Peugeot's TT breaks cover

Peugeot has officially revealed its RCZ coupe a month ahead of its public unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show in September.

Staying faithful to the design of the RCZ concept car, the two-door coupe will arrive in Australia from July 2010, after it goes into production in Europe in April 2010.

Peugeot will offer three engines with the front-wheel drive RCZ coupe, and two gearboxes -- a six-speed auto and a six-speed manual. The entry-level 1.6-litre turbo petrol powerplant outputs 116kW/240Nm and is an economical mill, with a fuel consumption rating of 6.9L/100km and CO2 emissions of 159g/km with the manual transmission.

Peugeot will also offer a high-tune version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, which was co-developed with BMW. This range-topping sports model outputs 200 horsepower in the old money, which is 149kW, and can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds. This compares relatively well with the 1.8 TFSI Audi TT, which takes 7.3 seconds to reach 100km/h.

The high output 1.6 generates a healthy 255Nm of torque; uses an average of 7.1L/100km and emits CO2 of 165g/km.

Peugeot says that the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engines feature a specially tuned soundtrack that is "optimised through the use of Sound System technology" and creates a different sound according to the engine speed, "just like a musical instrument". The French philharmonic could be out of work soon...

Peugeot is also offering a stump-pulling 2.0-litre turbodiesel RCZ model, which is rated at 122kW/340Nm, while sipping just 5.4L/100km and emitting CO2 of 139g/km.

The new RCZ coupe, which will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria, will give Peugeot another sports-luxury model on top of the recently launched 308 CC with which to develop its increasingly sporty image.

Fitted standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, customers will be able to opt for 18- or 19-inch rims, and while the RCZ can be compared to the Audi TT in terms of style, it still has a unique design that sets it apart from most European coupes.

As well as a the double bubble roof, which was one of the design cues from the original concept car shown at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show, the RCZ coupe features pumped wheel guards, aluminium roof arches and a steeply raked windscreen which combine to deliver a sporty image.

The front-end design of the RCZ is typical Peugeot; the 'feline' visage makes the instantly recognisable as a French sports car while the rear continues the double bubble theme through the rear windscreen, and also features an automatically deploying rear spoiler to improve high speed stability.

In line with the car's premium aspirations, the RCZ coupe can be ordered with high quality Nappa leather covering the "wrap-around seats" that "fit like a glove around the front occupants".

Peugeot says the interior of the 2+2 RCZ coupe will envelop the driver "in a subtly elitist ambience". As the interior photo shows, the driver sits low in the car, akin to the Audi TT.

Some of the features of the Peugeot RCZ coupe will include a high-end JBL stereo, the Peugeot Connect 3D multimedia system which includes the Peugeot Connect USB box, and a 384 litre boot that includes under floor storage cubbies. The 'occasional' rear seats can also be folded down for expanded boot space.

Measuring 4.29 metres long 1.36 metres tall, the low-slung 2+2 sports car will provide Peugeot with a powerful image model that heralds a subtle shift in the French car makers philosophy.

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