peugeot RCZ What You Get
Remember Peugeot won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2009, launched a concerted bid for glory this year (only thwarted in the last hour) and has vowed to return to the ‘Circuit de la Sarthe’ again next year. In fact, Peugeot has a long history in motor sport – including F1 - and these latest Le Mans efforts have provided genuine credibility to launch the Peugeot RCZ.
So sports car fans, the news from Peugeot gets better – the stunning, all-new Peugeot RCZ is available in three models (petrol manual, petrol auto and diesel manual) and just one very high specification grade – all priced at $54,990. Entry-level for the Audi TT is now $62,600.
Clearly the Peugeot RCZ is a break-through car for Peugeot, but in terms of its dazzlingly beautiful styling, it’s no exaggeration to say, it’s a breakthrough car full stop. The double bubble roof and rear glass guarantee the Peugeot RCZ will be talked about for a long time.
As the muscly looks attest - unlike some big-sellers in this segment - the Peugeot RCZ doesn’t disappoint when the roads get twisty. After two days in the Peugeot RCZ, we reckon it’s a genuine high performance sports coupe… the crisp on-road dynamics, precise feedback and brilliant chassis balance will please enthusiast drivers and make the Peugeot the pick of the Europeans in this class.
In a previous era, all of this would have been a surprise from Peugeot, but things have changed for the better at France’s number two carmaker. In fact, the Peugeot RCZ is not actually manufactured by Peugeot – its made in Graz, Austria at the Magna Steyr plant (also home to the Aston Martin Rapide and BMW X3).
Peugeot RCZ Under The Hood
Signs of the times here – the Peugeot RCZ is powered by the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine which Peugeot supplies to BMW, while petrol versions of the Peugeot RCZ score a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine sourced from MINI (owned by BMW).
Our pick was the petrol manual (six-speed) Peugeot RCZ with 147Nm at 5,500rpm and 275Nm at 1,700rpm (Audi TT 118kW/250Nm). Petrol auto versions (six-speed with manual Tiptronic function) also use the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, but de-tuned to 115kW/240Nm.
The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Peugeot RCZ provides 120kW at 4,000rpm and 340Nm from 2,000rpm. Currently no sign of an automatic turbo-diesel Peugeot RCZ.
Peugeot RCZ diesel is the range’s fuel consumption leader with 5.3l/100kms (combined cycle), followed by the petrol manual (6.9l/100kms) and the petrol auto (7.3l/100kms).
All engines in the Peugeot RCZ line-up meet the upcoming Euro 5 emissions standard. The turbo-diesel is rated at 139g/km, the petrol manual at 159g/km and the petrol auto at 168g/km.
Over the test route Peugeot set in the mountains behind Palm Cove in North Queensland, Car Showroom loved the Peugeot RCZ 1.6-litre manual’s delightful throttle response and racy exhaust note. The latter comes from a special acoustic duct in the exhaust system just aft of the turbocharger – fitted and tuned precisely to deliver a sporty ‘engine melody’.
We tried the Peugeot RCZ diesel over a variety of roads in Palm Cove and Port Douglas and – not surprisingly for a latest common rail, twin-scroll turbocharged European diesel – it was quiet, refined and rapid.
Peugeot RCZ The Interior
If you think the exterior is a winner, the Peugeot RCZ really distances itself from the sports coupe crowd with its glorious interior. For starters, the Peugeot RCZ gets the green tick for practicality as its rear seats are actually useful (room enough for the seven and six year-old Car Showroom Juniors) and its luggage capacity up to 760 litres (rear seat folded) can accommodate a full-size golf bag.
All Peugeot RCZ models at the launch were fitted with the optional ($1,500) Integral Leather pack, which brings ‘Nabuck’ (a man-made leather-like material) trim for the dashboard fascia, arm rests and door panels to integrate with the standard Nappa leather seats (black or grey). The extra leather look trim transforms the Peugeot RCZ and had some naming Aston Martin and Jaguar in direct comparison.
Peugeot RCZ front seats have electronic adjustment and the D-shaped, leather wrapped sports steering wheel has plenty of adjustment through rake and reach for a great driving position. Alloy-faced pedals add a classy sports car touch.
Four round gauges confront the Peugeot RCZ driver – speedo, rev-counter, engine temperature and fuel level - with secondary trip computer information (including a fuel economy gear-shift indicator in the diesel model) shown in between. To the left are twin air-vents and a stylish analogue clock - all gauges and vents are beautifully trimmed in chrome.
Peugeot RCZ audio is a six-speaker, single CD system with Bluetooth, MP3and USB connectivity. A more upscale JBL system can be optioned.
Peugeot RCZ Exterior & Design
Production versions of the Peugeot RCZ remain very true to the original concept first shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Peugeot RCZ is highlighted by its twin bubble roof and rear glass window. These are formed by precisely heating sheets of glass to 565 degrees and placing them horizontally onto a mould inside a bending furnace.
The result is a brilliant appearance which blends into the Peugeot RCZ’s long boot (with an automatically raising three-stage rear wing).
At the front, Peugeot RCZ is deeply sculptured with large, directional Bi-Xenon headlights, wide wheel-arches and an ingenious bonnet opening mechanism which extends all the way back behind the front wheels. The bonnet itself is fitted with twin pyrotechnic charges to instantly lift it by 55mm in the event of a collision with a pedestrian…in order to minimise injuries.
The side view is highlighted by the exaggerated wheel arches (front and rear), the twin aluminium roof arches and the kick-up for the front windows. Wheels are 18-inch alloys as standard, or you can option 19-inch versions, which look great.
Peugeot RCZ is jaw-droppingly beautiful in the flesh and altogether musclier than the Audi TT. At 4287mm in length and 2107mm in width, the Peugeot RCZ is also more substantial in its on-road presence (exaggerated by its wide waistline/low wheel arches).
Peugeot RCZ On The Road
Peugeot RCZ backs-up its serious sports car looks with serious sports car driving dynamics. It’s a coin-toss between the diesel’s H2 torque or the smart throttle response of the 1.6-litre petrol as enthusiast drivers will appreciate both.
We tackled the twists of the mountains around Kuranda in North Queensland behind the wheel of a Peugeot RCZ petrol manual and it was a delight (the 147kW version gains a lower, stiffer front suspension set-up that the 115kW automatic model). The diesel model wasn’t really any less engaging but the engine response (naturally) was different as the H2 torque required less gear changes.
Refinement levels were high and visibility for parking was excellent – the Peugeot RCZ is a sports car with appeal to all genders.
Peugeot RCZ Challenges
We did notice some minor wind noise around the side windows in the diesel-powered Peugeot RCZ.
Verdict
A brilliant effort (again!) from Peugeot – the Peugeot RCZ eclipses the Audi TT to become the European mainstream sports car hero.
The Competition
Priced at $54,990, the Peugeot RCZ provides its standout looks, high levels of equipment and brilliant driving dynamics at a very sharp price. Audi TT ($62,600), BMW 1-Series Coupe ($54,400), Mercedes-Benz CLC ($49,900) and Nissan 370Z ($67,900) struggle to match the French newcomer.
Thumbs-Up:
Stunning looks; brilliant to drive; lots of kit; smartly priced
Thumbs-Down:
We haven’t got one in our garage permanently
