When we first saw the Peugeot RCZ->ke3470 in 2007, we saw a car that had tremendous potential in the industry, as did its maker. In 2010, Peugeot->ke68 released the production model of the RCZ and it’s been a relative success since, despite its odd proportions. Typically, you do not see a revision for a new model for about four to six years after its initial release, but Peugeot is far from your “typical” car manufacturer.

Just two years after its initial release, Peugeot has announced that it will revise the RCZ for the 2013 model year. Fortunately, the revised RCZ is not a completely unfamiliar face, as Peugeot made sure to keep the basic styling of this bubbly compact with some minor tweaks here and there. From the looks of things, Peugeot’s attempt in this revision was to make the RCZ flow a little better and give it a more streamlined design. This takes the shock value that the original RCZ had, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?

UPDATE 09/25/2012: A new video of the face lifted Peugeot RCZ has been released by Peugeot leading up to its debut at the Paris Motor Show. Check it out by clicking on the photo above.

UPDATE 11/20/12: Peugeot has released the UK pricing for the RCZ sports coupe. Find out how much it's going to cost after the jump!

Click past the jump to read all about the revised 2013 RCZ and find out if the revisions are a benefit or if they take away from this unique vehicle.

2013 Peugeot RCZ

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Peugeot RCZ
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 156 @ 6000
  • Torque: 177 @ 1400
  • Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The very first change you’ll notice on the new RCZ is the scrapping of the old bulky front fascia, which really looked out of place on this model. In comes a more stylish front end that features a slightly less wide-open lower grille that has no horizontal louvers on it and a lens on each end to make it look longer than it really is. These lenses boast six LED lights that are sculpted to form the appearance claws. The upper grille is expanded and boasts a pair of satin silver horizontal bars, which Peugeot says are “shaped like samurai sword blades.”

The new headlights on the RCZ come standard with halogen bulbs and an aluminum background for reflection. You can opt for a sportier set of directional Xenon lights with a titanium background for an added fee. Between the RCZ’s eyes is a revise Peugeot emblem that it significantly more fitting than last year’s emblem and is satin silver.

Down the sides and around the rump of the Peugeot RCZ remains completely identical to last year’s model. It even retains it awkward-on-any-car-but-a-Peugeot double-hump roof with the same humps extending down the rear glass. We’re glad to see the majority of the RCZ’s back end remaining, but we would have like to have seen new taillights. The existing taillights are too reminiscent of the 370Z.

At the corners, you get a set of 18-inch wheels standard, and they are available in classic (standard), two-toned dark grey and diamond, or full spirit grey. You can also opt for a set of 19-inch Sortilège wheels in classic, midnight silver or matte black onyx. Another upgraded wheel is the 19-inch Solstice wheel available in anthra grey or matte black onyx. There are also two all-new 19-inch wheels available.

There are a total of eight colors available for the 2013 RCZ and they are: Opal White, Pearlescent White, Black Pearl, Mercury Grey, Haria Grey, Tuanake (Dolphin) Blue, Guaranja Brown (a chic dark brown), and Eritrea Red. The latter two on the list are the new colors.

For added individuality, Peugeot also offers up a slew of customized add on components for the exterior. You can add on a pair of lacquered black bras on the front fascia, which replaces the two satin silver bars, to give the RCZ’s face a darker appearance. You can opt for three different colors to grace the arches over the side glass, including sand (standard), aluminum, or the all-new matte black. A new package dubbed the Black Pack adds in the aforementioned matte black bars and arches, as well as black brake calipers, and black side-view mirrors. You can opt for the latter two black components separately, just like the bars and arches.

Custom body work decals are also available, including: a gloss-black central stripe down the vehicle, grey and red lateral stripes on the body sills bearing an “RCZ” cutout, and a silver offset stripe crossing the vehicle. The final customization pieces, sans the earlier-mentioned rim packages, are the two roof options: matte or gloss.

Dimensions

Length

168.78 inches

Width

82.95 inches

Height

53.5 inches

Wheelbase

102.83 inches

{{Curb Weight

2,811 lbs – 3,020 lbs


Just like in 2010, we love the exterior of the RCZ, despite its Audi-TT-meets-Nissan-370Z appearance. The only thing that really needed changed – the front fascia – was changed, so good call by Peugeot.

{0{Interior}0}

Peugeot claims that the interior has “evolved,” which we take as it hasn’t changed much, but has some minor upgrades. From the images that Peugeot provided us, the new interior looks almost identical to the previous generation, and we love it. The elegance and cleanliness of the last-gen RCZ’s interior was a thing of beauty, so this year is simply an enhancement on that.

Peugeot did provide us some good details on the revised interior. First off, the interior now has a whopping 12 trim levels with enough variations to make your head spin. The gear shifter bezel is now lacquered in black, as opposed to the flat-black plastic from the previous model. You get matching leather door inserts when you choose the Club Leather, Alcantara, or Full Leather interior trim levels. When you choose the Club Leather or Full Leather option, you also get aluminum inserts that join the dashboard and center console.

On the inside, you can opt for a Sport Pack, which gives you a smaller diameter steering wheel, a short shifter, and the Sound System feature (only on gasoline models). This Sport Pack is a standard feature on the THP “200” model. The Sound System feature amplifies the sound of the engine during aggressive driving.

Peugeot also lets us know that the interior is filled with soft-touch and high-end materials, leaving it with an elegant look and feel. This looks and sounds an awful lot like the previous generation’s interior with a few minor twists, and that is a good thing for sure!

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Just like the rest of the RCZ, there are plenty of engines to choose from. There is a single diesel option, which is the 2.0-liter HDi engine that pumps out 163 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 340 Nm (250 pound-feet) of torque at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm. With this diesel engine, the RCZ accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h (136 mph). In the city, the diesel model consumes 6.8 l/100 km (34.5 mpg) and on the highway, it consumes 4.5 l/100 km (52.27 mpg). Combined, it consumes 5.3 l/100 km (44.4 mpg). This engine only comes with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The base gasoline model is the 1.6-liter THP “156,” which produces 156 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm (177 pound-feet) of torque at 1,400 to 4,500 rpm. This engine gets the RCZ to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8 seconds with the 6-speed manual transmission and 8.4 seconds with a 6-speed automatic. It can reach 217 km/h (135 mph) with the 6-speed manual and 213 km/h (132 mph) with the automatic trans. With the manual transmission, this engine is rated at 8.9 l/100 km (26.4 mpg) in the city, 5.1 l/100km (46.1 mpg) on the highway, and 6.4 l/100 km (36.75 mpg) combined. When equipped with the automatic transmission, the 2013 RCZ is rated 10.3 l/100 km (22.8 mpg) in the city, 5.5 l/100km (42.8 mpg) on the highway, and 7.3 l/100 km (32.2 mpg) combined.

The top-level engine in the RCZ is the 1.6-liter THP “200,” which puts 200 horsepower to the wheels between 5,500 and 6,800 rpm, and produces 275 Nm (202 pound-feet) of torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm. This performance model will hit 100 km/h (62mph) in only 7.5 seconds and boasts a 240 km/h (149 mph) top speed. Though it is a high-performance model, it still has stout fuel economy at 8.8 l/100 km (26.7 mpg) in the city, 5.6 l/100 km (42 mph) on the highway, and 6.7 l/100 km 35.11 mpg) combined. This engine is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

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Peugeot has now released the price for the RCZ with the sport model carrying a base price of £21,595, which is around $34,000 based on current exchange rates. For the higher grade GT model, the price bumps up to £23,995, which, when converted, is about $38,200.

{0{Conclusion}0}

The RCZ was awesome when it first came out and remains that way. We would like to see a little more power and speed from this sporty coupe, but the RCZ R may be the ticket for that. If you are in the U.S. and looking to get one of these, good luck, as Peugeot does not sell any vehicles in the U.S.