French Conception:
Peugeot’s 308 RC Z Concept

Peugeot has gone public with images of its white-hot 308 RC Z Concept car, set for a September debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The 308 RC Z comes complete with show-car imperatives like deeply sculpted sides, crouched stance, and central exhaust. While clearly borrowing a page from Audi’s TT, the Peugeot’s high, prominent nose and gaping grill give it a sort of wild-edged character lacking from the more reserved German.

With emphasis placed on lightness of build, the Peugeot concept utilizes aluminum, carbon fiber, and impressively, polycarbonate in the form of a rear window. The company maintains that the fetching, (and quite feminine) double-bulge shape of the window wouldn’t have been possible in traditional glass.

Power comes from the same THP (turbo high pressure) 1.6-liter four seen in last year’s 207 RC. The engine mapping has been reworked to produce 218 hp, giving it 43 hp more than its previous output. Coupled to a 6-speed manual, Peugeot promises an “efficient compromise between performance and fuel consumption.”

(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a high-resolution photo gallery, or on the jump below to read Peugeot’s official press release)

The 308 RC Z concept car is a new Peugeot interpretation of driving pleasure. The car is a 2+2 coupé, with true versatility and at the same time a style that is modern, original and well-balanced.
Attention initially focused on making the vehicle as light as possible by the use of numerous aluminium components, for example the two roll over protection bars that separate the passenger compartment and give shape to the exterior styling, and the use of a polycarbonate rear windscreen and a large number of carbon fibre body parts.Exterior styling

The particularly stylish design of the front of the 308 blends brilliantly with the proportions of this concept car.
The Peugeot “Lion” badge is mounted to what can truthfully be called the ‘nose of the bonnet’.
From here, the style lines flow upwards back over the bonnet and into the two polished aluminium roll-over protections bars. This flowing profile gives the vehicle its shape and creates an impression of movement in all positions.

Visually, the fluidity of the design is further enhanced by the way the large tinted front windscreen, the carbon fibre roof panel and the polycarbonate tinted rear window are combined together.
The “feline-like” front headlights extend along the line of the bonnet. They contain four cylindrical lights each which create a bright and piercing beam of light. These “cylindrical lights” are clearly visible due to the clear glass headlamp lenses.

The lower front panel differs from that of the 308 hatchback. It has a sharper and sportier shape with a single air intake and integral front fog lamps, while the front grille features chrome detailing.

From the side, the vehicle displays a strong profi le with its prominent front wings, deeply sculpted sides, and particularly generous rear wings. The doors raise the visual profi le, creating a link between the sloping front design and the curvaceous rear design.

The end result, firmly sitting on 19 inch wheels, suggests power, strength and dynamism, like an animal ready to pounce.

The specific shape of the rear window required the use of polycarbonate instead of glass.

The two curved sections emerging from the roof give the vehicle an original appearance and contribute greatly to its aerodynamic efficiency.

The rear lights are mounted fl ush with the car’s wide rear wings. Fitted with light emitting diodes (LEDs), they have a ruby red finish combined with a stylised translucent section which contains the direction indicator.

Two centrally mounted exhaust pipes are integrated into the wraparound lower rear panel.
To achieve this, the rear exhaust silencer has been located in a transverse position where it also serves as an aerodynamic diffuser, but still allows sufficient space for the storage of a spare wheel.

The rich metallic grey exterior body colour is created by a special process using finely milled metallic particles.

The interior

The fascia panel in 308 RC Z concept car has been taken directly from the hatchback. A pure, elegant and fluid design, it allows a particularly clear view of the outside thanks to its sloping design which complements the vehicle’s large front windscreen. It offers a high level of interior brightness, improved visibility and an overwhelming feeling of space.

Reflecting the hatchback, no effort has been spared in terms of the finishing touches and meticulous attention to comfort and convenience inside the car. This is evident in the care given to the styling of each component and the quality of materials used, both in terms of visual appearance and tactile appeal.
The entire fascia panel is trimmed in leather, while the use of chrome, aluminium and black lacquered fittings creates a sporty, upmarket impression. With this in mind, a Bell&Ross® clock has been placed in the centre of the fascia panel, between two air vents, its typography perfectly matching the background of the instrument panel located in the driver’s line of sight.

Another sign of the vehicle’s exclusive nature are the bucket type front seats with polished aluminium eyelets, the style of which is also refl ected in the design of the inner door panels. The ergonomically designed driver’s seat ensures the driver is fi rmly in control of the vehicle. At the rear there are two occasional seats trimmed in leather, both of which can be folded.

The engine

The 308 RC Z concept car is powered by a 1.6 litre THP engine developed from the EP6DTS engine designed and developed via the collaboration between PSA Peugeot Citroën and the BMW Group, where it is fitted to the 207 RC, with a power output of 128 kW (≈175 bhp).

However, the 1.6 litre THP engine, as a result of new engine management software specially developed for the concept car, now produces a maximum power of 160 kW (≈218 bhp). It is characterised by incredible flexibility, thanks to its maximum torque of 280 Nm produced at a low engine speed (300 Nm in overboost). These values ensure remarkable responsiveness under all driving conditions.

Its innovative Twin-Scroll turbocharger optimally pairs the exhaust gases flowing from two cylinders to ensure maximum flow onto the turbine, while its high-pressure direct petrol injection system improves combustion and overall engine efficiency.

The engine is coupled with an entirely new 6 speed manual gearbox.

This unit helps to give the 308 RC Z a particularly efficient compromise between performance and fuel consumption. For example, its maximum speed of 235 km/h is attained in sixth gear and it takes only 7.0 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h. In gear acceleration is impressive: only 7.5 seconds in 5th gear from 80 to 120 km/h. At the same time, fuel consumption is very reasonable with 6.7 litres/100 km in the combined cycle, or just 160 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Wheels and suspension

In the tradition of Peugeot concept cars there is a linked front suspension employing the widespread use of aluminium to reduce the vehicle’s overall weight. This set up ensures exceptional road holding, excellent steering accuracy and great feedback intensifying the overall driving sensation. The rear suspension, derived from the hatchback, consists of a torsion-beam, two rear suspension arms and an integral anti-roll bar. It has been specially modifi ed to take account of the wider vehicle tracks. Indeed the front and rear tracks have been increased by 59 mm compared to the hatchback, and also the fitment of wider tyres, ensures maximum body rigidity, precision and vehicle stability.

Braking relies on large (360 mm) diameter ventilated discs at the front with four piston calipers.

Polished split rim 19” alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 245/40 R19 tyres.

Safety

Even for a unique model, Peugeot’s designers do everything they can to make their dreams become a reality and leave nothing to chance. Safety is also made a top priority.

While the exceptional road holding of the 308 RC Z concept car forms the basis of its primary safety, it is supplemented by safety equipment borrowed from the 308 hatchback, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and the directional bi-Xenon headlamps.

Similarly, in terms of secondary safety, the 308 RC Z uses the same impact protection structures, in particular the three impact absorption structures at the front, designed to provide a rigid structure which can deform in a controlled manner, maximising the absorption of impact forces.

Finally, tertiary safety is assured by the ‘Peugeot Emergency’ service linked to the vehicle’s RT4 telematics system. This pinpoints the vehicle’s location and triggers the dispatch of appropriate assistance as required.