This black bin sack on wheels is really a Peugeot 308 CC. With underpinnings and engines from the regular 308 hatchback, the CC is expected to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009, with sales kicking off just in time for next summer.
Is the 308 CC really a 307 CC?
The 308 CC is an evolution of the 307 CC, so expect similar changes to those made on the hatchback. That means thorough tweaks to all the bits we can’t see, while the A-pillars have a different rake compared to the regular hatch. It should also boost the driving experience.
The rear LED lights remain as a design feature. They were originally used on the 307 CC because regular light clusters were too bulky to fit with the folding metal roof. That metal roof will now stow under a slightly higher and flatter rear deck while, up front, the nose will takes cues from both the 308 hatch and the RC Z concept.
However, Peugeot is planning two distinct coupes this time. The 308 CC is a coupe/cabriolet, while Peugeot officials describe the production RC Z as a ‘thoroughbred coupe’. So they won’t be lookalikes in the vein of BMW’s 3-series Coupe and Convertible. Think Volkswagen Eos and Scirocco, instead.
Click ‘Next’ below for more details of the Peugeot 308 CC and the RC Z
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.