Peugeot is best known for its fabulous vans—loved by many in the industry. That being said, they have now created a coupé with the words emotion woven into it. We come to see how much emotion it can stimulate…
From the front, the large bottom grill is outlined smartly in chrome, where the ends widen out, producing a Cheshire cat alike grin. To the sides of the face, are deep, hollowed out cheeks, where the fog lamps lie. At the end of the bonnet, the large Peugeot badge usually seen on delivery trucks glistens proudly on the edge, ready to face a challenge. Large curved eyes resonate hidden power and fierceness, adding on the desirability of the particular coupé. The sweeping pillar that connects roof to bonnet is made of what seems to be a cross between brushed aluminum and a gray, dull polished metal. This curve sweeps towards the rear of the vehicle—incredibly beautiful on such a car. From the side, the aerodynamic sides are well curved, with a bulging rear wheel arch, which fits the artistic 19-inch rims well. The rear is where things change a little—for the better. With a sweeping rear glass roof (think cross between Panamera and X6), a sense of balance occurs, completing the aerodynamic design and feel. The rear lights are stretched at angles, gently easing into the sheet metal. Ash gray 19-inch wheels complete the package.
· Interior
Don’t expect much. Many critics find that Peugeot’s steering wheels are much to old fashioned, and do not provide much (if any) driver interface. In the RCZ’s case, though a flat-bottomed steering wheel is provided, it’s still gray and bare. Simple as that. Once one looks aside that matter, the rest of the interior is almost faultless. The attention to detail for a Peugeot is relatively incredible. For instance, take the leather wrapped dash and side doors—probably the most amount of leather used in any Peugeot to date. Supportive seats prove faultless, and manage to hold one in place if attempted drifting is taken place. To maintain the luxurious feel, Peugeot has added a classy timepiece in between two air conditioning vents, all outlined in chrome. Directly above, is a display, featuring radio channel, etc. It does seem a touch old fashioned due to the old orange backlight in the background. Nevertheless, in such a car, these things seem relatively petty, as one feels focused on the road ahead, due to the powerhouse up front. Being a 2 + 2 coupé, the rear is tight. Pets, shopping, and babies would fit best in the rear. Due to the sloping rear glass roof, a rear passenger might describe his/her ride as: tight/inhumane, with a marvelous view.
· Ride & Handling
The heart of the RCZ, is a BMW co-developed 200 THP engine, with a considerable 200BHP. The top of the range, turbo charged 1.6-liter engine is matched with a slightly stiffer suspension setup than its lesser siblings. The six-speed manual featured in (this) the RCZ allows gear shifting as the driver feels is necessary, maximizing the 200BHP upfront due to shorter gear ratios. With the right gear selected, one will feel the difference when accelerating, compared to an automatic gearbox. Though the RCZ falls short of competition such as the Audi TT, steering is still relatively sharp. I must say that the RCZ best fits the description of: Beauty within the beast.
· Verdict
Exterior incredibly faultless. Interior can be improved on; appreciate the extensive use of leather. 1.6-liter turbo seems fitting for such a sporty vehicle. Though not on par with the Germans, the RCZ still seems promising. There goes a check mark on emotion.
o Pictures from:
http://www.gotbroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2010-Peugeot-RCZ-Rear-Side-Picture.jpg
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