Geneva show: More details on Peugeot 2008 crossover

PEUGEOT has filled in some blanks by revealing a range of new details on its high-riding 2008 crossover due for global debut at the Geneva motor show on March 5.

The French brand’s answer to the forthcoming Renault Captur – also set to take a bow in Geneva – Holden Trax, Nissan Juke and Ford EcoSport is expected to hit Australian showrooms in November.

Just like the Blue Oval’s Indian-built EcoSport, the 2008 will come with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine in various states of tune. This 1.2-litre unit, plus a range of other 2008 mechanicals, is shared with the 208 light-car.

European versions will be available with either 61kW, 82kW or 98kW, but Australia is unlikely to take the base version. Peugeot will also offer a 90kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, plus 69kW and 86kW turbo-diesels.

Fuel economy for the petrol and diesel versions respectively will be as low as 4.2 litres per 100km and 3.6L/100km – carbon dioxide emissions scrape in under 100 grams per kilometre – thanks to fuel-saving technologies such as idle stop.

Peugeot Australia has not yet confirmed specifics for the local market, with the full range of variants to be offered expected to be announced closer to launch. The 208 is a petrol-only proposition here but, being an ‘SUV’, diesel power would seem a better fit for the 2008.

As we reported at the reveal of the car’s exterior in January, the design draws heavily from the pert 208 with sleek headlights, similar grille design and kinked front windows, but is longer, taller and more ‘butch’ thanks to black body cladding and roof rails.

At 4160mm long, the jacked-up 2008 is also slightly longer than the oddball Juke, and is claimed to offer impressive versatility and occupant space that “reinvents the standards of large-volume vehicles in the compact car segment”.

Folding the 60:40 split rear seats boosts storage volume from 360 to 1,194 litres, of which 22 litres are under the floor. One press of the button at the top of the rear seat back is all it takes to fold the seat, as the base cushion retracts automatically.

Underneath, a version of the Grip Control system that debuted on the 3008 will feature, allowing the driver to divert delivery of engine torque via five pre-set modes – Standard, Snow, Off-road, Sand or ESP (stability control) off.

Reflecting its global ambitions for the car, Peugeot will put the 2008 into production at its Wuhan plant in China and Porto Real plant in Brazil as well as its Mulhouse facility in France.

Australian-market cars are expected to come from France Before the 2008 hits local dealers, Peugeot Australia will introduce a range of other new models as part of an ambitious expansion of its local range aimed at returning sales to the record highs of 2007, when it sold 8807 new vehicles.

These will include the facelifted RCZ coupe, 5008 people-mover, 208 GTI hot hatch and 408 sedan.