2008 Peugeot 308 RC Z & SW Prologue Concepts

In order to launch the new Peugeot 308 hatchback, Peugeot has decided to put on a good show at this years Frankfurt Motorshow, the Paris based company is showing off two concepts, the 308 RC Z and the 308 SW Prologue.

The 308 RC Z

Previously when we covered the Audi TT look-alike RC Z, it took a bit of convincing that the 2+2 coupe is more than just a TT clone. As one of our readers pointed out “(it) has so much more… class, without the robotic look of German cars (TT)”

Peugeot’s aim was to develop a workable concept that cold eventually lead to a TT challenger, in order to do that, lightweight aluminium components were used as well as a polycarbonate rear windscreen and a large number of carbon fibre body parts.

We believe this car has a good chance of going from concept to production, based on the 308 platform, the coupe shares a lot of its components with the standard 308 hatch, making it easier to manufacture.

The car measures 4.276M in length (same as the 308 hatchback), 1.84M in width and only 1.32 meters in height, giving it a low, but menacing stance.

Interestingly, the concept is powered by a rather small, 1.6-litre turbo engine mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox, but don’t write it off so easily, the little 1.6-litre is on steroids and good for an incredible 160kW and 280Nm (or 300Nm on overboost)!

How does it manage so much power from such a small engine? Although we are not sure just how much turbo-lag this thing has (we imagine it would be somewhat noticeable), Peugeot credits the enormous power to its innovative Twin-Scroll turbocharger which optimally pairs the exhaust gases flowing from two cylinders to ensure maximum flow onto the turbine.

We simply can’t wait for this gorgeous beast to go into production, and when it does, you can be assured we will be camping outside Peugeot’s headquarters for a spin.

Peugeot 308 SW (Station Wagon) Prologue

Backing up the RC Z, the 308 SW Prologue makes a bold statement with some eye catching features. Namely the panoramic glass roof, a feature more commonly found on Maybachs. Peugeot says the new roof offers rear passengers a feeling of space and visibility.

With the option of adding a third row of seats, the 308 SW Prologue seems to have practicality high on its agenda. The rear is inspired by a wrap-around single piece of rear tailgate glass. The actual glass section can be opened independently of the tailgate, to make loading much easier.

Powered by a 2.0 litre HDi DPFS 100kW engine equipped with an additive-enhanced diesel particulate filter system (DPFS), the unmistakably French station wagon, like the RC Z concept, has a reasonable chance of making the transition from concept to production.