Friday, April 4, 2014

Peugeot RCZ Review

 
Going back to about 25 years before today, Peugeot might be a brand that came with quite a high prestige to offer those who own one. This was possible thanks to the manufacturer's 205 GTI which was considerably amazing back then. However, unfortunately, it seems that Peugeot has not been able to really amaze car enthusiasts any longer for decades. Yet, things are about to change for the manufacturer thanks to their new Peugeot RCZ which is a coupe one of its kind and has a lot to offer. After hearing all that, the next thing that may sound more interesting is often what the car can probably offer for real.

Well, to get things started, car enthusiasts worldwide may think of this Peugeot RCZ as a rival to the Audi TT. Every car enthusiast knows how Audi TT performs and what it can give to the drivers. With that being said, the car enthusiasts out there may have acquired the big picture of the coupe offered by Peugeot. However, it may turn out quite unfair just to look at the big picture instead of paying attention to every detail of the coupe. Therefore, it is wise to read on.

First of all, what Peugeot may offer to the car owners - and the one that may turn out the most innovative feature - is the so-called double bubble curving shape applied to the roof as well as the glass rear window of the RCZ coupe. This is one of the key factors that make Peugeot RCZ stand out from the rest of coupes from the other brands in existence. Peugeot has managed to lengthen this roof in such a way that it forms a fluid, single and streamlined envelope with the coupe's rear window. As a result, optimized aerodynamics is something the driver of this coupe can expect. Also, the overall visual style of this particular coupe is an eye-catching one that will freeze the eyes of the surrounding crowd. It seems that people will not get tired of looking at this RCZ over and over again.

Then, the next item of innovation is the coupe's aluminum roof arches which are meant to maximize the dynamism of the coupe. Viewed from the side, this particular coupe will proudly display the taut and firm contours supported by the coupe's rear wings with generous curves, sides that are deeply sculpted and the coupe's front wings which are very prominent.

Yet, another feature offered with the Peugeot RCZ is an enveloping bonnet. Thanks to such a bonnet, it has been possible for the manufacturer Peugeot to reduce the size that the front wings may have taken. Also, with its wide opening, accessing the engine as well as the front wheel arches becomes a lot easier.

In terms of performance, Peugeot offers 3 engine options for this outstanding coupe of theirs. First, there is the 1.6 THP 16V 200 bhp engine option. Then, there is the 1.6 THP 16V 156 bhp engine option. Those are for the petrol engines. Now, for the diesel engine, there is the 2.0 HDi FAP 16V 163 bhp engine option. And, when it comes to steering, this coupe is equipped with hydraulic power steering feature. Thanks to such a steering feature, this coupe can easily be driven through corners without the coupe losing its stability. And, the RCZ coupe responds very well to the steering in most occasions.

The braking system on the Peugeot RCZ is also a powerful one. With front ventilated discs measuring 302 millimeters in diameter and with a thickness of up to 26 millimeters, the braking system is a hard-wearing one. Meanwhile, for the rear braking system, this coupe comes offered for sale with brake discs measuring 290x12 millimeters. Yet, there are more to the braking system. The owners of this coupe may well expect the presence of EBA - which stands for Emergency Brake Assist - and EBD - which stands for Electronic Brake force Distribution. With these features, the brake pressure on each wheel is very likely to be pretty efficient.

To add to the driver's driving pleasure, this particular coupe grasps the road perfectly. The coupe features an inverted type of pseudo McPherson assembly as its front suspension. The RCZ that comes with the 200 bhp engine option even features an anti-roll bar that is uncoupled. On the other hand, the rear suspension is a trailing-arm type featuring rigid arm joints. The base and the gravity center of the coupe have even been lowered as well for the sake of the driver's pleasure.

However, what have been revealed so far with concerns to the coupe are all about the visual and technical aspects. What about the comfort that the Peugeot RCZ may offer? Well, in terms of comfort, Peugeot offers pretty smooth and high quality upholstery. Better yet, it is even possible for the RCZ owners to upgrade the upholstery to the superior Nappa leather. Yet, the seats inside the coupe are sports car typical. The position is low yet ergonomic providing a great level of comfort to the passengers inside.

Yet, when it comes to entertainment, this RCZ features a set of high technology equipments that may well include Peugeot's new multimedia systems, JBL Hi-Fi systems, USB sockets and so on. And, unlike the other cars, there is an analog clock instead of a digital one in the center of the instrument panel. And, in order to reflect how a sports car may feel, the background of the instrument panel is made of genuinely pressed metal.

The steering wheel is also of fine quality. It is covered with fine leather. Better yet, it is even equipped with collar as well as thumb rests that are covered with chrome finishing. And, for easy readings for the driver, the dial backs come with carbon tone which is enhanced even further by making use of back-lit and laser cut readings.

Now, it seems that the least discussed item here is safety of the Peugeot RCZ coupe. Well, the coupe features driver and front passenger airbags along with 2 neck airbags built into its seats. Of course, the airbags are not the only items available when it comes to safety. Taking into consideration the new protocol of the Euro NCAP, Peugeot has equipped their RCZ coupe by means of a pyrotechnic pop-up bonnet. This bonnet is designed to minimize the impact pedestrians may experience should a collision takes place in the front side of the coupe.

Another safety feature is a spoiler. Peugeot RCZ comes with a self-adjustable spoiler that works accordingly to the speed of the coupe. The spoiler works in two positions. It will first open when the RCZ coupe reaches 53 mph. Then, the spoiler will extend even further if the coupe reaches a speed of up to 96 mph. By means of such a spoiler, this top-notch coupe will obtain an even higher aerodynamic efficiency.

After all being said, it may well be true that Peugeot may not have shown what it can do for decades. However, with the presence of Peugeot RCZ, those car enthusiasts or those who are perhaps intending to buy a sports car or a coupe may need to consider buying an RCZ. Yet, they need to keep in mind that there is a pretty good chance they can still find even more options available right from Peugeot.

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