PEUGEOT'S restyled RCZ sports coupe, which was premiered at the Paris Motor Show earlier this autumn, will be launched in January.

It features the existing engine line-up of 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol units, though a 260bhp RCZ R model will arrive towards the end of 2013.

While visual changes include an update to the front face, there's also now a wider choice of equipment plus new colour and trim combinations.

Two trim levels - Sport and GT - remain, the Sport grade boasting 18-inch alloys, dual zone air-con, rear parking aid and USB box with Bluetooth, and now boosted with automatic lighting including Approach and Follow-me-home features.

New options on RCZ Sport include half leather and leather/ Alcantara trim.

At the more popular GT level, responsible for 80 per cent of sales, the RCZ gets 19-inch alloys as standard along with an interior sports kit complete with sports steering wheel and gear lever.

The leather-clad cabin is now also available in a Cohiba Brown colour and options also include new matt black roof arches, new body decals and more alloy wheel options.

Prices start at £21,595 for the RCZ Sport - an increase of £385 over the current model - with a hike of £2,400 to the GT which starts at £23,995.

Peugeot sales director Neil Moscrop said: "One aspect with the RCZ is that because it looks a million dollars most people assume it must be beyond their affordability, but a £21,595 starting price makes it astonishingly desirable."