Peugeot's all new 208 hot hatch super-mini will debut in forecourts across the nation on June 30th next. It manages to be smaller and lower on the outside, but larger on the inside (5cm additional at the knees), lighter by 110kg on the 207 and you get a larger boot. Beepbeep drove it on its European launch in Portugal, in both 3-door and 5-door formats, and can confirm that Peugeot's spatial tweaking also permits the new 208 to accommodate four significant adults inside - I speculate of they do wardrobes?
Building on the sale of 13 million units since the first of the 205 appeared in 1983, the latest 208 will give consumers the selection of three trims, Access, Active and Allure, all models coming with ESP and six airbags - the Active level anticipated to make up 80% of sales. With 65% of sales anticipated to be gas fuelled, the engine range on offer is;
- 1.0 litre 68bhp petrol (99g/CO2);
- 1.2 litre 82bhp gas (104g/CO2)
- 1.4 litre 68bhp HDi diesel (98g/CO2)
- 1.4 litre 68bhp eHDi diesel (87g/CO2) with Stop Start technology.
CO2 emissions average 34g/km lower than the 207.
Peugeot's street identity is consolidated with the new 208, the day-running lights, floating griddle with subtle Peugeot badging, rear 'claw ' lamps, all provide eye-pleasing lineage and tactility. Fit and finish is fantastic and harking back to the GTI era, the 3-door has a chrome insert on the rear quarter panel - a sign of future keen on a certain idea shown latterly to us in Geneva maybe?
Sitting into the 208 and straight away your eyes are attracted towards the raised drivers console, the sporting flavor nicely fortified through your hands falling to the small steering wheel and the redesigned gearshift lever.
Younger drivers will like the infotainment centre in the centre console, its touch-screen menu right up their play station alley. Added touches of strip lighting add to your nighttime welcome, particularly up either side of the sky-roof.
Peugeot's sales success here will undoubtedly rest on their new 1.2, 3-cylinder engine. Out through the twists, hills and open road environs of western Portugal, the unit provided enough of an understanding into its ability to assure that Irish drivers will be well pleased. With low emissions, low road tax and sheer zeal, it is sure to find new houses nationally. It does need to be 'encouraged ' sometimes, which it does to its own triple beat, the 82bhp motor terribly happy to the task and the mid-range torque shockingly robust.
Overall I was impressed with the 208, particularly the 3-cylinder unit. It feels larger than its footprint on the road, is cutting edge on the inside, extremely civilised and leaves has a lot to admire in the standard of its fixings. Des Cannon, Peugeot Sales and Marketing Director said, "We aim to register 300 units from July to December of the present year and have a target of 1200 units in 2013, the 1st full year of sales. Peugeot's new 208 will indeed boost our market share to over 4% next year."
Costs and standard specification is scheduled to be announced nearer to the launch.
Building on the sale of 13 million units since the first of the 205 appeared in 1983, the latest 208 will give consumers the selection of three trims, Access, Active and Allure, all models coming with ESP and six airbags - the Active level anticipated to make up 80% of sales. With 65% of sales anticipated to be gas fuelled, the engine range on offer is;
- 1.0 litre 68bhp petrol (99g/CO2);
- 1.2 litre 82bhp gas (104g/CO2)
- 1.4 litre 68bhp HDi diesel (98g/CO2)
- 1.4 litre 68bhp eHDi diesel (87g/CO2) with Stop Start technology.
CO2 emissions average 34g/km lower than the 207.
Peugeot's street identity is consolidated with the new 208, the day-running lights, floating griddle with subtle Peugeot badging, rear 'claw ' lamps, all provide eye-pleasing lineage and tactility. Fit and finish is fantastic and harking back to the GTI era, the 3-door has a chrome insert on the rear quarter panel - a sign of future keen on a certain idea shown latterly to us in Geneva maybe?
Sitting into the 208 and straight away your eyes are attracted towards the raised drivers console, the sporting flavor nicely fortified through your hands falling to the small steering wheel and the redesigned gearshift lever.
Younger drivers will like the infotainment centre in the centre console, its touch-screen menu right up their play station alley. Added touches of strip lighting add to your nighttime welcome, particularly up either side of the sky-roof.
Peugeot's sales success here will undoubtedly rest on their new 1.2, 3-cylinder engine. Out through the twists, hills and open road environs of western Portugal, the unit provided enough of an understanding into its ability to assure that Irish drivers will be well pleased. With low emissions, low road tax and sheer zeal, it is sure to find new houses nationally. It does need to be 'encouraged ' sometimes, which it does to its own triple beat, the 82bhp motor terribly happy to the task and the mid-range torque shockingly robust.
Overall I was impressed with the 208, particularly the 3-cylinder unit. It feels larger than its footprint on the road, is cutting edge on the inside, extremely civilised and leaves has a lot to admire in the standard of its fixings. Des Cannon, Peugeot Sales and Marketing Director said, "We aim to register 300 units from July to December of the present year and have a target of 1200 units in 2013, the 1st full year of sales. Peugeot's new 208 will indeed boost our market share to over 4% next year."
Costs and standard specification is scheduled to be announced nearer to the launch.
About the Author:
Tony Toner is an affiliate of the web team that helps run the site BeepBeep.ie which is a used auto web site in Eire with helpful information on motoring guidance, latest automobile stories and used cars for sale.
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