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Peugeot stand 2008 Geneva Motor Show

March 5th, 2008 No Comments

Peugeot stand 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Peugeot shows of another set of cool little cars, and some not so little cars.

Melbourne Motor Show: Peugeot stand

February 29th, 2008 6 Comments

In yet another world first for Melbourne, Peugeot has released their stunning 308 Touring at this year’s show. Presented in a deep blood red, the 308 exemplifies European class proving that family wagons need not be square and boring.

Peugeot’s entire range is on show and with cars this photogenic, it’s really worth your time in passing.

Peugeot 308 HDi fuel efficiency record

February 27th, 2008 62 Comments

Peugeot has set an unofficial Guiness World Record for fuel economy, driving its newly released 308 HDi to victory in a 14,580km trek around Australia.

Narrowly surpassing the Hyundai i30 CRDi which previously achieved an average of 3.2-litres per 100km, John and Helen Taylor driving the Peugeot 308 HDi managed a slightly more efficient 3.13-litres per 100km across a 25 Day Round Australia Trip.

2008 Peugeot 308 Touring

February 21st, 2008 26 Comments

The 2008 Melbourne Motor Show will serve as Peugeot’s global stage with the Peugeot 308 Touring making its world premiere.

Following the launch of the 308 hatchback in Australia only weeks ago, the 308 Touring will go on sale here in the third quarter of 2008.

2008 Peugeot 308 first steer

February 9th, 2008 47 Comments

2008 Peugeot 308 first steer

“Peugeot’s new 308 means that buyers of small, affordable Euro hatchbacks, now have a choice other than Volkswagen’s Golf”

By – Anthony Crawford

Peugeot’s newest car, the 308 has just been launched to Australia’s motoring media and Car Advice was there to cover it.

It’s the model successor to the highly successful, but frumpy, Peugeot 307, which has clocked up over three million sales worldwide.

There’s nothing frumpy about the 308. Looking almost identical to the recently launched Peugeot 207, at least from the A-pillar forward, the 308 does away with the ‘too tall’ profile of the 307, with a lower roof line.

The German press are a critical lot when it comes to new car reviews. That’s especially true of Germany’s biggest selling Sunday newspaper, Bild am Sonntag. So it’s comforting to note, that a jury of racing drivers, automotive journalists and media personalities, voted the 308 “the best compact family car” and awarded it the 2007 Golden Lenkrad (Golden Steering Wheel).

After 229kms in two of the seven 308 variants available in Australia, I know why.

Just like Peugeot’s smaller 207, the 308 is a highly satisfying driver’s car whether you’re steering the diesel or petrol powered version.

From a twelve car display which looked more like a giant pack of Bobby Brown lipsticks, we grabbed what we thought was the loudest colour in the twelve flavour range, a standout metallic green called Lacerta. Beautiful.

It’s obvious; Peugeot has put some real time and effort into selecting a range of fashionable colours that bring out the best in the 308’s dynamic V-line shape.

It’s a tough choice trying to pick between Peugeot’s petrol and diesel cars, as they are both superb engines.

Our Lacerta coloured 308 was the top shelf diesel propelled car, known as the 308 XTE HDi. It’s a 2.0 litre, direct injection unit that puts out 100kW and 320Nm of torque at very useable 2000rpm.

Let me say here and now, this is one of the quietest diesel engines in the business. It doesn’t seem to matter what speed you are doing, engine noise inside the cabin is remarkably subdued.

By today’s standards, 100kW may seem a trifle under done, but the 308 is plenty quick enough, with excellent in gear acceleration on the open road.

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2007 Peugeot 307 review

January 23rd, 2008 16 Comments

2007 Peugeot 307 review

Model tested: 307 XSE HDi Auto

Recommended Retail Price: $34,790

Roomy, excellent handling, economy, different looks

Hard ride, cheap interior, nearly superseded, different looks

CarAdvice rating:

- by Karl Peskett

When you hear a name, you automatically have a image come into your mind. We can’t help it, we’re human. Naturally, we associate something with something else.

For instance, when you hear “Fonzie”, you think of slicked-back black hair, a leather jacket and “Heeeeeeyyy….” What about “Paris”? You’re thinking murky, green, blurred infrared images of a questionable nature. Or when you hear “Elton” you think of an aging, gay, bespectacled piano player who wears far too many sequins. Then there’s the name “Cletus”…..

Peugeot 3008 spy images

January 19th, 2008 13 Comments

Peugeot will soon release the all-new 308 here in Australia, but while they are preparing the marketing bits for the car, the French company is hard at work on a new people mover. Meet the Peugeot 3008.

Based on the 308 platform, the 3008 will fight against its sister, the Citroen Picasso, as well as the Renault Scenic and Volkswagen Touran.

2007 Peugeot 207 GTi Review

November 1st, 2007 28 Comments

2007 Peugeot 207 GTi Review

“Astonishing balance and grip through corners and no slouch in a straight line either - Peugeot’s 207 GTi is a brilliant drive and on my shopping list”

Test Model: 2007 Peugeot 207 GTi with five-speed manual (no auto in the GTi)

Options Fitted: None – standard spec is choc-a-block full of goodies. I suppose I’d have to consider the panoramic glass roof with sunblind for only $1000.

Recommended Retail Price: $33,490 – a hot hatch bargain.

Where it sits: Just $2000 on the GT price of $31,490 and top shelf in the 207 model range. Do yourself a favour and go straight to the GTi. Honestly, I’m not sure why the GT exists at all.

CarAdvice rating:

- Anthony Crawford

Like rock stars and movie actors who are only ever as good as their last gig, car companies lucky enough to create a cult classic, face a similar problem. How to make a great car better without ruining the driving experience, model after model.

Peugeot’s big time hit was the 205 GTi, first released in 1984 as a 1.6-litre and later, as a 1.9-litre unit. It was unquestionably the best styled and best performing hot hatch of the day, with superior on-road manners to any of the competition at the time.

Performance credentials for the GTi particularly the 1.9-litre spec, were quick even by today’s standards. Off the line launches would see 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds, and flat out was an impressive 204km/h. Not bad for a 96kW (130bhp) powertrain!

Peugeot 207 Touring

October 12th, 2007 6 Comments

The latest addition to the 207 range from Peugeot is the 207 Touring model which will go on sale in Australia from November 2007.

The 207 Touring is a spacious addition to the 207 lineup, offering increased versatility and practicality, with a luggage capacity of 428 litres - 118 more than the 207 hatch.

Peugeot 308 Sydney Motor Show

October 11th, 2007 No Comments

Peugeot 308 Sydney Motor Show

2007 Peugeot 207CC Road Test

October 8th, 2007 11 Comments

2007 Peugeot 207CC Road Test

CarAdvice Rating:

Recommended Retail Price: $39,990 - 5sp Manual.

- by Alborz Fallah

The French have long been the masters of coupe cabriolets (CC), during the 1930s Peugeot made a name for itself as the world’s number one producer of CCs - but that was nearly 80 years ago.

The 206CC started life back in 2001 and went on to become one of the best selling convertibles in Australia while reaching a worldwide sales figure of 360,000 units to date. History aside, this year marked the arrival of an all-new cabriolet. The 207 CC.

I have to admit, I was a little worried that my week in this Peugeot convertible was going to be a little, well, delicate. After all, as much as I can call myself a metrosexual, there was something initially unsettling about being seen in this.

Think of it how you want, but Peugeot are known for producing some of the most striking cars in the world, and this is yet another. Drive this anywhere and heads will turn. The massive headlights blend beautifully into the sweeping bonnet while 17″ alloys and stylish foglights remind you this is more than just another CC.

Unfortunately for us guys, this car has the stigma of being a chick’s car, but if this is a chick’s car, then guys we better watch out! Because it goes!

Peugeot were kind enough to give me the 1.6-litre turbo variant with 110kWs and 240Nm mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine is sourced from the new 207 GT and uses 7.2 litres of fuel per 100kms.

After collecting the car, my partner and I set off for the sunshine coast through as many winding roads as possible. There is something a little odd about having the roof down and relentlessly blasting through corner after corner, but if topless enthusiastic motoring is what you’re after, the 207CC is made for you.

Although not as poised as the 207 GTi which landed in my garage the week after, there is no other convertible this side of 40k that will give you the same levels of performance and handling.

Around the twisty bends and hairpin corners of Mt Glorious, the 207 CC never set a foot wrong. Drive it hard into a corner and the car begs for more, but the more you give, the more it can take. Apart from a bit of expected understeer here and there, the 207CC is comparable to the BMW Z3 for cornering speed. Okay, so then I turned off the ESP.

Then I turned off the ESP again… and again…, oh wait, it already was off… but how can that be, it still handles just as good, a credit to the car’s impeccable chassis.

From the lights, a 3,500 RPM launch will see the car reach 100km/h in about 8.2 seconds (official figures 8.6 secs). If only the 1.6-litre turbo unit was sourced from the 207 GTi (bigger turbo, different tune), the CC would be a rocket.

There is noticeable turbo-lag in first and second gears, and power delivery is not as smooth as one would hope. However the gearbox and clutch make up for that with seamless gearshifts and perfect pedal position for double-clutching or heel-toeing down.

Okay, lets get back to reality, chances are you are never going to double-clutch in this (not that you need to), and the automatic folding-roof is the only reason you are considering the 207CC, so let me tell you, it won’t disappoint.

With a completely automated operation, the new roof system is a big improvement over the 206 CC which required the use of manual release handles. Hold down one button and the windows come down and the roof folds away silently, the entire operation takes 25 seconds, but if the windows are already down, you can save another 5 seconds.

The roof only operates when the car is standing still or going below 10km/h, which is a little unfortunate as going below 10km/h is near impossible. Go over 10km/h and a little warning light tells you the roof operation has failed.

There is nothing like an automatic roof to turn heads at a trendy cafe, but Peugeot have forgotten to include a “To avoid embarrassment, operate roof only when stationary” sticker.

Although obviously a safety feature, holding down a button for 25 seconds can get a little annoying, it would be so much more convenient if you could just press it once and it would do the rest, but unlike ESP which can be disabled, this nanny control is unfortunately built in.

All the little annoying safety things aside, the folding roof is a work of art, and as one onlooker said, “I’d like to meet the poor soul who spent his life figuring out how to make that work“.

The roof folds neatly into the boot, but don’t panic, there is still heaps of room and even with the roof folded away and the safety net deployed, you can fit nearly everything without too much hassle.

From the inside, the 207CC delivers a good package for its price tag. With comfortable seats and a well laid out instrument cluster and dashboard, for the most the part, the CC is very user-friendly (but don’t attempt the Cruise Control without checking your blood pressure first!).

Annoyingly, the stereo is linked up to the central display unit which controls all other operations, but even at speeds reaching 200km/h, and the roof off, you can easily hear your favourite tunes.

I noticed the press car had a few scratches on the driver’s door, and initially I thought this was a case of neglect, but I quickly found out the 207CC has one rather heavy and large problem, as much you’ll love driving it, at some point you’d want to exit the car, but you can’t, because the doors won’t let you out!

This might be a small car that is extremely easy to park, but trying to get out of it in a tight car park is a nightmare, not only are the doors extremely long and heavy, but unless you have a good 60-70CMs of clearance to open them, they will push back against you, making a rather unpleasant exit.

As with most European cars, the 207CC manages to deliver a satisfying interior without the tackiness that you find in similarly priced Asian cars. Although I have to say, with such outstanding exterior styling, the interior is a little dull in comparison.

As for the rear seats, they are best reserved for a child (or a midget at best), the seats provide just enough space to transport two extra people a few short KMs. I forced some friends to endure a 15 minute trip in the back and I ended up paying for dinner. Unless you’re 150CM tall or don’t value blood circulation, the rear seats are a no no.

Moving on to safety, Peugeot had to go back to the drawing board to specifically design two new airbags for the 207 CC, the car comes standard with four airbags, two adaptive front airbags and two ‘head-chest’ side airbags located in the side of the front seats.

Other standard safety features include:

ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution,
Emergency Brake Assist
Electronic Stability Program

There are also two active roll bars (they rise) to protect you in the event of a rollover.

Peugeot have equipped the CC with a whole list of standard features:

17″ Alloy Wheels,
6 Speaker MP3 capable stereo,
AirCon Climate Control 2 Zone,
Central Locking - Speed Activated,
Cruise Control, Headlamps Automatic (light sensitive),

For $39,990, the Peugeot 207CC turbo might sound a little expensive, but as a package, if you’re after a stylish, practical and fun coupe convertible, the little Peugeot provides unbeatable value for money.

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