TWO YEARS AFTER unveiling the attention-grabbing 308 RC Z concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeot will officially reveal the production version of its curvaceous Audi TT alternative at this year’s Frankfurt Show in September.

The nomenclature has changed in the transition from concept to road car, with Peugeot simply calling it the ‘RCZ’.

Ken Thomas, Director of Peugeot Automobiles Australia, has also confirmed that the RCZ will debut in Australian showrooms in the second half of 2010.

The first model in the company’s history to drop the signature zero or double-zero naming convention, the RCZ is also a significant departure from the brand’s usual offerings.

A low-slung 2+2 coupe, the RCZ is worlds apart from the hatchbacks and sedans that are the French carmaker’s staple.

Peugeot is clearly shooting for a new demographic with the RCZ, saying that the car is “aimed at enthusiasts who are particularly discerning with regards to driving enjoyment”.

Coinciding with the announcement of the car’s debut, Peugeot has also released a number of images revealing the finished product.

If it looks familiar, that’s no accident - Peugeot has retained the concept’s svelte shape and intricate detailing, and all of the car’s sheetmetal appears identical.

Aluminium roof arches, keeping their silver finish, work to highlight the glasswork and contrast against the blacked-out roof of the RCZ.

The RCZ is understood to be smaller than the Audi TT, but with 384 litres of storage space versus the TT’s 290 litres, practicality was clearly high on Peugeot’s priority list.

Utilising a ‘2+2′ four-seater layout, headspace is assured thanks to the racy dome-like shaping in the roof.

Power will be provided by a choice of engines, headlined by a 150kW/254Nm 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine - the same engine found in the MINI John Cooper Works - pushing the RCZ to 96km/h (60mph) in 7.6 seconds, onto a top speed of 233km/h.

Fuel economy is a respectable 7.1 l/100km, with CO2 emissions rated at 165g/km.

A de-tuned version of the same engine will develop 115kW/244Nm, achieving 7.0 l/100km and emitting 159g/km of CO2.

Peugeot will also offer a 2.0 litre diesel-powered version of the RCZ, developing 121kW/340Nm and achieving a fuel ecomomy of 5.4 l/100km with CO2 emissions rated at 139g/km.

The RCZ will be offered with either a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic, depending on the model.

Built on the same platform as the Peugeot 308 hatch but sitting 20mm lower, the front track of the RCZ has been increased by 54mm and the rear by 72mm.

Customisation options for the RCZ include a carbon-fibre roof, black chrome or satin silver pillars, and alloy wheels in either polished silver or matt black, dark grey or diamante.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia’s Ken Thomas said the RCZ represents a huge opportunity for the brand in Australia.

“The RCZ got a lot of attention when it was unveiled as a concept car,” he said, “and we are confident that the car will receive even more attention on the road.

“Peugeot has definitely maintained the spirit and flair of that original design.

“We will be offering high performance petrol and diesel engines when the car arrives here.

“To say we are excited about the RCZ coming to Australia is an understatement.”

A Hybrid4 concept version of the 2010 Peugeot RCZ is also scheduled to debut at Frankfurt, featuring the same diesel-electric powertrain of the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4. CO2 emissions for the RCZ Hybrid4 are rated at only 95g/km.

Recent Spy photos of a prototype caught testing in Europe (below) confirm that the production RCZ will be little different externally to the concept.

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GALLERY » 2010 Peugeot RCZ teasers