Geneva show: Peugeot reveals production 2008

PEUGEOT has released the first images of the 2008 crossover SUV ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show in March and arrival in Australian showrooms by November.

These first official images – released hours after they leaked online – indicate that the French company has stayed faithful to the chunky styling of the concept version shown at the Paris motor show last September.

The 2008 will slot into the Peugeot portfolio beneath the existing 3008 and 4008 crossover SUV model lines, and will be pitched as a rival for a brace of high-riding micros set for launch in 2013, including the Ford EcoSport, Holden Trax and Nissan Juke.

The design draws heavily from the pert 208, with sleek ‘feline’ headlights, similar grille design and kinked front windows, but has been differentiated by its elongated proportions (200mm longer than the 208), higher ride height, pronounced wheelarches and chunky black lower-body cladding.

The version pictured also includes 17-inch ‘Diamond’ matte alloy wheels, ‘Mud&Snow’ tyres, a panoramic sunroof and front/rear LED daytime-running lights.

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”.

Like the EcoSport, the 2008 will be powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, in this case a more potent version of the 1.2-litre direct-injected unit used in the 208 light car.

Also available in Europe from launch in May will be 1.4 and 1.6-litre e-HDI diesel four-cylinder engines with carbon emissions as low as 99 grams per kilometre.

Peugeot Australia PR manager Jaedene Hudson told GoAuto it was too early to say what engines would be made available locally from release in October/November.

The 208 is a petrol-only proposition here but, being an ‘SUV’, diesel power would seem a better fit for the 2008.

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.

Peugeot’s global director general Maxime Picat said the 2008 is “the vehicle which will secure leadership in the segment in Europe and will win new customers in Asia and Latin America”.

More information is expected to be announced at the car’s full reveal in the metal at the Geneva motor show.

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.