Peugeot offers glimpse into its future with super slick RCZ

The RCZ couples style with low emissions. Photo / Supplied

The car heading a renewed push by Peugeot to blend its traditional ride and handling strengths with world-leading CO2 exhaust emissions standards has arrived in New Zealand, priced at $64,990.

The RCZ coupe is the French carmaker's "image product", profiling new engine technology and pointing to future styling cues.

"In short," says Peugeot New Zealand divisional manager Simon Rose, "the RCZ is the epitome of the brand's future. It is a real example of the positive and aggressive direction being taken at Peugeot." The RCZ is the first Peugeot to use the redesigned Lion badge, now more three-dimensional and without the long-time blue flag background.

The two-door is well equipped - but with no options, apart from the choice of seven exterior colours. What you see is pretty much what you get, unusual for a European carmaker.

Two models are available, both priced at $64,990 and using a direct-injection 1.6-litre petrol engine to drive the front wheels.

One uses a twin-scroll turbocharger to deliver 147kW/275Nm through a six-speed manual gearbox; the other is a naturally aspirated unit putting out 115kW/240Nms via a six-speed automatic.

Peugeot claims a town-and-around fuel economy for the manual of 6.9 litres/100km (40mpg) and 7.3 litres/100km for the automatic. Exhaust CO2 emissions are rated at 168 grams per kilometre for the automatic and 159 gr/km for the manual.

The RCZ is built on a reworked version of the 308 hatchback chassis. It is longer and wider than the 308 and rides on a similar suspension system, set lower in the RCZ for a sportier ride and handling.

The manual model gets go-fast bits, including a smaller steering wheel, aluminium gear knob and pedals - and special "sound" technology in the exhaust.

A vibrating membrane changes the harmonics under acceleration. Peugeot says the sound is "controlled and amplified by an acoustic duct, which produces an enhanced 'tune' over long distances."