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Peugeot Revives RCZ as Electric Coupe Concept With 10-Minute Charging
Peugeot has unveiled the RCZ Vision, an electric coupe concept at the Paris Motor Show that previews its new design language and 1,000-volt solid-state battery technology capable of charging from 10 to 80 percent in ten minutes.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
Peugeot has revived the RCZ nameplate as a sleek electric coupe concept that previews the French brand's next-generation design language and battery technology. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the RCZ Vision showcases a 493 hp electric powertrain paired with a slim solid-state battery and 1,000-volt architecture that Peugeot says can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just ten minutes.
The concept borrows its name from Peugeot's stylish Audi TT rival that ran from 2009 to 2015, and it arrives as the Stellantis group sharpens its investment focus. Only four of the fourteen brands in the Stellantis portfolio will receive 70 percent of future investment, and Peugeot is one of them, alongside Jeep, Ram and Fiat. The RCZ Vision offers the clearest signal yet of how Peugeot intends to spend that capital.
At the heart of the concept is the new STLA One architecture, revealed earlier this year and scheduled to reach the road in 2027 under the next Peugeot E-208. While the platform can accommodate hybrid engines, the RCZ demonstrates its electric guise. Stellantis had previously indicated the platform would feature 800-volt electrics and LFP batteries, but the RCZ imagines a more advanced incarnation with 1,000-volt capability and a solid-state battery of unspecified size. The 493 hp coupe delivers a range of 373 miles and consumes 5.39 miles per kWh, implying a usable battery capacity of around 69 kWh.
The battery pack's slim 110 mm height allows the roofline to stay low, giving the RCZ its distinctive proportions. The design introduces what Peugeot calls its «Feline Future» language, built around five principles: freedom, courage, elegance, inner force and instinct. The concept features a new take on Peugeot's three-claw lighting signature at both ends, arranged horizontally, along with a micro-perforated «RCZ» graphic on the front bumper and heavily sculpted flanks that emphasise the car's pronounced shoulders.
Inside, the RCZ Vision debuts Peugeot's Hypersquare steering wheel, which is heading for the E-208 production hatch next year. Steer-by-wire technology means the driver turns the wheel through less than one full rotation at parking speeds to go from full left to full right, with the ratio slowing as road speeds increase to promote stability. The brand's i-Cockpit dashboard has also been reworked, with the driver still looking over the wheel to the gauge cluster for speed and remaining charge, while customisable micro LED displays allow other data to be shown or the central screen to be deactivated entirely.
Peugeot says the RCZ's rear seats are usable by adults, unlike the original model, and the concept measures 4.65 metres long, 1.35 metres high and 1.94 metres wide — a footprint roughly comparable to today's BMW 4 Series coupe. The design cues seen on the concept will find their way into Peugeot dealerships regardless of whether the coupe itself reaches production, and the platform, EV hardware, steer-by-wire technology and L2++ hands-free driving system will be shared across the entire Stellantis portfolio.
Peugeot has not committed to putting the RCZ into production, and the sports segment remains a niche market. However, the concept has been designed to be as realistic as possible, with a view to potentially being greenlit if there is sufficient customer demand. The original RCZ's nemesis, the Audi TT, is poised for an electric comeback, a factor that could influence Peugeot's thinking. For now, the RCZ Vision stands as a statement of intent: a low, voluptuous coupe with a glass bubble roof that signals where Peugeot's technology and design are heading in the coming years.
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