Frankfurt 2009: Peugeot RCZ is our kind of French connection
by Noah Joseph on Sep 16th 2009 at 2:19PM 
Peugeot RCZ – Click above for high-res image gallery
Some things are worth waiting for. Take the Peugeot RCZ, for example. French auto giant PSA has been talking about putting the RCZ into production since initially unveiling it as a concept car in this very hall back in 2007. And that day has finally arrived with the unveiling of the production-ready coupe here in Frankfurt.
The critics may say the styling is too close to the Audi TT, but to our eyes that's no bad thing. And while there are certainly some TT-esque design traits coming through, there is plenty to set this apart as uniquely Peugeot. Sporting a Zagato-style double-bubble roof and muscular wheel arches, the RCZ is easily the most stylish French car this side of a Bugatti.
Mechanically, it's based on the 308 hatchback, but the svelte coupe has dropped the numeric moniker on the road to production. Engines include 1.6-liter turbo fours with 156 or 200 horsepower and a 2-liter turbodiesel with 163 ponies. Also available with the oil-burning mill is a hybrid drivetrain supplemented by a 37-horsepower electric motor that matches the top gas engine's output while upping the ante with all-wheel-drive and environmental bragging rights. Have a closer look in the gallery below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
artandcolour 2:25PM (9/16/2009)
the side sculpting reminds me a lot of the Karmann-Ghia-originally introduced more than 53 years ago. i wish this Peugeot was going to be sold in the USA. i think it's trés hot.
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anonymous j 2:25PM (9/16/2009)
that grill kind of makes it look like it's wearing a mouth guard.
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Mattias 3:22PM (9/16/2009)
It is not as ugly as a 107 with the chrome mouth guard:
http://www.peugeot.co.uk/vehicles/peugeot-car-range/peugeot-107-5door-hatchback/
My 307 has no mouth guard and I still did not ruin my mouth.
larry raines 2:27PM (9/16/2009)
side view looks a little like an old Karman Giha.
With that long rear deck, it seems like it could be a hard top convertible.
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ugg.tryptophan 4:56PM (9/16/2009)
the karmann ghia is a beautiful car, i like this as well
MeiSooHaityu 2:55PM (9/16/2009)
Design looks like it is from the house of Mazda to me (specifically the front).
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Dantzig 4:06PM (9/16/2009)
I agree. The front end reminds me of the new Mazda3.
Ayle 7:16PM (9/16/2009)
The 206 had this design since it came out in 1998. This is typical of Peugeot design philosophy. Mazda doesn't have the monopoly of big mouthed car...
jsjs 11:40PM (9/16/2009)
The "smiling guppy" shaped grille has been a mainstay on a couple of Peugeot models for years.
Mazda certainly didn't originate that look and one could very well say that Mazda lifted it from Peugeot.
RadicalxEdward 3:07PM (9/16/2009)
the front looks like an 00-02 toyota celica with a mouth guard to me. lol.
http://www.allautoreviews.com/auto_reviews/toyota/photos/toyota-celica-2.jpg
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Mehdi Cheddadi 4:24PM (9/16/2009)
this car is a mess
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Shiftright 5:51PM (9/16/2009)
Looks much less like a TT than the concept. Not doing it for me, but it's nice enough, and has a certain presence. Just not a fan of the Peugeot face.
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Matthew 6:00PM (9/16/2009)
When it comes to French recent coupes, I'll take any Laguna Coupe over this. I find the styling of the RCZ overworked, les classy. But it's great if it gets the interior of the 308CC (even without neck-heating seats).
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Josh 7:22PM (9/16/2009)
I actually like the design of the car, very interesting roof line.
I would also like to take that model home with the car.
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Exchangeandmart 3:11PM (10/18/2009)
Great read of the Frankfurt show Noah. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of this white beauty here in London for the MPH Show. http://bit.ly/L5Xvc It should be one of the highlights this year. I will hope to get a few more pics of the car at the event
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