Peugeot and Naza signed an MoU for the assembly of the Peugeot 207 Sedan in Paris today. Naza’s plant in Gurun will be the production hub for the 207 Sedan for the ASEAN region from October 2010 onwards. For now, the Gurun plant will be the only right hand drive 207 Sedan assembler in the world. A production of 18,000 units a year is planned.

The 207 Sedan is essentially an updated 206 Sedan based on the 206 chassis. Previous stories revealed that it will be offered with a 1.6 liter engine, which is up from the 1.4 liter found in the Naza 206 Bestari.

The project is referred to internally by Naza as the T33 Project. Naza is the current franchise holder for Peugeot here in Malaysia under its company Nasim Sdn Bhd. They’ve made a name for offering excellent value for money pricing for locally assembled cars such as the 308 and the 407, something that is really unusual with Continental makes here in Malaysia.

Ever since taking over the Peugeot franchise, Peugeot sales in Malaysia have risen from 748 units for the whole of 2008 to the current figure of 2758 units as of August 2009.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot has just announced the launch pricing for the new Peugeot RCZ 2+2 coupe. If you want a French take on a TT-like car, you’ll be expected to shell out about £19,900 for a ‘base’ model with the 156hp 1.6 turbo engine and a manual transmission.

Now this is actually quite interesting as the 308 GT THP 175 goes for £20995. So I think it’s quite possible to have a low spec RCZ here in Malaysia for well under RM200k.

But with the RCZ being a premium model it’s very likely for Nasim to position their RCZ offering higher up the model range instead. Upgrading to a “Level 2″ trim level car with the 200 horsepower manual brings the price up to £24,500, or a 156hp auto will go for £23,300. That would mean a potential price difference of perhaps RM20k when converted to Malaysian ringgit, BEFORE taxes!

The “Level 1″ base trim level includes 18” alloy wheels, sports front seats, dual zone air-conditioning, folding rear seats, rear parking sensors, four airbags, ESP, EBFD, EBA, ABS, an active rear spoiler, and twin rear sports exhaust.

Upgrading to “Level 2″ will add leather, heated front seats, carpet mats, front and rear parking sensors, tilting door mirrors (to aid reversing), auto headlamps, follow-me-home lighting, rain sensor wipers, and 19 inch wheels.

Further customisation is allowed, with an alternate design for the 19 inch wheels, a carbon roof panel, integral leather, xenon headlamps, directional lights, gloss black brake calipers, black roof arches, matt roof arches, Peugeot connect media navigation 3D, and a JBL Hi Fi system. Nasim could possibly add a few of these to upgrade the spec level of their Peugeot RCZ offering. If this baby handles well, it could be a great alternative to the TT, which has a really expensive Malaysian price tag.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot’s rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV didn’t turn out looking quite like what Theophilus Chin imagined it to be – the actual product doesn’t really stray far from its Mitsubishi looks. As for the name, the Peugeot branded car is going to be called the Peugoet iOn while the Citroen one has yet to be named.

Looking back at history, this is not Peugeot’s first electric car. In the mid-90s, there was actually an electric version of the Peugeot 106 for sale. It had a regular speedometer but the RPM meter was replaced by a dial showing the percentage of maximum power output being used. It had a top speed of 90km/h and went up to between 70km to 100km on a single charge.

The new iOn can go further – 130km on the European driving cycle on its lithium ion batteries. The iOn’s batteries can be charged in 6 hours using a regular 220V socket or up to 80% in 30 minutes via a fast charging system. It’s powered by a 64hp motor with 180Nm of torque.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Mitsubishi and Peugeot have finalised its EV agreement where Mitsubishi will be supplying PSA Peugeot Citroen with an electric car for the European market based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Both Citroen and Peugeot-badged vehicles will be available, and production will start in October 2010, with a launch happening shortly after.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot has unveiled full details on the new Peugeot RCZ 2+2 Coupe. Most people refer to this as a French take on the Audi TT, as it emulates the TT’s shape. If you notice the roof of the RCZ actually has some kind of recession in it in the middle, and Peugeot calls this a “double bubble” design.

Under the hood (at the front) is a version of the 1.6 liter BMW-PSA Prince engine, this time producing 200 horsepower at 5,800rpm, taking the car from 0 to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds thanks to its 255Nm of torque from 1,700rpm. That’s not a whole load of torque and 7.6 seconds isn’t exactly blistering speed, but because the RCZ is small with an interior thats designed to “wrap around” the driver cozily, the speeds might seem faster than they really are, so this will help add to the fun factor.

Of course less powerful engines are also available. A 156hp version of the 1.6 liter Prince engine is also available, and like the 200hp version it is mated to a 6-speed manual. But there will be a 6-speed auto coming soon in summer 2010 – a welcome addition to the Peugeot family as they’ve been making do with 4-speed automatics for a long time now, while BMW has been mating the Prince engine to 6-speed autos for a long time.

Of course there must be a diesel option – a 2.0 liter HDi FAP engine with 163hp, also mated to a 6-speed manual. This is the torqueiest engine option with 340Nm available at 2,000rpm. The diesel engine fuel consumption is rated at 52.3 mpg on the combined cycle.

The Peugoet RCZ rides on the same platform as the 308 and uses MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. The platform has been modified to suit the RCZ’s sporty intentions – ride height has been lowered by 20mm, center of gravity lower by 40mm, front track widened by 54mm and rear track widened by 72mm. The 200hp engine version has an additional lower anti-roll bar to help with the handling. Peugeot did not use an electric power steering system on the RCZ – it sticks to a hydraulic system which usually offers better response.

The RCZ will go on sale in Spring 2010. You can probably expect Nasim to bring it in sometime in the future as a CBU model and in classic Nasim style, it will probably undercut the 2.0 TFSI Audi TT in terms of pricing, offering a nice alternative.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Nasim has added two new colours to the Peugeot 308 VTi. The red shade you see above is called Babylon red and is the same one previously only available on the Peugeot 308 GT and the Turbo. It’s a very nice colour for the 308 and looks like it was meant to be a “hero colour” for the 308. As for the blue which is called Ocean Blue, it’s only available for the VTi. Look after the jump for a couple more photos.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

The Peugeot 308 RCZ concept was first showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2007 and exactly two years later the 2+2 coupe in its production form will be officially unveiled at the 2009 edition of the motor show, which will kick start in September.

Before the unveiling, the French automaker has decided to teased us with some images of the production model, simply called the Peugeot RCZ, their very own take on the Audi TT. If you notice, the coupe does not carry any numbers in its designation which makes it one of the few Peugeots which does not use the usual zero or double zero numbering system.

Peugeot claims it is the first car that does not use the number system but technically it isn’t – they must have forgotten about some other examples such as the Peugeot Partner and Peugeot Bipper vans. But then again, those are vans… and this is the RCZ!

Looking at the images, you can tell right away that the production version is not very far off in terms of the exterior styling from the 2 years old concept variant. You can expect the RCZ to feature powerplants offered in the Peugeot 308, 3008 and 5008 series of cars.

Continue reading to view more teaser images.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

For those who are interested, here are full hi-res photos of the entire updated Peugeot 207 range. When we first had a look at the facelift there were only limited photos, but the full gallery is now available for viewing!

As previously mentioned by Nasim officials, the 207 will be coming in. I think it could end up being some serious competition for the likes of the Suzuki Swift and the Swift Sport, more so the latter if they decide to continue offering the 206 Bestari as the bread and butter car and keep the 207 as a nice warm or hot hatch. After all, this is what Peugeot is doing in Europe, keeping the 206/206+ as a basic car while pushing the 207 up as a more premium offering.

Nasim has made its name for offering unmatchable equipment and pricetags for their cars ever since they took over the Peugoet franchise in Malaysia. Just look at the 407 and the range of CKD 308 and you’ll see what I mean. This is probably a bid to get more Peugeots on the road to build familiarity and branding, so you can expect them to do less “hot deals” in the future but now is probably not the time yet, so I think we can continue to expect good deals in the near future.

Look after the jump for the photos.

GALLERY: Peugeot 207 RC

GALLERY: Peugeot 207 5-door Hatchback

GALLERY: Peugeot 207 CC

GALLERY: Peugeot 207 SW

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot has unveiled facelifted looks for the entire 207 range – this extends from the hatchback to the wagon and finally the 207 CC, the only 207 on sale here in Malaysia so far. On the outside, the 207 facelift gets a redesigned front which Peugeot says has been made look softer. There are also more chrome detailing. Alot of the black strips around the car are now body-coloured. The hatchback and CC models get new LED tail lamps.

On the inside its more of trim and detailing changes, and a new instrument panel design that’s said to be more modern and visually appealing, and a new gear change indicator for manual transmissions, but unfortunately the initial batch of press images that they’ve released doesn’t include pix of the updated interior. A new in-car entertainment system called Peugeot Connect USB with Bluetooth, remote controlled window operation, and a one-touch direction indicator are also some of the new features introduced.

Look after the jump for the first batch of 5 images of the various 207 bodystyles. This gallery will be updated later with new photos as they are released.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Many of us already know this for months thanks to showroom and insider information but Malaysian Peugeot distributors Nasim Sdn Bhd has only just made an official announcement. The 5-door Peugeot 308 Turbo hatchback has been updated with a full-length panoramic glass roof, a similiar one to the one that its more powerful sibling, the 3-door 308 GT has. Nasim says the updated 308 will be available from the end of July 2009 onwards.

The original price of RM111k has been hiked to RM113,888 OTR including insurance and road tax – so that’s less than RM3,000 for the stunning panoramic roof that measures 1.26 meter square, encompassing two-thirds of the roof.

During hot days there is a one-touch full length electric sunblind that fully covers up the glass roof, which uses athermic glass to reduce some of the heat that comes through whenever you have the sunblind open.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot has released a promo video for the Peugeot 5008 7-seater MPV, based on the 308 chassis. It basically shows a family having “family time” centered around the 5008. The background music is pretty good I must say, my kind of music!

Check the video out after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot has just unveiled a new MPV called the Peugeot 5008, which is based on the 3008’s technical underpinings but with a larger body to seat up to 7 passengers in a three row 2-3-2 configuration. It is a competitor to other people movers such as the Volkswagen Touran, the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso and the Opel Zafira from the west and the Toyota Wish and Honda Stream from the east.

The new Peugeot 5008 measures 4530mm long and 1640mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2728mm and a drag coefficient of 0.29. Like the 3008, the chassis and suspension is derived from the 308’s, which uses a pseudo-MacPherson-type assembly with a drop link anti-roll bar at the front. The rear is a torsion beam but adapter to adjust to the higher weights that the 5008 will carry.

Once launched, there will be a choice of 6 engines to pick from including 2 petrols and 4 oil burners. The two petrol engines are 1.6 liters in displacement, one normally aspirated with 120bhp and the other turbocharged making 156bhp. Both are Euro 5 compliant.

The diesel engines include two 110hp 1.6 liter HDi FAP engines (one with lower emissions at 135g/km versus 143g/km) and the other two 2.0 liter HDi FAP units producing 150hp and 163hp, with the lower powered version putting out less emissions at 151g/km versus 178g/km. The 150hp version also uses less fuel at 5.8L/100km versus 6.8l/100km. The most economical engine is the 110hp 135g/km 1.6 liter turbodiesel which consumes only 5.2 liters per 100km/

In the interior we see the new classy dashboard design that first debuted on the 3008. The shifter is mounted slightly higher than the rest of the center console running through the area between the front seats. One thing I like about the new French people movers are that the interior has been designed to give a very roomy and airy feeling to the passengers. Just check out that huge 1.69m2 panoramic glass roof!

For the driver’s convenience, there is a heads-up display system for the 5008 wihch displays essential driving information such as the speed, cruise control functions and distance alert. Distance alert is basically a radar located behind the lower front bumper panel which displays the time in seconds between your car and the vehicle in front. It can help inform the driver if he is driving too close to the car in front of him. All of these extra driver assist systems should help this Pug score full marks in the safety assist category on the next round of EuroNCAP tests, like the 3008 managed to do. ESP is also fitted as standard and there are seat belt sensors on all seats.

Elbow width is 1476mm at the front and 1520mm in the second row, which has three individual seats of equal width. Third row elbow width is 1341mm. Peugeot insists the third row are real proper seats that can fit adults and from photos it looks like it’s true, but with the third row up there isn’t much luggage space at the rear, quite similiar to the Exora. The 5008’s middle row can slide back and front over 130mm and can tilt to two positions. The second and third row can fold odwn to create a flat loading area.

There is a rear multimedia system for the 5008’s rear passengers entertainment, which consists of two 7 inch colour screens mounted on the first row headrests. A connection console can accept connections from various equipment including video consoles, game consoles, DVD player etc, and up to two Bluetooth wireless headsets can be hooked up. The two colour screens can display separate video sources.

Nasim Sdn Bhd has proven that it has been able to bring in the latest Peugeot models with very attractive pricing in the past. Will they bring in the 5008 to give Malaysian carbuyers with European tastebuds an alternative product in a segment and price point dominated by the Mazda 5, Toyota Wish and Honda Stream?

Look after the jump for a full hi-res gallery of the new 7-seater Pug!

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

With the arrival of the Peugeot 308 GT last year on Malaysian shores, Malaysians now have a cheaper way to enter the world of European turbocharged hot hatch motoring.

The MINI Cooper S is a bloody fun car to drive and many will be looking at the 308 GT as a cheaper way (RM159,999) to experience something close to the Cooper S. This is because the Cooper S and the Peugeot 308 GT share the same engine. It’s also way more practical in the sense that the 308 can seat 4 comfortably while the Cooper’s rear seats aren’t a very nice place to be in.

The 1.6 liter Prince engine with direct injection and a single twin scroll turbocharger, producing 175 horsepower and 240Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm. That’s a full 25 horses and 40Nm less than the Golf GTI, but surely the 6-speed manual will make up for it in terms of driving experience?

Find out my thoughts on the 308 GT after the jump.

The exterior design of the 308 is pure Peugeot. It’s a hit or miss thing because of its rather unorthodox looks. Many people are used to a more conventional face on their car. The 308 has a completely unique feline look with large headlamps that sweep far backwards. Look at the 308 from the side and the headlamps actually extend behind half the length of the front bonnet. And then you have the Peugeot badge on the nose – there’s no separation between the radiator grille and the lower bumper grille – it is just one large grille with a thick brace through the middle.

From the side you get a sleek 3-door profile which looks way better than the more practical 5-door. The doors are not frameless though, which would have added a nice touch, but it’s not something you miss. The large 18 inch wheels suit the car in the sense that they do not leave you wanting for something bigger, you might get the urge to slam the car lower though.

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The car has a nice rear end though far from as radical as the front and, and I find that it’s pretty odd Peugeot decided to keep the car’s exhaust tail pipes hidden when this is a sporty model. Malaysian Peugeot distributors Nasim probably agree with me as say they are working on a bodykit that includes some visible tail pipes at the rear.

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The driver’s seat is a very nice place to be. In front of you are some of the best-designed instrument clusters around. The dials have a white face with a red needle and the individual gauges have a classy chrome ring surrounding them. At night, the dials light up in entirety instead of just the numbers being backlit.

If I were to be fussy, perhaps having the speedo and RPM needles start from the 6 o clock position would make them seem sportier, but if that were the case it would not be possible to fit the various indicators, clock and odometer in the 5 to 7 o clock area of the two main dials.

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Between the two main dials is a little red multi-info display with various information such as fuel consumption and above that are two little dials that show the fuel gauge and most importantly the temperature, something that is slowly disappearing from alot of modern cars.

The rest of the interior is also nice, with a soft touch dashboard and a decent feel to the various controls. It’s all very classy somehow. The dash leans towards the front of the car and ends near the windscreen with a little LCD display that displays various in-car entertainment details, including a graphical display of the front and rear proximity sensors that shows how close you are to objects near you. You can also access various configuration settings of the car from this display, such as follow me home lights timing, auto-door lock and etc.

Also, notice the CD changer? It isn’t really a “changer” per say, there are dedicated slots for each CD! Looks kinda like an air cond vent to me at first. There is also the JBL Hi-Fi system. The audio controls are mounted on a separate stalk and that needs getting used to a little at first but it was a quick learning experience for me. Steering wheel looks a little bland though.

That aside, somehow everything just seems to have some kind of nice flair about it which invokes a happy feeling, like this car wasn’t just made to make money but to please the owner too. The cabin feels very airy and nice thanks to the massive panoramic moonroof, which can be covered up with a shade in case you’re driving in too hot a day.

Click for enlarged image

And now to the driving. After all, isn’t that what one would have in mind when one buys a turbocharged hatchback with a manual transmission? Well for one the 308 GT definitely does not feel as fast as the Cooper S. As you row through the gears there is a massive push when you start off because of the turbocharger’s 240Nm of torque kicking in so early but the engine somehow goes a little out of breath towards the upper edges of the redline, like the kind of torque curve best mated to an automatic.

Click for enlarged image

The shift knob feels nice in your palm and the gears click in nicely though I wouldn’t call it one of the best slick-feeling shifters I’ve ever used. The clutch is set way too high with a short range of travel. This combined with a snappy accelerator pedal means it will be a tad frustrating to drive the 308 GT smoothly at first, but this is something you’ll hopefully get used to. There is also no foot rest.

The ride is a little firm but still pliant. There’s lots of grip afforded by the very nice 18 inch Pirelli tyres, and the steering tightens up at high speeds to provide the driver more precise control over the steering angle.

Click for enlarged image

Open the rear hatch and you get access to a pretty deep boot but it’s not very tall. The headlamps are a real dream to drive with at night, they are so bright and clear and a passenger actually commented that they might be a little too bright and was afraid we were offending oncoming drivers.

On the interior the front seats are decently sized and they fit my big bulk quite nicely. It doesn’t have super aggressive semi-bucket-like side bolsters. Most importantly they look reasonably upmarket, along with the rest of the interior, which is really a nice place to be in. The rear seats will fit 2 comfortably (see legroom and headroom shot).

I feel Peugeot tried a little too hard to appeal to too wide a spectrum of customers with the 308 GT. They should have left that job to something like the Turbo. Despite 3 doors and a 6-speed manual the car somehow still feels a little too soft. Like it doesn’t have enough hot hatch DNA. Or is that a job that Peugeot delegated to the 207 GTI? Is a 308 GTI coming later?

Click for enlarged image

But it is because of all the soft edges that makes the 308 GT a practical enough yet fun car to be used everyday, even if you regularly have to take in rear passengers. The interior is far from cramped, the ride is pliant enough and operating the front passenger seat to allow access to the rear bench is not cumbersome. Heck, the huge moonroof makes the interior such a nice place to ride in that I’d pick hitching a ride in this car over a sedan in the same segment anytime, if its not a very long journey!

It’s a decent daily or weekend car to have, especially with the potential tweaking that can be done to that turbo engine. On top of the base price of RM159,999, potentially over 200 horses could be unleashed if you spend a little money.

Only problem is if you spend that kind of money to solve its imperfections to suit your needs will it push the overall cost to that of a pre-registered Golf GTI?

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Malaysian Peugeot distributors Nasim Sdn Bhd is currently having a promotion for the Peugeot 407 and the Peugeot 308 VTi (the 1.6 liter normally aspirated baseline model, shown above) called the Peugeot Lion Save Package where buyers will get a 70% markdown on their respective scheduled service maintenance charges for the first 60,000 km or 36 months, whichever comes first. Nasim will also be providing free V-Kool vouchers for the Peugeot 407 and free Solar Gard vouchers for the 308 VTi. The promotion runs from tomorrow until the 15th of June 2009, a period of 1 month.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

The Malaysian Reserve reports on its front page today that Naza and PSA Peugeot-Citroen are looking at introducing a 1.6 liter entry level car that will be sold in Malaysia and also assembled and exported from here to other ASEAN regions. This solidifies plans for Naza to turn Malaysia into Peugeot’s assembly hub for the region.

Naza currently already exports the 206 to various countries including Nepal. It is in line with Peugeot’s international entry level car strategy for this to be some variation of the 206 and since we already have the 206 in 1.4 liter variety, perhaps the new compact car will be the 207 Sedan which is essentially a 206 sedan with 207 aesthetics. A 1.6 liter engine will be good news. Ideally it should be priced around the new Hyundai Accent’s level, but who knows. There is also a 307 Sedan that exists.

Look after the jump for more shots of the 207 Sedan.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

The Naza Group’s SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin has revealed that Naza Kia, Naza Corporation and Nasim Peugeot will be unveiling a few new models this year, in addition to the CKD Peugeot 308 VTi and 308 Turbo and the CKD facelifted Peugeot 407 already launched this year.

There will be 2 new Naza-badged models, one new Kia-badged model and 3 new Peugeot models launched. The Kia-badged car is very likely to be the new Kia Forte (shown above, gallery after jump), which is said to be launched in Q2 this year. The two Naza-badged models will also be based on Kia models, they could be a new facelifted Naza Suria and an all-new monocoque Naza Sorento, based on the new facelifted Suria and the upcoming Kia XM Sorento.

A report by StarBiz claims 2 of the 3 new Peugeot models to be the Peugeot 3008 and the Peugeot 207. The 207 could be the real 207 or it could also be the 207 Compact (206+), a facelifted 206 with 207 looks, which would be a repalcement for the Naza 206 Bestari. The third model could be the Peugeot 308 CC 4-seater coupe-convertible unveiled recently, which would complete the current 308 VTi, 308 Turbo and 308 GT offerings.

Read the related links below to read our past coverage on all of these cars that are expected to hit our shores by the end of the year.

Related Posts:
Peugeot 3008 Crossover: details and photos
New Peugeot 206+ entry-level car for Europe (207 Compact)
Kia unveils Kia Picanto facelift
New Kia Sorento snapped without disguise
First photos of new Kia Forte sedan

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

When the Peugeot 207 was released, the 206 was not retired and was instead repositioned as a new entry level car and continues to be sold in many markets, especially emerging markets such as South America. The 206 also continues to be sold here in Malaysia as the Naza 206 Bestari.

Peugeot has given the 206 a fresh look with the new Peugeot 206 Plus, which essentially facelifts the 206 to have a similiar front end to the 207 and other Peugeot models. This means larger more feline headlamps and that wide gaping mouth grille. Engine options include a 60 horsepower 1.1L petrol engine, a 75 horsepower 1.4 liter petrol engine, and a 1.4 liter HDi diesel with 70hp. The interior design gets updated with a look that resembles the 207’s dashboard.

The 206 Plus is manufactured in France for the core European market. It’s actually already available in some emerging markets, for example it is called the Peugeot 207 Mercosur in South America.

Look after the jump for more shots and a video of the 206+.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Shortly after its introduction in locally assembled form here in Malaysia, Nasim Peugeot Sdn Bhd has announced the availability of the new facelifted Peugeot 407, also in locally assembled form. No updates in the engine department and the equipment level (7 airbags, and various different levels of trim for the standard Classic and hi-spec Premium version, etc) as compared to the pre-facelift locally assembled 407, but there are a few aesthetics changes on the exterior and interior.

First up is a new chrome grille at the front featuring both vertical and horizontal stripes. At the rear, look hard and you’ll spot a small spoiler integrated into the rear bootlid. The rear bumper has also had some changes to the design. On the interior, the center console area now gets a classy piano black finish. The multi-info display has been relocated into the updated Multimedia and Navigation Screen system. At the front, the 407 also gains front parking sensors. A recap on what’s in the engine bay – its 2.0 liter inline-4 engine puts out 140hp at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, which is improved over the old fully imported Cycle & Carriage car as it has variable valve timing.

As with the previous edition, the new 407 facelift also comes in 2 variants – Classic and Premium which retail for RM128,888 and RM136,888 respectively. Both versions are rather hi-spec, with the difference with between the two versions being the leather interior and the Multimedia and Navigation Screen system. Despite the latter being omitted in the Classic, it still comes with the premium 10-speaker JBL sound system. All prices are inclusive of insurance and a 3-year or 100,000 km warranty.

Look for more photos after the jump.


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© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

For soon to be owners of the Peugeot 308, here are some accessories that are in the pipeline. The bodykit you see above is inspired from the RC Line by Irmscher bodykit and produced locally under the NZ Line brand for price reduction purposes, as there will be no import taxes on the bodykit.

The front lips, side skirts and rear spoiler go for RM 2,800. There is also a rear diffuser in the works but not shown in these set of photos that will retail for RM 980. One thing odd about the 308 – not even the THP version has any visible rear tailpipes to speak of, kind of weird for a sporty model, so to complement the diffuser and give the car a sportier look a set of tail taipipes are also being developed and is expected to retail for RM138.

The wheels you see there are original fully imported RC Line Irmscher Peugeot 308 wheels that will go for RM9,950. Nasim Sdn Bhd has no plans to localise the wheels (they are Peugeot and TUV certified) for safety purposes. The Irmscher wheels are 17 inch in size and should be a direct swap for the 308 Turbo while retaining existing tyres, but 308 VTi owners will have to get new tyres because their stock wheels are 16 inch.

The dark colour of the wheels go well with the sporty red of the 308 and I’d imagine they are lighter but for such a price you may consider just painting a similiar colour on your existing 308 Turbo 5-spoke wheels instead!

Look after the jump for two more shots of the Peugeot 308 NZLine bodykit.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot attempts to define what a crossover is with the new Peugeot 3008 crossover, previously internally known as the T84, built on the 308’s platform. Peugeot says basically a crossover is a vehicle that has a combination of qualities that are usually deemed incompatible, such as driving pleasure inside a “tall” vehicle, etc. It says the 3008 is a fusion between a SUV, an MPV and a hatchback.

On the inside it presents to you a possible future design direction for Peugeot interiors. The dash is now quite driver-centric and gives you the feeling of a “cockpit”, especially the horizontal row of switches below the center air conditioning outlets. If this is where Peugeot dashboard is headed to then I definitely approve!

Peugeot says it has engineered the 3008 to have a comfortable sedan-like driving position despite being a tall vehicle. That means feeling like you’re sitting snugly in the seat instead of on it like a stool. It also means an optimum sedan-like steering wheel position, and Peugeot has equipped the 3008’s steering column with 3 joints instead of the usual 2 to ensure this “perfect position”.

There are also some nice driver-air gadgets such as an automatic parking brake, hill assist, distance alert to the car in front of you and finally a heads-up display. You will find near the gear lever a knob that allows you to select between 5 “Grip Control” modes – Standard, Snow, Off Road (Mud/Dirt/Wet Grass), Sand and ESP off.

Click for enlarged image

Under the hood are a range of both petrol and diesel engines, with the petrol units as expected being from the Prince family co-developed with BMW. The 1.6 VTi is available in 120hp and 160Nm form with a 5-speed manual, while the 1.6 THP comes in two slightly different variants. One is a 150hp, 240Nm version with a 6-speed manual that puts out 176g/km of CO2 while the other is a more powerful yet less polluting 156hp and 240Nm Euro 5-compliant version that puts out only 170g/km of CO2.

The diesel versions are from the HDi FAP range with either 1.6 liter or 2.0 liter displacements and outputs ranging from as low as 110hp and 240Nm with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automated manual (AMT) to a 2.0 liter with 163hp and 340Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

While these regular engines are available from various times this year onwards, from the year 2011 onwards, the 3008 will be equipped with Peugeot’s HYbrid4 technology which uses a diesel engine to power the front wheels but goes into all-wheel drive mode with an electric motor powering the rear wheels. The HYbrid4 can also turn the vehicle into a rear wheel drive vehicle in an all-electric mode with zero emissions.

Check out a whole photo gallery with a video after the jump.

VIDEO: Peugeot 3008 Crossover

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

The prices for the Peugeot 308 has been revealed by Nasim Sdn Bhd this morning. The cars are locally assembled and are available in two variants, the Peugeot 308 VTi at RM 96,500 and the Peugeot 308 Turbo at RM 111,000. These prices are with insurance.

Both are powered by 1.6 liter engines from the PSA-BMW Prince family and mated to Porsche Tiptronic 4-speed transmissions, but a key difference is in how air gets pushed into the engines, which directly affects its power output.

Peugeot 308 VTi – RM 95,500

The Peugeot 308 VTi shares the same powerplant as the MINI Cooper. That means variable valve timing and Valvetronic variable valve lift that enables the engine to be operated without a conventional throttle butterfly. This decreases pumping losses, which improves fuel economy. The following are the specifications for the 308 VTi model, as well as a torque curve and shift diagrams:

Peugeot 308 VTi specifications

Exterior 16″ 10-spoke alloy wheels 205/55R16 tyres Headlamps with follow me home function Daytime Running Lights [DRL] Auto Headlight Sensor Auto Front Windshield Wipers Electric Folding mirrors Interior Active carbon/pollen filter for dual zone air cond 6 speakers MP3 CD player with aux input and remote control Rake and reach adjustable steering Underseat storage drawers for front and rear Adjustable front armrest with storage compartment

Engine PSA-BMW Prince 1.6 engine 120hp at 6,000rpm 160Nm @ 4,250rpm 4-speed automatic Safety 4 airbags (Front and side) F/R Ventilated and solid discs ABS, EBD, EBA

Peugeot 308 VTi 4-speed auto shift diagram

Peugeot 308 Turbo – RM 111,000

The Peugeot 308 Turbo has power output equivalent to a 2.0 liter competitor, but with much more torque thanks to its turbocharging technology. This is actually the engine in the MINI Cooper S but detuned to 140 horsepower (the manual version gets 150hp).

Peugeot 308 Turbo specifications (on top of VTi specs)
Engine PSA-BMW Prince 1.6 engine 140hp at 6,000rpm 240Nm @ 4,250rpm 4-speed automatic Interior Rear air-cond vents Auto dimming rear view mirror Rear center armrest with storage compartment and 2 cupholders Built-in fragrance diffuser Safety 6 airbags (front, side, curtain) ESP with Traction Control and Dynamic Stability Control	Exterior Automatic electric folding mirrors Body color side protection 5-spoke 17 inch alloy wheels

Peugeot 308 Turbo 4-speed auto shift diagram

I think it’s safe to say that these specifications are the best in class at their respective price levels, especially when it comes to safety standards. There’s nothing with 4 airbags below RM100k before this, but now you have the 308 VTi. For those who want more, the 308 GT is still for sale in fully imported 3-door body form, but it is now on an order basis only (RM 159,999) as there are no more ready stock available.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the 5-door 308 as well as a video.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

This image of what’s supposed to be a spyshot of the upcoming Peugeot 308 was posted by a forum-peugeot member, but the avid Photoshoppers over at CarSpyShots quickly dismissed it as a 3D rendering with noise added to make it look more realistic, as if it were snapped with a camera phone. Just look at the strange C-pillar and the rest of the car, it just doesn’t look very real. But it could be just the angle.

While other companies are scrambling to build “4-door coupes” at the top of the luxury segment, Peugeot has had one in the basic D-segment category for ages. My wishlist for the 408 would be for more interior room and for the tired 2.0 liter engine to be phased out and replaced by a turbocharged 1.6 liter, like what Peugeot did with the 308.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

I have specifications for the new Peugeot 308 set to be unveiled on the 29th of January 2009. The specs look promising indeed and if Nasim decides to give the 308 some very competitive pricing like it did with the 407, it should have all it needs to be a killer product, the rest depends on the public perception of the brand and the marque’s support network.

And for the top spec model:

Apparently the turbo version only has 140hp and not 150hp as previously expected, because that is how Peugeot tunes the engine for the automatic transmission. The 150hp is only available on the manual stock from the factory.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

This truck transporting nothing but a large signboard featuring the Peugeot 308 logo (it’s lit up at night) has been going around the Klang Valley (and maybe other states, I’m not sure as I’ve only seen it in the Klang Valley), a large and obvious teaser of the new Peugeot 308 that’s due to be launched sometime this month.

As previously reported, the new 308 will be available with a choice of two engines. One is a 1.6 liter PSA-BMW Valvetronic engine with 120 PS and 160Nm of torque, while the other is also a 1.6 liter engine, but turbocharged to produce 150 PS and 240Nm of torque. The 120 PS car will go against cars like the Mazda 3 1.6 and the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6, while the turbocharged car will compete with the likes of the Civic 2.0, and the Lancer 2.0. It won’t lead in the horsepower department but outclasses all of its competitors with a massive 240Nm (approximately equivalent to a 2.4 liter engine) of torque from as low as 1,400rpm all the way to 5,000rpm.

This massive torque at low RPMs that provides a smooth and easy drive is what the Europeans have been enjoying all this while with their torquey diesel engines and recently an onslaught of turbocharged downsized displacement engines. The turbo engine (also found in the MINI Cooper S in 175 PS form) should also prove to be popular with those who always want to squeeze out every last bit of performance from their cars as it could probably easily be boosted up to produce more power and torque with a rechip.

Look after the jump for a video of the teaser truck.

Video: Peugeot 308 Teaser Truck in Malaysia

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

We first heard of a joint study between Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen to evaluate a potential cooperation between the two companies on the supply of electric vehicles back in June 2008. The study also included evaluating the feasibility of shared production sites for producing components for electric vehicles.

Japanese newspaper The Nikkei (the same guys who reported the Suzuki Kizashi would be axed) now reports that the deal went through and Mitsubishi will supply the French company up to 10,000 electric cars a year by the year 2011. This could include the Mitsubishi i MiEV, which is shown above as an artist’s impression with Peugeot styling (look after the jump for a Citroen version).

PSA would benefit by getting electric car technology fast, while Mitsubishi would benefit from PSA’s vast distributor network in Europe, which would be beneficial for Mitsu’s coffers anyway since they are the supplier, despite the cars not having Mitsubishi badges.

Source


Click for enlarged image

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Peugeot Sport will exhibit the 207 Rallye, 207 Spider THP, 908 HDi FAP and the 207 S2000 at the 2009 Autosport International show, set to run from the 8th to the 11th of January 2009 at the NEC Birmingham. The 207 S2000 will be styled with the same livery as the one that Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle will be driving in the 2009 IRC rally challenge.

We’ve seen privateer teams in Malaysia use the Honda Integra for the longest time. There’s even a one-make Integra cup race. It would be fun to see a 207 Spider THP one-make race. Instead of high revving VTEC sounds, we’d hear a dozen or so turbo turbines spinning away and blaring their wastegates on the track.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

UPDATE: Locally assembled Peugeot 308 VTi and Peugeot 308 Turbo launched in Malaysia: RM96.5k to RM111k

Malaysian Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd has started taking orders for the C-segment Peugeot 308, set to be available in Peugeot showrooms in January 2009. Two variants will be available, the Peugeot 308 VTi and the Peugeot 308 Turbo.

The Peugeot 308 VTi is a C-segment car powered by the 1.6 liter BMW-PSA Prince engine with Valvetronic throttle-less operation, the same unit found in the MINI Cooper producing 120 PS and 160Nm of torque. It will compete against other 1.6 liter C-segment cars, which is basically the 1.6L Mazda 3 and the 1.6L Toyota Corolla Altis.

The powerful Peugeot 308 Turbo is powered by a 1.6 liter engine, but it is turbocharged with direct injection to produce 150 PS at 5,800rpm and 240Nm of torque constantly from 1,400rpm all the way to 5,000rpm. It is a detuned version of the 175hp unit in the MINI Cooper S and the Peugeot 308 GT. This will position the 308 Turbo head to head against 2.0 liter C-segment vehicles such as the Lancer 2.0 and Civic 2.0. Don’t be fooled by its 150 PS output, it’s got really good best-in-class torque levels equivalent to a 2.4L engine and the high torque is also achieved from a low RPM point, so expect the 308 to be a very smooth and easy drive around town.

Of course, one difference between the 308 and its competitors listed above is the fact that both the variants mentioned above are 5-door hatchbacks (only the 308 GT is a 3-door hatch) while all its competitors are sedans, except for the Mazda 3 2.0 hatchback and Ford Focus 2.0 hatchback. But you can expect similiar competitive price levels with 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter cars.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

An Italian newspaper reported on Saturday that PSA Peugeot Citroen and Fiat are considering a potential merger, which would make the new PSA Peugeot Citroen Fiat entity the world’s number 4 carmaker. If true, it is some pretty quick progress, coming right after Fiat’s CEO mentioned the Italian company needed to find a partner to survive the crisis brewing in the automotive industry, but such haste is needed in these times.

PSA has mentioned before in the past that it preferably did not want to add new alliances, but instead wanted to deepen existing relationships. PSA and Fiat already have current co-operations in areas like commercial vans. The Fiat Fiorino, the Peugeot Bipper and the Citroen Nemo are all derived from the same project.

The two companies also have joint ventures with other companies on their own. PSA Peugoet Citroen’s recently launched SUVs are a development of the Mitsubishi Outlander while the Fiat Sedici is a Suzuki SX4.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Nasim Sdn Bhd is having a second Test Drive campaign for the locally assembled facelifted Peugeot 407 this weekend (15th to 16th of November2008) at its Peugeot showrooms from 10am to 7pm.

The following are the Peugeot showrooms taking part in the event: Peugeot Blue Box Glenmarie, Peugeot Bangsar, Peugeot Klang, Peugeot KS Blue Box, Peugeot Plentong (JB) and Peugeot Penang. Click here for the contact details of the Peugeot centers in Malaysia or call 1-800-88-6292.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.

Two out of three of the B-Zero project gets facelifted this week – and this is one of them, the Peugeot 107. One the exterior, the 107 facelift gets a new front bumper and 14 inch alloy wheel design, as well as two new colours – Mandaline Orange and Electra Blue. The interior gets a new Stilada trim, which consists of two choices – a black background trim with silver-grey flecks and a black background trim with orange-red flickr. The Alcantara trim gets an upgrade – its now specified in black with silver-grey stitching. Apparently both the petrol (A 3-cylinder Toyota motor) and diesel engines have been tweaked for better fuel consumption as well.

Look after the jump for a gallery of the facelifted 107.

PHOTO GALLERY: Peugeot 107 Facelift
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 14:39:20 +0800.