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Like the original Audi TT, Peugeot’s new RCZ is a stylish and compact sports coupe built on the platform of a mainstream, front-drive hatchback. But it’s been a dozen years since the Volkswagen Golf-based German went into production, and three more since the TT concept was first revealed at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show. Perhaps the French just wanted to be absolutely certain the idea would stick…

While Peugeot can’t be accused of creating a hasty imitation, the similarities between the RCZ and TT are remarkable. The French car began as a concept unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt show. Turning it into a production car took three years. It’s built on the platform of a volume-production European C-segment model, in this case the 308. Every one of these steps treads in the faded tracks of the TT. Price is the only point where Peugeot departs from the blueprint. Going on sale across Europe through May, the RCZ will wear price tags 20- to 25-percent lower than equivalent TT models.

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Peugeot’s newest car for the Chinese market was unveiled over the weekend at the Beijing Motor Show. The Peugeot 408 is a long-wheelbase sedan based on the 308 giving more room for passengers sitting in the back.

This model is not to be confused with the recently-spied Peugeot 508 for the European market. That car will replace the Peugeot 407 & 607 beginning in 2011, and be significantly longer than the Chinese market’s 408.

The 408 features a large sunroof and a self-contained trunk to keep the cabin light and spacious. Because of the interior room, and the somewhat popular Peugeot styling in China, the automaker and their Chinese joint-venture partner are expecting annual 408 sales to top 100,000 units.

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