automotivebriefs
9:26in productionCh. 1 · Where it came from/ 9:26 · ceiling 15 min
Sports cars

Peugeot RCZ

Boris Reinmöller · 2010

A coupé built to be seen—not driven hard.

The Peugeot RCZ is a French-designed sports coupé assembled in Austria from 2009 to 2015. It has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and a 2+2 seating configuration. Its double-bubble roof draws direct inspiration from Zagato. It evolved from the 308 RCZ concept shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show and entered production after strong critical acclaim. It was formally introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and launched into production late that year.

Sports carsCarsIndustrial designFranceCars across the network →
Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:51
    Where it came from

    It was designed in France, shown in Frankfurt, and built in Austria.

  2. 2:30
    How it’s put together

    It is a front-wheel-drive 2+2 coupé—no all-wheel drive, no mid-engine surprise.

  3. 3:52
    From show stand to showroom

    It began as a concept car—and stayed one in spirit, even after production.

  4. 5:24
    The roofline that defines it

    Its double-bubble roof is its only true design inheritance—and its strongest statement.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • roofline
  • concept-to-production fidelity
  • visual cohesion
What does not
  • offer rear-seat practicality
  • decouple handling from front-wheel-drive compromises
  • challenge the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout
Drive it if
  • buyers who value silhouette over substance
  • those who prefer French design intent over mechanical innovation
Skip it if
  • drivers seeking balance or agility
  • those needing rear-seat utility
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Peugeot RCZ is a French-designed sports coupé assembled in Austria from 2009 to 2015. It evolved from the 308 RCZ concept shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show and entered production after critical acclaim.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive sports coupé with a 2+2 seating layout. The driver sits ahead of the front axle. The double-bubble roof shapes the cabin’s headroom and rear visibility.

What it gets right

It gets the roofline right: the Zagato-inspired double-bubble creates a taut, sculptural profile without sacrificing structural integrity. It gets the concept-to-production transition right: much of the 2007 concept’s form survived intact.

What it does not

It does not offer rear-seat practicality. It does not decouple handling from front-wheel-drive compromises. It does not challenge the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout.

What it changed

It proved a mainstream brand could build a production coupé with strong design language rooted in coachbuilding tradition—not just packaging or badge engineering.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for buyers who value silhouette over substance, and French design intent over mechanical innovation. It is not for drivers seeking balance, agility, or rear-seat utility.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you want a French-designed coupé that prioritises visual drama over driving engagement. No—if you expect rear-seat usability, all-wheel traction, or structural novelty.

Same garage · Sports cars4 of 139
8:12
Alpine A110 (2017)Antony Villain · 2017The Alpine A110 (2017) is a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car built on an all-aluminium chassis and powered by a Nissan-derived 1.8-litre turbocharged inline-four engine. It debuted at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Production ended in June 2026.
8:32
Alpine A310Michel Beligond · 1971The Alpine A310 is a French sports car, launched in 1971 as Jean Rédélé’s final Alpine model. It debuted at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. It used a tubular steel backbone chassis and a one-piece fiberglass body. Its engine was mounted longitudinally in the rear and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The driving position was low and sporty, with footwells angled toward the car’s centre.
9:14
Renault Alpine GTA/A610Heuliez · 1984The Renault Alpine GTA is a rear-engined sports coupé launched in 1985 by Alpine under full Renault ownership. It replaced the A310, sharing its layout and V6 PRV engine. Marketed as the Alpine V6 GT or V6 Turbo in Europe—and as the Renault GTA in Britain—it featured aerodynamic design (Cx 0.28–0.30), lightweight composite body panels, and a steel backbone chassis. Production spanned 1984–1995, totalling ~7,300 units across both GTA and A610 models.
9:40
BMW 8 Series (E31)Klaus Kapitza · 1989The BMW 8 Series (E31) is a two-door grand tourer built by BMW from 1990 to 1999. It uses a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It is powered by either a V8 or V12 engine. Development began in July 1981 and concluded in 1986. It debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in early September 1989. BMW used CAD tools to design its all-new body. Its drag coefficient is Cd=0.29. It replaced the E24 6 Series but was not a direct successor. Total production was 30,609 units.
Up next in Automotive

Porsche 550

Wilhelm Hild · 1953 · 8:57

A mid-engine racer that won on raw agility—not power—because Porsche cut everything else away.

Play nextBack to Sports cars
8:57