The RCZ, Peugeot’s first ‘special edition model’, has been named Most Beautiful Car of the Year at the prestigious 25th International Automobile Festival. Expect the paparazzi.

More than just the embodiment of a concept car, the RCZ Sports Coupé marks a new stage in the lineup of Peugeot’s “leisure vehicles”, while also being the first product to benefit from the latest Peugeot Lion brand identity. Its expressive and innovative style, exclusive interior, dynamic and environmentally-friendly engines and the driving enjoyment it produces project the Peugeot brand, buoyed by 200 years of history, into a future that promises more emotion than ever. The Peugeot RCZ, a sporty and compact 2+2 Coupé, is designed to become an exclusive vehicle, something special, exuding a real air of excitement.

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EXTERIOR EMOTION
Athletic, elegant and aerodynamic, the style of the RCZ offers a new experience and energy derived from the original architecture. The sensuality of the car’s double-bubble roof and rear windscreen, combine with its two aluminium arches to produce its most distinctive features.

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INTERIOR EMOTION
An ideal driving position, a fluid and streamlined fascia panel, traditional and high-tech materials… the passenger compartment of the RCZ instantly immerses the driver in an elite, sporting ambience. The RCZ is also practical, offering two occasional rear seats whose backrests can be folded to open up a boot with a generous capacity in its category (from 384 to 760 litres).

ENGINEERING EMOTION
With its reduced weight, finely honed aerodynamics and modern engine technologies, the RCZ offers an innovative blend of performance and environmental friendliness.

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DYNAMIC EMOTION
Expressing all of Peugeot’s expertise in terms of road holding, the RCZ provides a thrilling experience with precision and driveability, creating a sense of real excitement and occasion for the driver. The RCZ benefits from a strong base – that of the “platform 2” architecture (MacPherson type front suspension, rear suspension with deformable crossmember). It also has a particularly low ride height and centre of gravity, wider tracks and generous wheel dimensions, (18” or 19” diameter). Lastly, the RCZ can be specified with the THP 147 kW (200 bhp) engine. Uniquely to this version, the front suspension incorporates a special lower anti-collision bar to give the car even livelier and more agile handling response, while guaranteeing exceptional stability.

MAXIMUM SAFETY
The RCZ benefits from a high level of secondary safety with an optimised structure including three force channels at the front, efficient means of restraint, and an automatically activated bonnet.

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For more information see: http://www.peugeot.co.nz/showroom-rcz/

BUDGET 2012:
Parliament Debate Live - Video Of Budget 2011
Keith Ng Interactive Graphic: How the Budget Breaks Down
BUDGET 2012 - FULL COVERAGE: Reports / Analysis - Press Kit - Reaction (from everybody) - Previews (from everybody) - Pre-Budget Announcements

Gordon Campbell: On the Budget’s Spreadsheet Victories

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Pattrick Smellie Comment: Doddling along the best we can hope forCriticising Budgets for lacking vision or imagination is like shooting fish in a barrel, but even so, this year's Budget again feels like a missed opportunity. Perhaps it's the intrusion of real world needs that means the government couldn't make better political use of the $558.8 million it expects to gather in its first partial asset sale. More >>