Every once in a while a concept car comes along that rises above the usual riff-raff to be seen as nothing less than a piece of automotive art. Something that will no doubt stand the tests of time and cause car nuts everywhere to get that little pitter patter of desire in their heart every time they see it.
The most recent example of automotive sculpture came from a source no one really expected, the French hatchback specialist Peugeot.
We expect avant garde design and gotta have it style from the Italians, but from the French?
Some may see shades of the Audi TT in the lines of the new RCZ but the German coupe never possessed such rakish and downright sexy lines. In a move that is contrary to the usually conservative nature of Peugeot corporate, the RCZ has been okayed for production. Sounds like Peugeot has gone and got its groove back.
Rumor has it that the newly appointed Peugeot CEO Christian Streiff is also looking to return the French automaker to the U.S. shores it abandoned in the '90s. We can think of no better halo car to herald its re-entry than the sexy RCZ coupe.
The same concept is currently at work with Alfa Romeo, what with its 8C Competizione coupe. While this vehicle will never be a volume seller, it is allowing the Italian manufacturer to maintain a level of hype about its return that would never be possible without it.
There may never be a better time for Peugeot to return to the world’s largest car market. Americans are looking to downsize, what with booming gas prices and a faltering economy. Another benefit to Peugeot would be its leadership in diesel engine technology. If diesels become as popular as they are supposed to in the next five years, Peugeot could easily slip in and dominate the diesel car market.
With the European car market stagnant, a re-entry into North America could allow Peugeot a new growth area for sales. One possible sticking point is the strength of the euro against the dollar but that problem could be circumvented by Peugeot using one of itsSouth American plants for manufacture of North America bound vehicles. Or the company could again follow the lead of Alfa Romeo and sub-let manufacturing out to Chrysler as we all know its factories could use the work.
No matter what the future holds for Peugeot in the United States we applaud itfor being daring enough to green light a design like the RCZ. But come on Peugeot, quit holding out on us!