Peugeot RCZ facelift

The Peugeot RCZ coupe has had a mid-life facelift, giving the car a striking new look.

A new front bumper, which includes daytime running lights, has been added, making the car look like Peugeot’s most recent new models, the 208 supermini and the larger 508.

The interior is largely untouched, besides a new black lacquer gearshift surround and leather door inserts on top-of-the-range GT models.

More options will be offered, though. There are three colours for the roof arches – Aluminium, Sand or Matt Black – while an optional Black Pack brings together the Matt Black arches with black bars in the grille, black brake calipers and black wing mirrors.

Stripes and RCZ stickers can be added to the body and 10 alloy wheel designs up to 19 inches in diameter are now available. A Sports Pack that adds a smaller steering wheel, shorter gearlever and a sound amplifier for the exhaust can be ordered on petrol models.

The engine line-up is unchanged: a 1.6-litre THP petrol with either 200bhp or 156bhp, or the 2.0-litre HDi diesel, which produces 163bhp. The facelifted RCZ will debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September before going on sale in the first quarter of next year.

Peugeot has also used the arrival of the facelifted RCZ to add a high-performance model to the range. Powered by a 260bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the RCZ R is the most potent Peugeot road car ever.

Lower, motorsport-derived suspension, grippy tyres and lightweight wheels will give it the handling to match its considerable power. It will be shown as the RCZ R concept at Paris and will go on sale by the end of 2013.

To view the full Peugeot range, visit the CarBuyer Peugeot reviews page.