Peugeot outs new 3008

PEUGEOT has gone public with its next-generation 3008 SUV at a special gala event in Paris overnight, revealing the SUV’s evolved looks and a greater dose of safety and comfort features, which even includes an electric scooter.

Due for an Australian debut in 2017, the second-generation version has moved away from its more pedestrian people-mover styling and into the more lucrative SUV arena with a tougher look, which is longer and wider but lower than the outgoing 3008.

The French car-maker has only detailed global-specification cars at this stage. Australian pricing, equipment and timing are expected closer to a launch date, but Peugeot Australia general manager Kai Bruesewitz said the company was already getting excited about the 3008’s arrival.

“The 3008 brings with it many firsts including the first SUV built on our highly applauded EMP2 (platform), the first Peugeot to feature a wireless charging dock, the first to feature a scooter and the first to feature the next generation i-Cockpit interior,” he said.

“We believe that the new Peugeot 3008 will deliver Australian customers a true French take on the SUV, one that merges leading-edge technology and design with practicality and comfort.” The 3008 is the first SUV in the Peugeot line-up to roll on the new EMP2 modular architecture and follows the related 308 range comprising a small hatchback, sedan and wagon.

Like the 308, Peugeot’s new 3008 has a global pool of four engines including two diesels and two petrols coupled to a choice of manual or automatic transmissions with six gears each.

A 1.2-litre opens the petrol bidding with 97kW and emits 115g of CO2 per km, while the auto-only 1.6-litre petrol ups the power to 123kW, with 129g/km.

Peugeot’s BlueHDi diesel pair offers power outputs of 75kW, 89kW and 112kW depending on the market and CO2 emissions of between 100g/km and 121g/km.

Customers feeling guilty about carbon emissions can choose to cover a part of their journey using the optional e-Kick electric scooter or e-Bike folding bicycle, which have dedicated charging docks in the 3008’s boot.

The unorthodox pair is accommodated in a larger boot which has grown by eight litres over the previous 3008 with the rear seats in place, or 66 litres when the ‘Magic Flat’ seats are folded. A sliding boot floor and hands-free power tailgate makes loading simpler, Peugeot says.

Interior comfort and convenience gets a significant boost with the new 3008, headlined by Peugeot’s i-Cockpit which puts everything the driver may need within easy reach and sight, including the 8.0-inch dash touchscreen and 12.3-inch screen instrument cluster akin to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit innovation.

Six ‘piano keys’ provide hot-key navigation of the new system in addition to controls on the more compact steering wheel.

Hitting the i-Cockpit Amplify switch alters the ambient lighting settings, stereo equaliser settings, seat massage functions and fragrance dispenser to a pre-determined configuration for “immediately aroused” senses, the company says.

The Boost mode is for more enthusiastic driving applications, while the Relax setting speaks for itself.

Comfort and entertainment is boosted for all occupants with a panoramic sunroof, premium 515-watt 12-channel Focal Hi-Fi sound system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay mirror screen connectivity, inductive phone charging and 3D connected navigation.

Peugeot claims to have given the new 3008 “genuine off-road capability” to match its new more purposeful styling with Advanced Grip Control and Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand and ESP off switchable settings, the the car-maker has not yet confirmed whether both two-wheel and four-wheel drivelines will be offered.

Mud and snow tyres on 18-inch wheels are a standard fitment that is unlikely to make it to Australia. The more tractive rubber is complemented by a hill descent function.

Driver assistance systems have also been significantly increased for the 2017 3008 with increasingly common forward-facing camera technology bringing collision warning, emergency brake assistance, lane departure warning and assistance, and active cruise control.

The 3008 can warn the driver if its behaviour monitoring system detects drowsiness, in addition to blind spot monitoring, auto-dip headlights, Visiopark 360-degree parking cameras and parking assistance systems.

Compared with the previous 3008, the new version has grown in length and width by 82mm and 69mm respectively, but a reduction in height of 15mm has lent a more purposeful and squat stance.

Despite the lower roofline, the model has a more functional ground clearance of 219mm and approach and departure angles of 20 and 29 degrees respectively.

Inside, all occupants benefit from more space with front elbow room up 17mm and 4mm in the second row, while rear legroom has increased by 24mm and headroom increases by 36mm.

The EMP2 modular platform uses more high-strength steels, and in conjunction with lighter aluminium panels and plastic interior components the overall weight has been reduced by about 100kg.

Peugeot says the new 3008 styling has hints of the HX1 concept car, piercing feline looks, finesse, fluidity, dynamism, modernity and status, but a gloss-black roof, optional LED headlights and stainless-steel exterior highlights are some examples of the 3008’s more objective styling features.