We’ve seen what the second-generation Peugeot 308, which is set to debut in Frankfurt in September, will shape up like, and there’s quite a bit to like about the new exterior lines and shape flow.

The hatch has been announced in its five-door form, and no word as yet as to a three-door. The current first-gen model has such a body style – the 175 PS 308 GT was sold here in limited numbers early on.

Theophilus Chin has come up with a couple of renderings imagining what a three-door variant of the new car would shape up like – he muses that the company can either give it a whole new sheet metal, or if cost-constrained, re-angle the C-pillar like in his renderings. What do you think – does a three-door catch the eye better than the five-door?

The post Peugeot 308 – imagining a three-door 2nd-gen variant appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Ah, another short-run special, one that dresses up an already striking figure. France and Germany had the Onyx, and now it’s the United Kingdom’s turn – the Peugeot RCZ Magnetic Limited Edition will be heading across the Channel, with just 170 examples to be had. These will span over three variants, the 1.6 THP 156 and THP 200 petrol, and 2.0 HDi 163 diesel.

So what does going the Magnetic route bring about? Enhanced equipment, for one – a Sport trim level adds an soft-touch leather steering wheel and short-shift gear lever as well as sports seats. Also on, 19-inch Sortilege wheels finished in onyx matt black and a ‘black pack’ of goodies, which lends the roof arches, front grille, door mirror covers and brake calipers said shade.

Two exterior colours are available for the RCZ Magnetic, Pearlescent Pearl white or Metallic Nera black – going the white route gets a black interior, while black bags the red flame leather interior as seen in the pix.

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The Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak is raring to race to the clouds, as it is unveiled in its full racing livery for the first time. As expected it uses the French carmaker’s traditional competition stripes, with influences of key partners Red Bull, Total and Michelin.

Sebastien Loeb’s new machine may have lost its Darth Vader-like menacing black/naked carbonfibre skin, but it gains plenty of new details to bring it closer to the road-going 208. It’s still a silhouette racer, no doubt, but the chrome grille and headlight stickers do add a healthy dose of realism.

The main objective is to win the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, as they’ve done before with the Peugeot 405 T16 Pikes Peak driven by Ari Vatanen. The pair’s earlier attempt with the shorter-bodied 205 T16 Pikes Peak lost out to Walter Rohrl’s Audi Sport Quattro S1 in 1987.

With nine-time rally champion Loeb at the wheel and a winning heritage in tow, anything less than an outright victory would be a disappointment for the French team. Can they triumph again in their return to the event? Only six more weeks till we find out.

The post Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak shows off its true colours appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Following the initial images seen earlier today, here are the first details about the second-generation Peugeot 308, which will make its debut in Frankfurt in September.

Some basic figures to start with. The C-segment offering, which sits on the company’s new EMP2 modular platform (which has no less than 116 technology patent applications, so it goes), measures in a 4.25 metres long and 1.46 metres tall, while boot volume is rated at 470 litres. Weight is also down from its predecessor, the new car tipping the scales up to 140 kg less.

In addition to the new exterior lines and flow, the new 308 features a more refined and upmarket interior, in line with the move to bring the marque upmarket in terms of presentation. Elements in the i-cockpit offer improved ergonomics, with a more complete integration of controls translates to fewer buttons and a cleaner dashboard. A 9.7-inch touchscreen is integral to things.

As yet, no mention of powertrain/drivetrain choices, but the automaker says that the new 308 will be more dynamic than the outgoing car, but also offer more in the way of general comfort as well. European sales of the car, which will be built at the company’s Sochaux plant in France, begins in autumn after the showing in Frankfurt.

The post New Peugeot 308 – first details and hi-res photos appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

UPDATE: Hi-res photos – and initial details – of the new Peugeot 308 can be found here.

The first images of the second-generation Peugeot 308 have surfaced. The hatch is expected to make its public debut in Frankfurt later this year, and as far as naming convention goes will retain the 308 name – following the marque’s new numbering system, where the final digits are now fixed – instead of moving on to become the 309.

No tech details as yet on the car, but in terms of engines shouldn’t veer away from that being offered right now, as in the three-cylinder 1.2 right up to the familiar 1.6 THP petrol and HDi diesel mills. More as we get closer to Frankfurt, undoubtedly, but for now, what do you think of the new lines?

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Sebastien Loeb is one busy chap isn’t he? Just last week he commandingly drove Citroen back into the WRC winner’s circle in Rally Argentina, and this coming weekend will see him back in the thick of the action racing a Martini Racing-liveried 911 in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup series.

Come June, the on-demand superstar will be off to the clouds competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in this monster, the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak. Neither Sebastien or Peugeot is leaving anything to chance or pure talent, as they embark on an extensive test programme to extract the best out of the supreme combination.

The nine-time consecutive WRC world champion’s first experience with the 875 hp beast was filmed for us to watch. Loeb’s first comment? “It’s a rocket! The 208 package is a combination of the best of several worlds: it’s got the downforce of a Formula 1 car, the wide tyres of an endurance racing prototype and a differential, like a WRC car…”

It’s no ordinary 208, then. Now let’s see if he can beat Monster Tajima’s Toyota Super 86 and the all-time record set by Rhys Millen last year up Colorado’s 20-kilometre long, 4,301 metres high summit.

The post VIDEO: Loeb drives the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Peugeot distributor Nasim is now offering five years of free service with every purchase of a Peugeot 408, in which the company will cover the cost for parts – except for wear and tear items – and labour for regular scheduled maintenance for the 408 for a five-year (or 100,000 km) period.

Applicable to both the 408 Turbo and 408 2.0, the five-year free service campaign will only be for cars purchased between May 6 and May 31, 2013. Since its launch in May 2012, over 1,300 units of the 408 have been sold in Malaysia to date, and over 1,000 have been exported to other ASEAN markets.

The post Five years free service with Peugeot 408 purchase appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The full specs of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak racer are finally out in the open – on June 30, Sébastien Loeb will be in command of a 875 kg AWD machine bestowed with a mid-mounted 875 hp/883 Nm 3.2 litre twin-turbo V6.

Measuring 4.5 metres long, 2.0 metres wide and 1.3 metres tall, with a 2.7 metre wheelbase, the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sprints to 100 km/h in an unimaginable 1.8 seconds. Only three seconds later, it’ll reach 200 km/h, and a little over two seconds after that, it’ll arrive at its max speed of 240 km/h.

But as any of you who are familiar with the demanding conditions of Colorado’s Pikes Peak will know, it’s far from just straight-line speed you need. To that end, the hill-climbing Pug boasts a tubular steel frame chassis with front and rear anti-roll bars and carbon bodywork for lightness.

Double wishbones with pushrod and rocker arm actuation sit at each of the four corners, and hydraulic double-circuit brakes keep all that speed in check. One-piece light-alloy callipers are in charge of vented carbon discs that measure 380 mm up front and 355 mm out back. Wheels are F1-derived 18×13 magnesium alloys encased in Michelin 31/71×18 rubber.

Peugeot says the 208 T16 Pikes Peak shares its genes with those of the Le Mans-winning 908 racer in the running gear, brakes and aerodynamic features like the air intake and the two-metre wide rear wing that was originally used for the first-gen 908 HDi FAP. The design of the undertray alone is said to be responsible for generating almost half the car’s downforce!

Comparatively more sedate in terms of appearance as well as performance is the regular Peugeot 208, which launched in Malaysia last week – at least you can actually buy this one.

The post Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak – 875 hp for 875 kg! appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The order books have been open for a month now, and some of you may have already gotten up close and personal with it at the Glenmarie showroom or at 1 Utama, but it’s now time to wrap things up – Nasim has officially launched the Peugeot 208 in Malaysia, in five- (RM85,888) and three-door (RM95,888) guises. Prices are OTR with insurance.

The Peugeot 207 successor gets its motivation from a 1.6 litre VTi engine that produces 122 PS and 160 Nm of torque – 140 Nm of which is available from 2,000 rpm. Fuel economy is rated at 6.7 litres per 100 km on a mixed cycle.

In terms of performance, 0-100 km/h is done in 10.7 seconds, while top speed is a respectable 190 km/h. Transmission is handled by a four-speed auto ‘box with Tiptronic and Sport mode.

LED DRLs and boomerang-shaped LED rear lamps are the order of the day, with the five-door wearing 16-inch ‘Helium’ alloys wrapped in 195/55 series tyres and the three-door getting 17-inch ‘Oxygen’ alloys with 205/45 series rubber. The pricier variant also gets a panoramic glass roof with mood lighting, which Peugeot says is a segment first.

An aluminium front beam absorber, a strengthened front subframe, laser welding of the roof and extensive use of high- and ultra high-strength steels contribute towards stiffening the Peugeot 208′s structure, while keeping the calories in check – the car tips the scales at a little over a tonne.

The MacPherson strut front suspension has an improved caster angle, resulting in better directional stability, accuracy and feel. A trailing arm with a deformable cross-member axle takes care of things at the back.

Semi-bucket ‘Moonlight’ fabric seats are to be found in the five-door, while the three-door gets semi-bucket ‘Sahara’ seats in a combination of leather and fabric. The interior is trimmed in piano black and satin chrome.

The Peugeot 208 gets a seven-inch HD colour touch-screen with USB and Bluetooth, as well as a six-speaker Arkamys sound system. The screen can also display a parking aid with aural and visual assistance, plus trip computer information, amongst others.

There’s a ‘floating’ instrument panel incorporating multi-stage illumination and a colour LCD, as well as a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio and telephone controls. Auto dual-zone air-con, auto headlamps and auto wipers are also standard across the range.

Let’s talk dimensions. Length, width and height are 3.96, 2.00 (including wing mirrors),and 1.46 metres respectively, while wheelbase stands at a little over 2.53 metres. The boot can hold 311 litres – fold the back seats and you get 1,152 litres of storage.

Six airbags are standard, as are the familiar plethora of safety aid acronyms: ESP, ABS, EBD, EBA, DSC and ASR. Also to be had are Hill Start Assist, dual ISOFIX points and one-touch electric windows all round. The Peugeot 208 is a five-star Euro NCAP car.

“We have set a sales target of 200 units a month for the new 208,” said Nasim COO Datuk Samson Anand George. He added that the new Pug will contribute significantly to Nasim’s sales target of 8,000 units in 2013, which will represent a 30% increase from the year before. The five-door is expected to make up 80% of Malaysian sales.

Buyers can have their Peugeot 208 in Passion Silver (five-door only), Digital White, Platinum Black, Virtual Blue or Rogue Red. Offered are a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, 24-hour Peugeot Assistance and complimentary Peugeot Lounge access.

Want to know how Europe’s best-selling B-segmenter since December drives on Malaysian soil? Read our test drive report here.

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These are indeed exciting times for the car buyer. Auto manufacturers are coming up with interesting products, vehicles with good specifications, design and driving dynamics that well eclipse their predecessors.

As consumers, we have nothing but to gain from this. At this point of time, we get better looking cars with way better specifications for the same price tag, if compared to say half a decade ago. On top of that, we also now have more variety in terms of brands and models.

Certainly, the B-segment arena has become very boisterous. The introduction of a fun, good-looking B-segment hatch with above average specifications was kicked started by the Ford Fiesta in Malaysia. There’s also the likes of the recently-launched Kia Rio, another vehicle with a bag full of features.

The latest brand to join the mix is Peugeot with its 208, which is available locally in both five-door and three-door forms. At the time of writing, the price hadn’t yet been revealed, but stay tuned for it as the car is set to be launched later tonight.

So, if you’re in the market for a foreign, above average B-segment hatch and your budget is anywhere between RM80k to RM95k, the Peugeot 208 might be in your shopping list, but is it worth your consideration?

The Peugeot 208 is a very good looking car – it breathes the brand’s most updated design language as seen in the 508. Personally, the front end looks aggressive and sharp thanks to the large and wide grille, a bumper that has a protruding lower lip and of course those striking headlights.

And talking about the headlights, you get projectors with Peugeot’s LED Signature Lighting as standard. Fog lamps are also standard. The front area is pretty much the same for both the five-door and three-door, while the side profile is where things start to get different, due to the door configuration.

The wheels are also different, the five-door getting 16-inch two-tone “Helium” alloys while the three-door wears 17-inch two-tone alloys in an “Oxygen” design. The three-door can be further differentiated from its more practical sibling by the full-chrome side mirrors.

Both variants share the same rear look, except for a lower bumper designed to accommodate a visible single chrome tail pipe for the three-door. The five-door’s tailpipe is hidden in comparison. The highlight of the rear is definitely the tail lamps, which seem to have elements of the 508, with its stroke-ish design. The tail lamps have been given the LED treatment as well.

Available body colours for both models include Digital White, Platinum Black, Virtual Blue and my favourite, Rogue Red. There is also another colour called Passion Silver, which is only available for the five-door. Overall, the 208 scores well in the exterior looks department.

Inside, the car is dressed with plenty of modern design elements. You’ll see gloss black handles on the door cards, and this treatment follows through to the centre console and the instrument panel. You will also notice chrome elements in the car, at the side A/C vents and door handles.

However, I don’t really understand the slightly different chrome treatment given to the gear gaiter. Chrome treatment elsewhere looks and feels premium except for the one here, which looks a little aftermarket. Overall, the cabin feels roomy and it doesn’t feel cheap. There is a certain premium-ness to it, especially thanks to the overall design and the soft-touch dashboard. It is not as soft-touch as the 508, but it’s good.

The storage compartments are decent, with cup holders in front of the gear lever and other storage areas like the centre arm rest and in the door cards. There is also a compartment on the right side of the multi-function steering wheel, which is where you can place your Touch N’ Go and other access cards (for your condo or office parking). The glove box (with cooler) is a let down though, which is apparent in the 508 too. Not much space here. In terms of legroom, the 208 actually surprised me a little. With someone sitting comfortably in front, I had ample leg room in the rear of the five-door, which is the only model we got to test, and there are no issues with head clearance as well.

Switches and controls are well-positioned, no problems here, and tactility is good. The thing that I really love about the interior is the instrument panel – the wide look of the panel and the design of the RPM and speed clusters with an LCD display placed in between is pleasing to the eye. This design is apparently drawn by a superbike’s instrument panel. Also evident is a glow below the panel, part of the mood lighting effects of the 208, something which has started to trickle down the “vehicle chain.”

The other highlight of the 208′s interior is the touchscreen control unit, which Peugeot calls the Interactive HD Colour Touchscreen. The unit allows you to control different aspects such as all media functions including playlists from your FM, USB and Bluetooth streaming (no CDs here), communications via Bluetooth, where you can make and receive calls (this is also assisted with the controls on the steering wheel) and other vehicle functions and settings.

The screen is definitely large enough and is of course full colour, and as far as the design of the user interface is concerned, it looks decent. In terms of the control via the touchscreen, it’s also decent. Being so used to or rather, spoiled by the smoothness and sensitivity of Apple’s iPhone and iPad products, we do tend to expect anything that is “touchscreen” to perform as good.

In any case, I believe that the Interactive HD Colour Touchscreen is likely to get better and better (as long as Peugeot continues to develop it) and we might see a version that is closer to perfection in the next Peugeot vehicle or in the 208 facelift. All in all, a lovely, good-looking interior which is spacious enough for its segment and which feels premium, again for its segment.

Before I talk about the available interior specifications, I must compliment the Arkamys 3D audio system with its six speakers that is offered as standard. To music lovers out there who appreciate good sound quality like me, the audio system in the 208 will definitely meet your expectations, sound-wise. During the drive, we had music playing from a USB drive (given by the event organiser) as well as streamed via my iPhone 5′s Bluetooth, with good clarity right through.

Other interior features which are offered standard for both models include digital dual-zone air conditioning, sports steering wheel with controls and height/reach adjustability, semi-bucket front seats with six-way adjustment for both driver and passenger (yes, passenger as well), 60/40 foldable rear seats giving you 1,152 litres of boot space and a 12V power socket (two would have been better), among others.

In terms of difference between the five-door and the three-door, there only two major differences: combination of leather and fabric for the three-door while the five-door gets full fabric and a panaromic roof for the three-door. The glass roof also comes with mood lighting effect, a rather neat feature.

Safety features are identical on both models. They include six airbags, ABS with EBA and EBD, ESP with Anti Skid Regulator (ASR) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which can be deactivated, hill-start, auto-hazard on de-acceleration and two ISOFIX anchorage points on the rear seats. There’s also a centralised electric child-lock switch, which means you don’t need to manually lock or unlock it at the rear door itself.

Other features include electric power steering, rear parking aid with audio and visual assistance, auto wipers and auto headlights and “follow me home” lights with remote function.

Meanwhile, the steering wheel is small, but somewhat nicely sized and yes, the rim is also thick enough. The overall feel of the steering wheel is good and sporty, though in terms of height adjustment some might find that the wheel is unable to be set as high as you’d want it to be.

At its highest point, it blocked my view of the instrument panel, which is something I don’t like. My first impression was not all that positive about the steering angle, but after a few kilometres, I got used to it – I was able to sit comfortably while being close enough to the controls, have a good view and most importantly, being able to control the steering wheel effectively.

Acceleration from the 1.6 litre four-pot with Dual Variable Valve Timing & Lift (VTi) is decent, with enough pulling power, not bad considering that the car was pretty much loaded up throughout the entire drive. The engine churns out 122 PS and 160 Nm of torque, enough juice to get about and handle long distance driving.

The 208 uses a four-speed auto box with Tiptronic and Sport Mode, which pretty much holds gears longer before switching. At first glance, the term “four-speed” might stick out like a sore thumb, but it was enough to serve the 208′s purpose. Yes, transmission performance could be better, it could be snappier during gear changes but performance is adequate.

At cruising speeds on the highway at 110 km/h, the engine runs at 3,000 rpm and wind noise was quite well suppressed. The 208 felt quite planted even at higher speeds – we managed 170 km/h with three occupants on board including myself. The suspension travel was pretty good as well, not too bumpy and not too soft, and this applies to the rear cabin too. In terms of overall ride, the 208 is quite a comfortable car. The seats offer good seating posture – there certainly wouldn’t be too much fatigue over long distances.

In terms of handling, I am impressed with the Pug, which has MacPherson struts up front with an anti-roll bar and a cross member axle at the back. I had the chance of pushing the 208 around some sharp bends and it delivered well, with good stability and predictability. I was having fun pushing the car, although slower traffic was a pain.

Bump absorption over road irregularities was also up to expectations. I managed to spend some time in slow traffic conditions and as expected, the 208 has no issues with slow manoeuvrability. The turning radius was up to expectations too.

In conclusion, the Peugeot 208 should definitely be in your shopping list if you’re looking for a car in this segment. The 208, like its highly competitive rivals, help raise the bar in terms of features offered to the car buyer. The 208 is a looker, has a beautiful cabin, drives well and comes with a lot of features.

It is versatile enough to be used as a practical Point A to B runabout but also has enough style to impress your fashion-conscious friends. For those who crave for more power, let’s just hope Nasim brings in the GTi!

The post DRIVEN: All-new Peugeot 208 VTi tested in Malaysia appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Yesterday, we showed you teaser images of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak, which will compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June. Now we have a video and pics of the fully revealed racer. The monster 208 will be driven by none other than living rally legend Sébastien Loeb in the event’s top level Unlimited class.

This year marks the French team’s return to the classic American event after memorable victories there in 1988 and 1989. A winged Peugeot 405 T16 was terrorising the Colorado hill back then, with Ari Vatanen and Robby Unser respectively winning behind the wheel.

The 156-corner “Race to the Clouds” 20 km route is now entirely asphalt. The start line is located at an altitude of 2,800 metres, which means that competitors face an altitude difference of some 1,500 metres.

Meanwhile, the lack of oxygen is a challenge not only for the car engines – which can lose up to 30% of their power – but also for the drivers who must remained fully focused. Rhys Millen won last year’s climb in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

No specs of the 208 T16 were released, but among the details we can pick out are a carbon-fibre body with flared wheelarches, side exhaust, roof scoop and a big rear wing. The stripped-out, roll-caged, no-nonsense interior houses a carbon-fibre racing seat, a steering wheel flanked by shift paddles and a digital readout.

We were lucky to have covered the event live last year – read our Pikes Peak coverage here.

The post VIDEO: Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak fully revealed appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Amidst all the buzz surrounding a certain French supermini‘s imminent local entry comes an example you don’t want to mess with. Teased in this set of images is the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak, which will be unveiled in full later this month before it competes in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June.

Among the details we can pick out are a carbon-fibre body with flared wheelarches, side exhaust, roof scoop and a big rear wing. The stripped-out, roll-caged, no-nonsense interior houses a carbon-fibre racing seat, a steering wheel flanked by shift paddles and a digital readout.

Click to enlarge

The 208 T16 Pikes Peak is also expected to have 4WD, and nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb will compete with the car in the Unlimited Class. In 1988, Peugeot won the event with a 405 T16 driven by Ari Vatanen.

We were fortunate enough to be there last year – learn more about the ‘Race to the Clouds‘ through our string of posts.

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The Peugeot 208 is currently making it’s pre-launch promo rounds around Malaysia, with the latest location being the 1 Utama shopping centre in PJ.

The 208 will be there till this Sunday (April 14), but if you want to avoid the jam or don’t live in the Klang Valley, we have some details on the car for you as we managed to get a hold of the official brochure while snapping some photos of both the five-door and three-door hatch on display at Peugeot Glenmarie.

The Peugeot 208 brochure reveals that both the five-door and three-door versions are powered by the same 122 horsepower 1.6 litre VTi engine which makes 160 Nm of torque. There’s no mention of how many gear ratios in the official spec sheet, but we’ve been informed it’s a four-speed Tiptronic unit with Sport mode.

There are disc brakes on all four wheels, and the five-door has 16-inch Helium design wheels with 195/55 tyres while the three-door has 17-inch Oxygen design wheels with wider 205/45 tyres.

In terms of safety features, the 208 is loaded to the brim with ESP stability control as well as six airbags for all variants. Other standard features include digital dual-zone climate control, a touch screen infotainment system, six-speaker sound system with Arkamys 3D audio processing, USB and Bluetooth support, and six-way driver and passenger seat adjustment. The three-door also adds a panoramic sunroof, which is rare for a B-segment car in Malaysia.

All that remains to be unveiled is the price, which we hear is under RM100k for both models. Listings of the Peugeot 208 for sale on oto.my show a starting price of RM85,888 for the 5-door, so the 3-door might be in the mid-90k range.

More details are available in the spec sheet scan in the gallery below.

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It’s not often that we feature promo videos on this site, as only the more interesting and less-self-aggrandising ones are allowed in. The latest effort by Peugeot Italia, which pits the facelifted Peugeot RCZ against a mountain bike down a snowy hill – we know, we know, a very original idea – is deemed worthy for our readers. Just.

The highly stylised RCZ gets a fittingly artful video adaptation, with a matching wicked soundtrack by Tommy Bass to boot. Be warned though, you might want to mute it if you’re in the anti-dubstep camp.

Driven by five-time Italian Rally champion Paolo Andreucci, the Peugeot RCZ slips and slides down the snowy hill with fellow Italian downhill bike racing ace Lorenzo Suding close in tow. Cue a few handbrake turns and Suding finds himself jumping over the car for the quickest line down. Oh so cliché but it makes a good viewing.

Watch the video to find out who wins. Just kidding, of course the RCZ triumphs. Why would anyone expect otherwise?

The post VIDEO: Peugeot RCZ vs a bicycle down a snowy road appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

UPDATE: The Peugeot 208 has been launched in Malaysia. Click to read more about prices and specs.

When it comes it pours! Another local news has popped up to distract you from all the glitz and glamour of Seoul and New York, this time from Nasim who has just confirmed that the Peugeot 208 will make its way to Malaysia in time for a mid-April launch.

There’s nothing much to add to what we already know, as regular visitors of this site have seen plenty of the car already from various spyshots and leaked internal previews. Both three-door and five-door body styles will be available in 1.6 litre 120 VTi guise, with 122 PS and 160 Nm of torque to play with. Claimed fuel economy is 15 km per litre on the combined cycle.

To those interested here’s confirmation on the inclusion of front and rear LED lights, 7-inch touchscreen system, colour instrument panel display, dual zone air con, Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity and Arkamys 3D audio set up. On the safety front, six airbags, ABS, EBA, EBD, ESP, DSC and ASR are all standard.

The order books for the Peugeot 208 have been opened since two weeks ago. Also, the new model will be making its way around Kuala Lumpur leading up to its launch. Check Peugeot Malaysia’s Facebook page and the 208’s www.letyourbodydrive.com.my microsite for details.

The post New Peugeot 208 all set for mid-April Malaysian launch appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The Peugeot 208 launch must just around the corner, as the Peugeot Malaysia Facebook page has been on a teaser campaign the past week. The latest teaser is a photo of both 3-door and 5-door versions of the Peugeot 208 loaded on trailers on the way to Peugeot Blue Box showrooms.

We’ve discovered photos of the Malaysian spec Peugeot 208 on our classifieds website oto.my in the past, so you can check out our past story to see how the Malaysian spec car’s interior looks like. They appear to have been taken from a dealer preview event. If the spec level shown in those photos are what will eventually be launched in the showrooms, the eye-level touch screen display seems to have made it past our tax barriers intact.

The post Peugeot 208 by the trailer load on the way to showrooms teased by Peugeot Malaysia FB appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Two days ago, we told you that order books for the Peugeot 208 has opened, meaning you can put your name down for the B-segment supermini, which will be officially launched in Malaysia next month by Nasim.

That post included info from a sales flyer, giving us a hint of what to expect in terms of spec. Apparently, the hatch – which was spotted in both three- and five-door forms undergoing type approval at JPJ Putrajaya recently – will come with a 120 hp/160 Nm 1.6 VTi normally-aspirated engine.

Specs will include an interactive HD touchscreen and an Arkamys-equipped audio system, and for safety kit, ESP and six airbags among other things. Five body colours are on the palette – Bianca White, Vera Black, Rouge Red, Virtual Blue and Blossom Red. The latter is a pinkish hue that should find favour with the ladies.

Here’s a gallery of pics of the Malaysian-spec Peugeot 208 (could be an internal preview, spot the Fiesta!) lifted from an ad on oto.my. Ads on our sister site mention RM90k and RM100k, so we might be looking at that price range, with a fully-stuffed three-door (glass roof, 17-inch alloys, chrome mirror caps) as the range topper.

The post Peugeot 208 – pics of Malaysian spec car surface! appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The order books have opened for the Peugeot 208, which will be launched in Malaysia next month. The company made the announcement on its Facebook page recently.

There’s no specific info about the car, but sales flyers give us a hint of what to expect. Apparently, the hatch – which was spotted in both three- and five-door forms undergoing type approval at JPJ Putrajaya recently – will come in a 120 hp 1.6 VTi normally-aspirated form.

Specs will include an interactive HD touchscreen and an Arkamys-equipped audio system, and for safety kit, ESP and six airbags among other things. Five external body colours are listed – white, black, red, blue and blossom red.

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More spyshots of yet to be launched cars being tested by the folks at JPJ, this time of the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid 4, thanks to regular contributor Anol Alias. The Peugeot crossover – first shown to the world at Paris 2010 – is not just a regular petrol engine-electric motor hybrid we’re familiar with – it’s the world’s first production diesel hybrid car.

The logic is simple: modern diesels are more economical (by up to 30%, Peugeot says) and powerful than their petrol equivalents, so a diesel hybrid should logically outperform a petrol one. With an electric motor helping out, the HYbrid 4 offers performance of a larger diesel car, but with 35% lower CO2 emissions.

Here, a 163 hp 2.0 litre HDi FAP diesel engine with Stop-Start works together with a 37 hp electric motor – the ICE powers the front wheels while the motor powers the rear axle for AWD action. Max combined torque is a strong 500 Nm, 40% of that contributed by the electric motor.

There are no mechanical links between both powerplants – it’s all done by wire. All the hybrid components including the nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery are located in the rear; Peugeot says that there was no need to redesign the standard 3008, and weight distribution has improved with the added load in the rear.

No CVT here, as the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid 4 uses an electronically-controlled six-speed manual, similar to the EGS transmission found in Citroens. There are four drive modes: ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), 4WD, Auto and Sport. The headline figures are impressive – 26.3 km/l combined consumption and CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km.

Back in April 2011, we reported that Nasim was exploring the possibility of bringing in the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 to Malaysia, and that Peugeot was then conducting tests in France with our Euro 2M spec diesel.

“So far the tests have yielded positive results, but there are still more tests to be done. Once we can conclude that the 3008 HYbrid 4 will have no problems running on Euro 2 diesel, we will look into launching it in Malaysia,” Naza boss SM Nasarudin was quoted as saying.

Well, the fact that the 3008 HYbrid 4 is being tested by JPJ now shows that PSA in France has given the green light for their diesel hybrid to run on our low grade fuel, and that a local launch is on the cards. The big question is how much will it sell for after hybrid tax exemption?

Click on the link to view a gallery of the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid 4.

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The PSA group is having a hard time in Europe, partly because of a self-confessed issue of having two separate brands, Peugeot and Citroën, positioned too closely to each other. With too many models contesting the same price market, they’ve been stealing sales from each other and losing out in the process.

As reported by Autonews Europe, the French automaker now aims to shift the two brands further apart, in a fresh bid to stay afloat in the tough and crowded European market. Clearly repositioned, Peugeot and Citroën will each target a different customer base to increase sales numbers and of course, profit.

The product line-up will be split into three distinct brand positioning. Citroën’s mainstream model range – from the C1 to C5 – will form the base of the new structure. They will be priced cheaper than before and offer a better cost of ownership with an “optimised cost-to-function ratio”. As such, Citroën’s C-line will lose out on PSA’s latest technologies and most powerful engines, but be more accessible to the lower end of the market.

Positioned above that range will be Peugeot. The entire brand will move upmarket compared to where it is positioned now, into the so-called semi-premium segment that’s dominated by Volkswagen. The upcoming 208 GTi and 2008 crossover are two examples of this new brand philosophy, packing more tech and premium appeal with prices to match.

Citroën’s upscale DS-line will be kept at the top of the PSA pyramid, but is set to be expanded with more models in the future. The DS line-up will offer the most complex technologies and highest-tuned powertrains that PSA can offer, serving as halo models to the more affordable Citroën and Peugeot offerings.

In Malaysia the Naza Group handles both Peugeot and Citroën franchises. Citroen was launched recently with the DS4 and DS5. How they plan to implement this new brand shake-up remains to be seen, and will shape up the local Continental car market in the next few years.

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As far as working-class coupes go, Peugeot’s RCZ is easily one of the sexiest around with its glamorous double bubble roof and stylised roof pillars ascending it above plain Jane alternatives. With its entire design relying heavily on the two headlining (no pun intended) aspects however, a convertible version of the RCZ was never considered. Until now.

Austrian engineering firm Magna Steyr, that of Mercedes-Benz SLK’s folding metal roof fame, has unveiled an innovative open-top concept of the RCZ using its new View Top technology. Utilising a sliding and folding fabric roof mechanism with integrated glass panels, it offers a pseudo-convertible experience without compromising looks and structural rigidity.

Magna Steyr’s RCZ View Top Concept retains the original’s distinctive appearance – the all-important double bubble ‘roof’ and pillars remain intact. The roof takes just 12 seconds to fold away, opening up the entire cabin for an ‘intensive open-air experience’.

Even when retracted, the RCZ concept has plenty of transparent glass elements to see out of. The Citroen DS3 Cabrio and Fiat 500C both have similar folding roof set-ups, but they are built entirely from fabric and do not have the View Top’s fancy glass bits nor form-fitting aesthetic appeal.

This clever piece of kit will remain as a showpiece for the time being, with Peugeot keeping mum over its production feasibility.

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Well, looks like another French Lion is about to enter the scene – reader ApexKit spotted a couple of Peugeot 208 examples at JPJ Putrajaya, and it looks like both three-door and five-door versions of the B-segment hatch will be sold here.

The 208, which made its official debut in Geneva last year, is expected to be launched here sometime in April. It’s slightly shorter and lower than the outgoing 207 hatch, but has a larger cabin with more room in the rear seats. It’s also lighter than the older car, up to 173 kg less.

In overseas markets, it’s available with a spread of petrol engine choices overseas, ranging from 68 hp 1.0 VTi and 82 hp 1.2 VTi three-cylinder VVT units to the more familiar 120 hp 1.6 VTi and THP 156 1.6 turbo mills. Wonder what the ones here will wear.

The three-door seen here looks pretty sharp, don’t you think? From some of the design elements seen (chrome bits on mirror casings, fog lamps and window trim), this could well be a 208 XY. Guess we’ll find out when the time comes.

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Nasim has opened Peugeot Blue Box Butterworth, its largest outlet to-date outside the Klang Valley. Peugeot Blue Box Butterworth, which is owned and operated by CS Euro Auto Sdn Bhd, is the first of seven new outlets that will be opened by Nasim this year.

Built at a cost of RM4 million, the 28,000 sq ft facility is a 3S centre equipped with four private customer lounges and one mini-theatre entertainment room. The service centre has six service bays with the capacity to service up to 25 cars a day.

In conjunction with the outlet opening, Nasim officially unveiled the 308 Griffe, a limited edition 308 with extra accessories that we showed you last month. Buyers of the five-door hatch get a GTI rear spoiler, carbon fibre effect bodykit, 17-inch five twin-spoke “Dark Stromboli” alloys in gunmetal and directional smoked bi-xenon headlamps

Inside, there are semi-bucket leather/fabric combination seats, complete with red stitching – the last also dresses up the handbrake handle, steering wheel and gear lever. White instrument dials and special Griffe carpet mats (yes, with red stitching) are also on.

No changes to the running gear, with the 156 hp 1.6 litre THP 156 coninuing as is, mated to a six-speed automatic. As for pricing, the 308 Griffe is listed at RM132,888, on-the-road with insurance.

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Rather quietly, the Peugeot 308 Griffe Turbo made its way into Malaysian showrooms earlier this month, and it happens to be a limited edition run of 308 units. The Griffe designation incorporates more equipment and offers the car a bit more flash and a sportier outlook. There’s no shout about the car just yet, but an ad for the car has popped up on oto.my, and it’s mentioned on the Peugeot Malaysia website.

Externally, the Peugeot 308 Griffe features a GTI rear spoiler, carbon fibre effect bodykit, 17-inch five twin-spoke Dark Stromboli design alloys finished in a gun-metal shade and directional smoked bi-xenon headlamps.

Inside, there are semi-bucket leather/fabric combination seats, complete with red stitching – the last also dresses up the handbrake handle, steering wheel and gear lever. White instrument dials and special Griffe carpet mats (yes, with red stitching) are also on.

No changes to the running gear, with the 156 hp 1.6 litre THP 156 coninuing as is, mated to a six-speed automatic. As for pricing, the 308 Griffe is listed at RM132,888, on-the-road with insurance.

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Efficiency is all the rage nowadays but the need for speed has never wavered among car buyers. French automaker Peugeot will be offering the best of both worlds with its latest technological concept, the 208 Hybrid FE Concept. FE stands for ‘Fun and Efficient’ by the way.

Developed with Total, the breakthrough project offers a 0 – 100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds and very low CO2 emissions of just 49 grammes per kilometre. It benefits from innovations in aerodynamics, weight-saving and drivetrains.

The concept is based on a standard 208 1.0 litre VTi 68 hp. The aerodynamics will be altered to minimise drag and achieve a significantly lower co-efficient of drag (Cd), paired with special tyres and wheels to reduce rolling resistance too.

It will be 200 kg lighter, thanks to extensive use of lightweight composite materials and polycarbonates for the body panels, windows as well as the passenger compartment. With less weight, it goes quicker and uses less fuel.

Giving motive power is a 3-cylinder petrol engine and an EGC (Electronic Gearbox Control) gearbox paired with an electric motor and battery taken directly from Peugeot’s endurance programmes. The engine will be heavily modified too, with a different combustion cycle and reduced friction and weight.

Various stages of the work done on the 208 Hybrid FE Concept will be unveiled at Peugeot’s Geneva motor show stand, alongside the 208 XY pictured here.

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This is the Peugeot 2008, the French brand’s new compact crossover based on the 208 supermini. Think of it as a rival to high-riding compact cars such as the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur, which like the Peugeot, will make its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The 2008 is a global car, and will be built in France, China and Brazil.

At just 4.16m long and 1.74m wide, with a wheelbase of 2.54m, the 2008 is about the size of a Juke, but a touch longer and narrower.

The boot features a large rectangular opening and a low loading sill, just 60 cm high. The 1/3-2/3 modular bench seat allows one to up boot volume from 360 to 1194 litres, of which 22 litres are below the floor, with a single button press. The floor has five rails which run from the sill to the front seats, and six chromed hooks allow things to be secured safely.

The 2008 is powered by new three-cylinder petrol engines. There’s a 1.2 litre e-THP 110 and 1.2 litre e-THP 130 with 205 and 230 Nm of torque respectively. Peugeot says that the 1.2 e-THP engine is 12 kg lighter than a four-cylinder NA equivalent engine, even though it has a turbo, a larger cooling system and 45% more torque. Fuel consumption improvement is between 15% and 20%.

The 2008 comes with Grip Control, which combines with 16 cm ground clearance, the traction control system and “Mud & Snow” tyres for some ability off the beaten path. Grip Control adapts to the terrain by acting on the front wheels. Drivers can also select Snow, Off-Road, Sand, ESP Off modes.

In the gallery below, you’ll find that the roof has some form of unique cabin lighting. That’s the Peugeot LED Track, which emits a dimmed blue light or a soft white light in a laser engraving design. The dial surrounds have a blue LED backlight in high-spec models, replacing chrome borders.

A nice gallery of pics, shot on location in Cape Town, South Africa, is after the jump.

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Reports indicate that PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is planning to upscale its Peugeot brand by upgrading its cars to differentiate them from Citroën models. The group is also looking at doubling the brand’s average volume through its alliance with General Motors.

The move upmarket is hoped to assist the brand to return to profit, following the record five billion Euro net loss posted last year when European auto sales collapsed. The group is seeking to raise the number of premium-marketed vehicles from the 18% of its total deliveries last year, the reports said.

The models leading the way are the 208 GTI performance hatch and 2008 compact crossover. PSA added that a very rich range of products and 17 vehicle launches in 2013 would support the positioning of its brands, also stating that Citroën would not become a low-cost brand.

Despite saying that the European auto market was likely to fall a further three to five percent in 2013 and remain depressed “for the foreseeable future,” PSA is aiming to get Peugeot to reach a break-even level by 2014 and return to profitability in 2015, the year the brand is looking at taking 50% of its annual delivery volume outside Europe.

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If you’re a Peugeot owner, and you fly via Subang airport, good news – Nasim has launched the world’s first Peugeot Lounge at the Subang Skypark Terminal, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. The lounge is open to all Peugeot owners on outbound flights.

Peugeot Lounge offers patrons complimentary light refreshments, WiFi and Internet services, Astro TV, flight information display, newspapers and magazines, a meeting room and a VIP room. There’s also Peugeot merchandise for sale.

Peugeot owners only need to present their boarding pass along with their Peugeot Privilege card or Peugeot car key to enjoy the facilities. Owners are allowed to bring in a guest who has a boarding pass, for free.

“We are committed to giving our customers the best ownership experience and we are proud to launch the world’s first ever Peugeot Lounge for our customers. Passenger traffic at Subang Skypark has been increasing and we expect it to keep growing this year as more flights are added. The Peugeot Lounge is a place for Peugeot owners to unwind and relax before boarding their flights,” said Datuk Samson Anand George, Nasim’s COO.

Open from 6am to 9pm daily, Peugeot Lounge is located on the first floor of the Subang Skypark Terminal.

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Opel has dismissed a French newspaper report that quoted government officials as saying PSA Peugeot Citroën may buy the General Motors subsidiary, says Automotive News Europe.

The report, which was published on the website of the Le Monde daily, added that the Opel-PSA alliance would be capable of challenging Volkswagen’s market dominance in Europe, citing French finance ministry officials and those within President Francois Hollande’s inner circle.

An Opel spokesman told Automotive News Europe that the report was nothing but “pure speculation.”

In February 2012, PSA and Opel’s parent company GM formed an alliance that aimed to yield annual cost savings of US$2 billion (RM6.04 billion) within five years, equally split between them. This saw GM pay, says Automotive News Europe, €320 million (RM1.28 billion) for a 7% stake in PSA.

Under the deal, PSA and GM agreed to share vehicle platforms, components and modules, create a global purchasing joint venture and work together to develop vehicles.

Automotive News Europe reports, citing figures from industry organisation ACEA, that PSA’s market share in the EU and EFTA nations dropped from 12.5% to 11.7% from January to November last year. In the same period, Opel’s share fell from 7.3% to 6.7%. Volkswagen’s, however, rose from 23.3% to 24.9%.

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