Peugeot 308 RC-Z caught testing (click for bigger picture)
Peugeot revealed their 308 RC Z Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2007. But despite being spotted from time to time out testing it hasn’t seemed to get any closer to production. But that looks set to change going off these latest spy shots, which show the RC Z little changed from the original concept, but looking almost like a car ready for launch.
The 308 RC-Z is based on the same platform as the 308 and the Citroen C4 (which also underpins the new Citroen DS3). Power is likely to come from a choice of 1.6 litre turbos – 220bhp or 150bhp. Also likely to be on offer is an oil-burner.
When the 308 RC-Z first surfaced it was considered to be a likely competitor for the Audi TT. But that was the old Audi TT (which is quite similar looking to the RC-Z), and Audi has moved on since then with the launch of the new Audi TT. Will Peugeot find it easy to compete with the RC-Z? It’s hard to say, but talk is of a starting price of around £20k, which would give it a chance.
This is all part of PSA’s shift in market focus, with Citroen heading upmarket with the DS range, and Peugeot looking to strike a sport note on the back of its Le Mans prowess, it marks a subtle divergence of the brands. Which is no bad thing.
If things go as we expect you should see the Peugeot 308 RC-Z turning up at Frankfurt in September, and in showrooms early in 2010.
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