Peugeot 2008 News

Peugeot will introduce a new-generation version of its 208 city car and 2008 small SUV in 2019, with fully electric versions of both certain to be offered as part of the range… in Europe, at least.Peugeot future product specialist Laurent Blanchard spoke with CarsGuide at the 2018 Paris motor show, where he confirmed that the new B-segment 208 hatchback model will come with a pure electric model, as will the new-generation 2008."It will be full electric for the B-segment hatch and B-segment SUV," he said, referring to the 208 hatch and the 2008 small SUV, before suggesting that plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology is more likely to be reserved for the larger 308 and 508 (and 3008/5008) models."This is our first step towards full electrification. We think for small cars, electrification is well adapted because these cars are city cars mostly, and our customers agree to buy an electric smaller car because they don't need to go very far, so it's interesting to have an electric solution."For larger cars, people want to have the autonomy to go and do 400 or 500km. At this stage, the full electric is quite complicated because you have to stop every few hundred kilometres to recharge the car and wait one hour or more. So it's not flexible," said Blanchard."A PHEV is a good solution for a car that has to go on long trips, and the BEV is more oriented for cities, at this stage. That doesn't mean that it won't be in the future - maybe in 2025, it will be suitable for long trips.Smaller cars are being used as a test bed for electric power, with competitors in the small SUV segment including the likes of the Hyundai Kona EV, and the city car segment including the Renault Zoe.Obviously there are issues with that: the smaller the platform, the less batteries, and the less potential driving range. But countering that is the argument that the vehicles are smaller and therefore lighter, and the customer doesn't necessarily need as much range, either.Further, there's the notion that smaller vehicles make it hard to absorb the cost of new technology, but with market incentives backed by governments and the promise of improved residual value as more cities ban cars with conventional powertrains, it will likely even itself out.Blanchard said that while globally there's a trend towards slightly larger cars and SUVs, Europe remains a smaller-car-oriented place. "The B-segment is not as big as it was before, but the European market is 70 million cars, and the B-segment is more-or-less one third of this market, and we have a very big market share."It's very important for us to renew our offer in these two segments, and it's very competitive."We have to decrease our level of CO2 emissions, and the B-segment allows for us to lower our fleet level of CO2 emissions."

PSA and GM have collaborated on projects in the past, as seen most recently with the Peugeot 2008-based Opel Crossland X.

Citroen C4 Cactus petrol with auto transmission is set for Australia.

Peugeot’s 2008 small SUV range will follow a similarly aggressive consolidation to that applied last month to its 308 small hatchback sibling.

Based on the 208 hatch, the 2008 joins the larger 3008 and 4008 softroaders which have been attracting new customers to the French marque. Its arrival will probably see the demise of the slow-selling wagon in this segment, with the 207 Touring model currently in runout. Peugeot says the 2008 is the first vehicle to be designed and developed simultaneously for several geographic markets. At just 4.16m long, the 2008 combinesg the driving characteristics of a hatchback and the strength of an SUV. "The all-new 2008 takes Peugeot into an emerging crossover SUV segment that gives customers a car that is the size of a regular hatchback but offers the functionality and practicality that an SUV gives," Peugeot Australia boss Bill Gillespie said.  With its higher-driving position the 2008's beefed up wheel arches house 17 inch `Diamond' wheels fitted with `Mud&Snow' tyres. The black bumpers and body sills serve to protect it from abrasions with the addition of front and rear body protection and side mouldings in stainless steel. The front face adopts the latest Peugeot style codes. The innovative headlamps are sharp and precise, combining with the bodywork to give the outline appearance of a eye's pupil. This look is emphasised by LED daytime running lamps. The new 2008 has elegant and sophisticated sculpted wings and sides, indicating clear athletic qualities. The generous glazed surfaces, including the panoramic roof, promise a spacious interior open to its surroundings. Inspired by the RCZ, the roofline has dynamic curves while the wide tailgate is framed by lamps secured to the bodywork. Floating inside their housing, the three luminous claws are lit at their base by LEDs that appear suspended. The latest-generation engines offer an exceptional driving experience combined with a true breakthrough in terms of fuel economy.  Due to the technology of the e-HDi Diesel and new 3-cylinder petrol engines, the 2008 urban crossover stands out from the competition with CO2 starting from 99g/km.  

Peugeot is unveiling the next step in optimising the 208 platform with the 2008 concept SUV. Due to debut at Paris motor show later this month, the 2008 concept takes styling cues from the Peugeot Urban Crossover unveiled at Geneva motor show earlier this year – but trumpets its arrival with a blaring neon green and black finish. Compact cars are booming in sales around the world, and many carmakers are keen to build niches in that segment. So it’s logical to see Peugeot bringing a production version of the 2008 concept to market in the near future. Engine details for the 2008 concept will be announced in Paris, but a production version will likely be offered with both petrol and diesel options – with the latter something the French brand does particularly well.  

... and this is the spin-off crossover that will follow. It looks like a wagon but it picks up the naming game from the existing SUVs to ensure the 2008 is roomier and more versatile than a straight wagon.  

Peugeot is likely to unveil an ultra-compact SUV at next week’s Beijing motor show, as the logical step on from  the HR1 concept presented at Paris show as an urban adventurer.  Along with the expected 208 GTi, the all-paw baby when put into production will start filling out the 208 range that arrives here in October with three- and five-door bodies. “We have said the volume we are expecting for 208 is 550,000 units per year – and we will not achieve that with just the two body styles we are showing today,” says Peugeot’s world press and external relations manager Marc Bocque. “The ambition of this car is very great and there will be many other silhouettes to come, and I would say to a certain extent very quickly. “The first one will be at the Beijing motor show… there will be an important sign as far as these things are concerned.”  “In Peugeot history we almost never show a concept car in motor shows free of intention.” The vehicle at Beijing will be far from production ready, Peugeot interior designer Adam Bazydlo hints. “You will see my next project at Beijing, but only the exterior. But when you see the interior you will realise why it is my project…” That suggests the SUV will carry the 208’s ‘head-up cluster’, which moves the instruments up from behind the steering wheel onto the top of the dash. Following the pattern of the just-launched 4008, the ultra-compact 2008 will probably have a choice of two- and all-wheel drive, and a similarly wide choice of both petrol and diesel engines. There has been growing interest in similar vehicles – Ford Ecosport and the platform-sharing Nissan Juke and Renault Duster among them. And Bocque believes the 208 platform would be a good candidate for variation. “You can see already that with 208 we have succeeded to have a car with a fantastic architecture,” he says. “There will be different body styles on 208. It will be a family of the same size and quality of 207, 206 and 205... but with some different proposals."