Peugeot has officially unveiled the RCZ coupé at Frankfurt, but despite looking identical, the RCZ HYbrid4 is technically still a concept because Peugeot won't commit to building it. That's because it's powered by a diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain.
What's all the fuss about?
In this case both the form and the function are equally fascinating, because not only does this showcase the showroom-ready skin of the RCZ coupé, it's also powered by the diesel-electric hybrid technology that Peugeot hopes to put into production shortly.
Here's why: a 2.0-litre 163bhp HDi engine mated to a 37bhp electric motor means it has 200bhp combined and can achieve 76.4mpg while puffing out just 95g/km of CO2.
Any new technology?
The drivetrain isn't new per se, but it's one of the first examples of a diesel hybrid that, Peugeot claims, is close to production. The same drivetrain is fitted to the 3008 HYbrid4 gracing the French maker's stand, and it works by using the diesel engine to power the front wheels and the electric motor to drive the back.
It means the HYbrid4 is four-wheel drive, which combined with the multi-link suspension setup necessary to accommodate the electric motor, means this RCZ's handling should be far beyond anything Peugeot has made in recent memory. 0-62mph comes up in 8.5 seconds though, which suggests it's a heavy beast.
Will it ever see the light of day?
Probably. Obviously the RCZ has been given the production go-ahead, with sales starting in Spring 2010, but the maker has stopped short of green lighting the green one. We're sure it will at some stage, but it certainly won't be until at least 2011, and it will depend on economies of scale - if the standard car sells well, there's far more chance of this one making the cut.
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