Archive for Peugeot

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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