Peugeot RCZ Vision Concept Restores Coupe Appeal With Ten Minute Solid State Charging

Peugeot brought the RCZ name back to the Paris Motor Show this year with a concept that treats the old coupe formula as something still worth pursuing. The RCZ Vision sits low and wide on the new Stellantis STLA One platform, measuring 4.65 meters long, 1.94 meters wide, and just 1.35 meters tall. Those proportions make it larger than the original car that ran from 2009 to 2015, yet the height stays almost identical. Muscular shoulders, a sculpted flank line, and an active rear spoiler that stays tucked away until the car is moving all contribute to the shape. Forged aluminum wheels measure 21 inches up front and 22 inches at the rear.

Designers characterize the general language as Feline Future, which is based on the ideas of independence, boldness, elegance, inner strength, and pure instinct. A wraparound double-bubble glass roof is a distinctive element of the cabin, reaching across the interior and arching up ever so slightly over the rear seats, allowing two adults to sit behind the front pair without their heads banging against the glass. Slim horizontal lighting components down the sides rework the brand’s iconic three-claw logo, while a tiny micro-perforated RCZ insignia on the front bumper adds visual appeal. To top it all off, the metallic finish is created with paint manufactured from recycled aluminum.

Under the hood, you’ll find an electric drivetrain capable of producing 500 horsepower, as well as a cutting-edge solid-state battery pack created in conjunction with Factorial Energy. This pack is an incredible 110 millimeters tall and extremely compact, thanks to the 1,000-volt electrical architecture that underpins the entire battery system. The manufacturers claim a range of up to 600 kilometers with an energy usage of just 11.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. Here’s the good news: charging from 10% to 80% should take about ten minutes if all requirements are met. The low-profile battery is carefully constructed to keep the roofline low while still allowing the rear seats to be folded flat for added load space.

Inside the car, the latest generation of the i-Cockpit has been completely redesigned, and clear MicroLED displays have been added to the Hypersquare control, which will also be seen on the future E-208. Hypersquare organizes all of the major functions into four rings, allowing the driver to use them without having to lift a hand. Steer-by-wire eliminates the mechanical link between the controls and the front wheels, allowing you to turn with great precision at low speeds and a more leisurely ratio once the car is underway.

Brake-by-wire, on the other hand, replaces the traditional hydraulic connection and is intended to provide a considerably more precise brake pedal feel, as well as a more cleaner integration of regenerative braking. The central display may be turned completely off if desired, and it is virtually undetectable due to its translucent construction. All of the physical buttons are still present, dispersed across the floating center console, and a fairly attractive clock from French watchmaker Serica lends a touch of high flair to the overall appearance. The primary surfaces are finished in a sleek blend of Alcantara, reclaimed leather, and machined aluminum.

The RCZ Vision is, in some ways, Peugeot’s declaration of intent, a manifesto outlining their design and technology vision for the future. However, they are not entirely speculative notions; aspects such as the Feline Future language, the Hypersquare, and the STLA One platform are already under development for real-world road automobiles that will be available in the coming years. The E-T16 concept, which utilizes some earlier Peugeot shapes but tells you exactly where the firm is going with its future designs, exemplifies how everything fits together.