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Facelifts are a natural part of every car’s evolution. With every manufacturer all out trying to outdo each other, introducing an updated model once every few years has become a necessity for survival and since not everyone can churn out a completely new model every few years, facelifts are your answer to entice new buyers – and probably to correct some old mistakes which didn’t take too well to the streets. Fortunately for Peugeot, it hit almost all the right buttons with the RCZ. First introduced in 2009 Frankfurt Motor show, the Peugeot stunned the world with the RCZ’s sexy curves, the insanely expensive yet hypnotic bubble glass roof and an interior that’s elegantly designed yet very functional.
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And kensomuse was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to test and review the RCZ in the article found HERE
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In the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Peugeot revealed the facelifted RCZ and after a year of waiting, it looks like it’s set to arrive on our shores very soon. There has been sightings of the FL at various showrooms in the country and this is an account of my own personal encounter with one (after deliberately spending time and effort hunting one down)
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Similar to the facelifted 308, the fierceness of the RCZ seem to have been tamed somewhat with it’s less-sharp redesigned headlamps and bumper which now houses its LED DRLS. It’s center no longer resembles a conspicuously bulbous nose and the new corporate floating grille helps to attention to the grille itself instead of that nose. Speaking of the grille, the pre-FL model had a gigantic one which may not agree with everyone. The new grille is divided into two parts; the smaller grille had silver linings for visual cueing while the lower grille maintained plain black. This serves to make the ‘grin’ less maniacal.
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At the back, it’s virtually identical to the pre-FL. The tail lights are probably swappable between the pre and FL models.
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Like its predecessor, the RCZ FL also gets 19″ rims but the earlier Sortilege design has been dropped and replaced with these named ‘Technical’. In some countries the rims has black inserts but I don’t understand why the inserts are removed for us.
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Everything is lock, stock and barrel inside brought over from the pre-FL except for this ….
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Finally, like the 308CC that was sold for a limited time here, there’s a 7″ folding High Definition folding screen which is rumored to come with GPS. It sure beats the monochrome display as found in the earlier model.
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Also different is the leather inside. We had two colors to choose from and with the Pearl White, it was plain black for the leather stitched dashboard and seats (check the review on the previous RCZ which had the black interior). For the Haria Grey, the leather is grey in color.
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In the FL Haria Grey as seen here had a beige backrest and thigh support. No information on the other interior colors.
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And for the first time, Red is introduced as another option for buyers to choose form. I don’t know about you but this red sure had me salivating.
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Details are still sketchy on most parts of the car but these we know:-
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- The new RCZ will be using the 1.6litre THP engine (like its predecessor)
- There will be both manual and auto (like its predecessor)
- The auto will be pushing 163bhp @ 6,000rpm and 240Nm @ 1,400rpm. This is a 7bhp increase and no change in torque output compared to its predecessor.
- 0-100kph is 8.4seconds (like its predecessor)
- The auto will be paired to a 6 speed gearbox (like its predecessor)
- It will have electro hydraulic, speed sensitive variable power steering (like its predecessor)
- It will have front ventilated discs and solid discs for the rear (like its predecessor)
- It will have active pop-up bonnet for enhanced pedestrian safety (like its predecessor)
- It will have 4 airbags (like its predecessor)
- ABS, EBA, EBFD is featured (like its predecessor)
- It will have Follow-Me-Home lights (like its predecessor)
- It will have dynamic rear wing (like its predecessor)
- It will have World in Peugeot JBL sound system with 6 speakers coupled with a 240W surround sound amplifier
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