Magna Steyr to build Peugeot 308 RC Z coupe next year

Peugeot confirmed that its striking 308 RC Z would enter production several months back but never revealed any further details. Speaking at the Lisbon Motor Show in April, Peugeot boss Jean-Philippe Collin said the car was destined for production at that the final version would be revealed at next year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Latest reports claim the first cars will be produced next year but not by Peugeot. Instead, independent vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr will build the cars at a plant in Austria and annual production numbers are expected to top 20,000 units. Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung said the assembly of the vehicle will take place in Graz, Austria, towards the end of next year with the first cars expected to arrive in showrooms by the middle of 2010.

Like the concept version, the production car will ride on a lightened chassis but will still be based on the 308 platform. Expect to see the same strut suspension set-up in the front and torsion beam at the rear. The most likely engine option will be the same 1.6L supercharged engine from the smaller 207 RC (also shared with the Mini Cooper S) but power is expected to be boosted to around 220hp.

Peugeot 308 RC Z Concept