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Peugeot 308 CC (2009)
By
Ben Pulman
Spy shots
14 February 2008 12:16
What about engines for the 308 CC?
At launch the Peugeot 308 CC is expected to come with just two engines. There will be the 136bhp 2.0-litre diesel and the 150bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol. At a later date lower-power engines may appear but Peugeot sees little financial incentive to produce such cars. A tweaked version of the 1.6-litre turbo (the same engine found in the Mini) may appear, but not in the 218bhp spec of the RC Z. Expect prices to start at just under £21,000 for the 150bhp petrol.
While the 308 CC is officially confirmed, the RC Z is still undergoing a tough gestation while engineers work out how to translate the concept's glitz to the showroom. The double-bubble roofline and rear window, in particular, are causing headaches as they're tricky to manufacture and create too much distortion in the rear-view mirror.
Surely the carbonfibre roof will be dropped for production? One Peugeot insider told CAR that for the RC Z the ‘light weight is just as important as the looks’, suggesting it could become one of the few cars on sale with a composite roof. If true (and we're not convinced it will happen), the RC Z could join an exclusive club of supercars and BMW’s M3 and M6 coupes. We'll find out when the production versions appear in late 2009 at the earliest.
