Feb 22, 2002 - Peugeot is exhibiting two striking 'RC' concept cars at this year's Geneva Motor Show. These low, lean 2 + 2 coupés both feature vast, long and steeply raked windscreens, and have a distinctly feline look with a clear family resemblance to the current generation of Peugeot road cars.

Distinctive red and black colour schemes enhance the external appeal of these potent-looking machines. The gleaming black RC 'Spades' features a bright red leather trim and upholstery, while the brilliant, pillar-box red RC 'Diamonds' boasts rich black leather.

RC 'Diamonds' is equipped with a 2.0 l 180 bhp petrol engine, and the RC 'Spades' is equipped with a 2.2l Diesel engine (HDi) developing 175 bhp. Each has a 0-62 mph time of just six seconds, and a top speed of 143 mph. The RC has an overall length of 4300 mm on a 2800 mm wheelbase, with a width of 1800 mm and a height of 1150 mm.

Both cars are equipped with a 6-speed electro-hydraulic manual gearbox with hydraulically controlled gear selection and gear change operated via a sequential control lever on the central transmission tunnel, and up and down shift buttons on the steering wheel.

The structure of an RC is made from carbon pre-impregnated directly onto honeycomb panels, formed and baked into an autoclave. This self-supporting shell incorporates a cage roll-over bar manufactured from high strength steel and forms a rigid assembly, including the roof, to which are attached the front wings, the hoods and the two "beetle winged" doors. The shell houses the fuel tank and incorporates, at the front, the suspension and steering connections and, at the rear, the mountings of a tubular trellis sub-frame which supports the power train.

The body infiltration point corresponds to an aileron, mobile over a distance of 40 mm. This gives the driver, at his discretion, extra road holding on the rear drive train. Echoing the futuristic and sporting characteristics of the cars’ exterior, stainless steel, aluminium and leather have been used throughout the interior, with the leather-upholstered carbon fibre bucket seats featuring motor racing-style harness seatbelts.

The RCs are equipped with 18’’ diameter magnesium alloy wheels. These are fitted with Michelin 245/45 R18 tyres incorporating a tread with a central red ring.

The cat-like looks of the RC owe a lot to the presence of 'in-house' headlamps using smooth glass technology with complex surface double reflectors. The rear lights have faceted casings and the smooth red glass caters for three distinct functions on oblique surfaces.

Interior styling, identical on both RCs, follows the example of the exterior and its intentionally sporty looks with the use of materials such as stainless steel or aluminium. The cloth and leather covered seats continue the red and black theme. One of the first rough sketches by designers featured an extension of the central tunnel rearwards, which then rose to intersect the rear windscreen and continued under the roof as far as the front windscreen. This 'scorpion’s tail' helps to strengthen the roof.

The leather upholstered fascia panel houses a 'chronograph' instrument panel with both digital speed and analogue rev counter readouts. The electrical structure makes use of the multiplexing of the 307, and therefore includes air conditioning with automatic regulation, automatic headlamp illumination, automatic speed-regulated operation of the windscreen wipers, and an on-board computer. The RCs are equipped with telematics comprising a CD radio telephone, an on-board navigation system with a 7’’ colour screen and all manufacturer services.