20 Nov 2012

Peugeot RCZ Coupé - pricing and specs

Peugeot have announced specifications and pricing for the revised version of it's RCV Sports Coupé.  The car will be launched in the UK in January 2013 and will cost from £21,595 for the RCZ Sport and £23,995 for the RCZ GT.  An 260bhp R version will be launched in late 2013.

The RCZ Sport gets 18" wheels, dual zone air-conditioning, parking aid and USB/ Bluetooth.  The GT gets 19" wheels and interior sports kit.

Engines remain the same as the old model RCZ with a 163bhp 2.0 litre diesel (0-62mph in 8.7 seconds) and two petrols - both using a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine but one has 156bhp (0-62 in 8.3 seconds) and the other 200bhp (0-62 in 7.6 seconds).
Peugeot RCZ Coupé R

The RCZ is something of a sheep in wolf's clothing.  It looks great and sounds good, with a raspy exhaust note.  The interior is high quality and the handling is excellent.  But it is front wheel drive and isn't very fast.

It looks like it should cost more and go faster than it actually does.  The body, quality and detail say it should be a £40k car yet the drivetrain and power bring it back down to £25k levels.  It's competitors are said to be the Audi TT and VW Scirocco.  The TT has the decency to be four wheel drive and the Scirocco has never set out to be anything other than it is.

In reality the RCZ's competition is the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ which wipes the floor with it by virtue of the fact it is a proper sports car rather than a family hatchback with a fancy body welded on top.

Further detail on the pricing of the new Peugeot RCZ will be available at it's launch in January 2013.