Peugeot 208 2020 unveiled: pure EV model on the cards for Australia

A fully electric 208 could join the Peugeot fleet in Australia, with local executives ready to meet customer demand for an EV city car.

The all-new 208 was revealed overnight, prior to its official unveiling in Geneva next week, and chief among the changes is the addition of a fully electric version that, if it launches in Australia, could become one of the cheapest ways into an electric vehicle here. The e-208 would battle the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona Electric at the attainable end of the battery-powered market.

The e-208 offers 100kW of power and 260Nm of torque, and the brand is promising a sprint to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds (provided Sport mode is selected). In its Eco setting, the e-208’s 50 kWh battery will deliver a claimed range of around 340km, and given the batteries are stored in under the flooring, Peugeot is promising you won’t sacrifice any of the city car's limited boot space, either.

The e-208 could be in Australia as early as 2020, with a company spokesperson saying that, provided they identify customer demand, the brand would look at introducing it into the range.

"We take our lead from our customers, therefore if demand for an all-electric vehicle is there, we’d seriously consider it and discuss with PSA,” says Peugeot spokesperson Tyson Bowen.

In the meantime, though, the brand will look at introducing a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre petrol engine range, paired either with a manual gearbox or eight-speed automatic transmission, and with outputs pegged at 55, 74 or 96kW.

A cabin overhaul sees Peugeot’s i-Cockpit dash design - the layered, tech-heavy set-up that appears in the brand’s bigger models - appear for the first time, while a updated safety pack included semi-autonomous driving for the first time, too.

The Peugeot 208 is expected to arrive in Europe towards the end of 2019, with an Australian launch expected in 2020.

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