FIRSTLOOK: New Peugeot 208 downsizes
B-segment hatchback from France now comes with smaller engines and less metal for enhanced economy
- Is Peugeot embarking on a new design strategy?
Yes they are. The gentlemen in France are talking about three particular design elements: The floating grille up front, the boomerang-style rear lights and spine roof.
But whether you will like them or not is another thing. The 208 marks quite a radical departure from the 207 (and 206) in terms of design.
Dubbed project A9 by Peugeot, the 208 is also significant in the sense that it has become smaller in size with reductions of 70mm in length and 10mm in height.
This makes the 208 roughly 110kg lighter than the 207 and, in some cases, a whopping 173kg. The lightest 208 is claimed to tip the scales at 975kg.
Even so, Peugeot says that interior practicality hasn't been compromised. In fact, the 208 is said to have slightly more knee room for rear passengers and a larger boot than in the 207.
- Is that steering wheel inside smaller than before?
Spot on. Apparently stung by criticism that the 207's steering wheel feels like a hula hoop, Peugeot has given the 208 a smaller diameter for the rack which is said to offer more driving agility.
The steering wheel claims to be smaller in size than before.
The dashboard itself has been completely overhauled with two notable modules: The instrument panel housing vehicle and road information behind the steering wheel and another on the centre console to accommodate various digital functions.
- Cool. Are the engines shared with Mitsubishi?
Good question. Peugeot hasn't mentioned anything about such collaboration yet. However, the 1.0- and 1.2-litre three-pot engines it has announced for the 208 happen to be the same sizes as Mitsubishi's pending B-sized Ecocar.
No information about the 208's gearbox has been revealed either, although Mitsubishi has already bared the fact that its Ecocar will get a CVT automatic in the two-pedal version.
What Peugeot has disclosed, however, are the fuel economy targets. For the most frugal petrol version, the record is 23.1kpl courtesy of de rigueur gadgets like automatic stop/go and energy regeneration system.
No specific diesel engines have been discussed, although Peugeot says the most economical version will do an impressive 29.2kpl.
- What about the existing Mini-shared units?
The 207 used 1.6-litre turbo and non-turbo heads developed by BMW for use in Mini (and Peugeot and Citroen). Again, nothing has been said about the 208 utilising these 1.6s.
However, they could be sitting on top of the 208 range, especially for the RC high-performance variant as scooped by Autocar in Life last week. Yes, we could be witnessing performance models in both petrol and diesel guises.
- Will we Thais be deprived of a competitively priced 208?
Very likely, my friend. You see, B-segment cars can only sell in Thailand if they are made in Asean with a high degree of local parts. And that's Peugeot's weakness, despite a factory in Malaysia.
Today's 207 shipped in from our neighbour south of Thailand in the 900,000 baht range _ a price domicile of C-segment cars like the Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota Yaris B-segment hatchback is priced between 550,000-700,000 baht. If Peugeot can't afford to make the 208 fall in this price range, it's goodbye to them.
It’s love them or loathe them for the so-called boomerang rear lights.
THE BLOODLINE
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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