As well as introducing the production version and a hybrid prototype of its Audi TT and VW Scirocco challenger, Peugeot also used the Frankfurt motor show to launch a “Limited Edition” of the RCZ, reserved for its first 200 European customers. Available for order now with first deliveries expected in Spring 2010, the special RCZ comes equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine that makes 156 horsepower and is coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels.

The numbered edition of the RCZ features a special pearlescent white paintwork which is contrasted by the real carbon fiber rooftop and mirror housings as well as the gloss black of the bumper grille and the brake calipers, the smoked chrome of the wheel arches and the matte black of the 19-inch alloy wheels.

The 2+2 coupe’s interior is finished with Peugeot’s top-of-the-range Nappa black leather upholstery while the vehicle’s standard equipment has been upgraded with various features such as directional bi-Xenon headlamps, heated electric seats, front and rear parking assistance and alarm.

Peugeot said that he “Limited Edition” RCZ is available in France at a price of €35,500.

Looks like Pug’s designers had a much easier task than initially thought when we decided to ‘chop’ a Peugeot fascia on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV after the announcement on the introduction of the Peugeot and Citroen EVs based on the Japanese mini. In what seems like a five minute job, Peugeot slapped one of its logos on the i-MiEV, changed the alloy wheels and slightly altered the front bumper to accommodate Euro-plates and ‘voila’: the new Peugeot i0n…

The French automaker, which claims to be the manufacturer with the most “zero emission” electric vehicles sold in the world to this day with models like the Peugeot 106 Electric that was produced between 1995 and 2003, will display the i0n for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month..

The European-spec i-MiEV (let’s not fool ourselves, that’s what the i0n is) is motivated by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels producing an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque that allows the 3,480 mm long mini to achieve a top speed of 130 km/h (80mph).

The four-seater EV has an operating range of 130 kilometers or 80 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries that can be fully recharged in six hours using a domestic mains power supply. If you use the fast charge system, the batteries can be recharged up to 80% capacity within thirty minutes.

Production of both the Citroen and Peugeot variants of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will commence in October 2010 with sales pegged to start in Europe towards the end of 2010.

We remind you that the PSA Peugeot – Citroen Group has another ongoing project with Mitsubishi in the form of the Outlander based Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser SUVs.

Earlier this year, Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles (EVs) based on the Japanese firm’s i-MiEV EV. Today, Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors and Philippe Varin, CEO of PSA, finished the deal by signing a cooperative agreement in Paris. The vehicle is to be sold in Europe in both Peugeot and Citroen versions with production planned to commence in October 2010 and sales by the end of 2010.

Mitsubishi launched the new-generation EV i-MiEV in Japan in June, and will begin global sales of the right-hand drive vehicle this year with LHD versions following in 2010.

Mitsubishi launched the new-generation EV i-MiEV in Japan in June, and will begin global sales of the right-hand drive vehicle this year with LHD versions following in 2010.

In Japan, the EV i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (almost $50,00 US / €35,00 at today’s rates), or more than double the price of a JDM Toyota Prius that costs 2,050,000 Yen or $22,000.

The all-electric version of the i-MIEV is powered by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque.

According to Japanese automaker, the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged in 7-14 hours delivers up to 100 miles or 160 km of pure electric driving.

It is expected that the PSA group will follow a similar path to that of the Toyota co-developed Aygo, 107 and C1 project with the i-MiEV, meaning that the differences between the Citroen, Peugeot and Mitsubishi models will most likely be limited to the front fascia and the rear end design.

*The Peugeot picture above is a Carscoop Photoshop

Peugeot today showed off its mildly refreshed 207 that comes in three body shapes, three- and five-door hatchback, Station Wagon and the CC hardtop convertible. All variants of the 207 feature a redesigned front end with a new grille, increased use of exterior body coloring and chrome detailing while the hatchback and CC models also gain new LED tail lights.

There are no photos of the interior but the French carmaker said that its facelifted supermini benefits from new trims and detailing plus a revised instrument panel.

The introduction of the 2010MY 207 also sees a range of new standard equipment that includes an in-car entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, one-touch direction indicator function, remote controlled window closure on hatchback and SW models and one-touch operation of the driver’s electric window on the 207 CC.

Furthermore, Peugeot claims that the 207′s range will be gradually updated with the introduction of engines meeting the Euro5 emission standard. Prices and full details will be released closer to the launch of the new 207 that is scheduled to arrive in European showrooms this August.

Volkswagen Group’s 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger gasoline engine has been named the grand winner at 2009 International Engine of the Year awards ending BMW’s four-year-streak. The four-cylinder unit that is offered in a variety of cars including the VW Golf and Seat Ibiza Cupra, also scooped the Green Engine of the Year award beating both Toyota’s and Honda’s new electric-hybrid powerplants, while the panel of 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries also named the 1.4 TSI the 1.0- to 1.4-liter Engine of the Year.

German manufacturers dominated this year’s competition, winning 11 out of the 12 available awards. In the other categories, Porsche’s direct injection 3.8-liter flat-six was named Best New Engine of 2009 while Mercedes’ 6.2-liter V8 AMG unit won the Performance Engine of the Year as well as the Above 4-litre category.

Mercedes also took home an award for its 2.1-litre diesel unit that won the 2-litre to 2.5-litre category.

Last year’s overall winner, BMW, secured three awards, the 3-litre to 4-litre category with the M3′s 4.0-liter V8, the 2.5-litre to 3-litre class with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six and along with the PSA Citroen-Peugeot group, the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre category with their 1.6-liter Turbo engine.

Toyota won the Sub 1-litre category with its 998cc, three-cylinder engine while Audi was rewarded for its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TFSI engine in the 1.8-litre to 2-litre category class.

International Engine of the Year Awards 2009 Winners

Best New Engine of 2009 –>
Porsche 3.8-litre flat-six (911)

Green Engine of the Year –>
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta)

Performance Engine of the Year –>
Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (CLK, S, SL, CL, CLS, ML)

Sub 1-litre –>Toyota 1-litre (Aygo, Yaris, Peugeot 107, Citroën C1, Subaru Justy)

1-litre to 1.4-litre –>
Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf, Eos, Scirocco, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta, Seat Ibiza Cupra)

1.4-litre to 1.8-litre –>
BMW-PSA 1.6-litre Turbo (MINI Cooper S, Clubman, Peugeot 207, 308

1.8-litre to 2-litre –>
Audi 2-litre TFSI (A4, A5, Q5, VW Scirocco, Golf GTi)

2-litre to 2.5-litre –>
Mercedes-Benz Diesel 2.1-litre (BlueEffieciency C-Class, BlueEffieciency E-Class)

2.5-litre to 3-litre –>
BMW 3-litre DI Twin-Turbo (135, 335, X6, Z4, 730)

3-litre to 4-litre –>
BMW 4-litre V8 (M3)

Above 4-litre –>
Mercedes-AMG 6.2-litre (CLK, S, SL, CL, CLS, ML)

The International Engine of the Year 2009:

Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (Golf, Eos, Scirocco, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta, Seat Ibiza Cupra)