First look: Peugeot previews 301 ahead of Paris debut

PEUGEOT has previewed its 208 with a boot, confusingly called 301 under a new naming system also disclosed by the French car-maker overnight in Europe.

The light-size sedan will be officially launched at the Paris motor show in September, instantly becoming one of Peugeot’s biggest sellers across emerging markets such as central and eastern Europe, the Middle East, parts of Africa and Latin America.

At this stage, it will only be offered in left-hand drive, meaning it is unlikely to make it to Australia.

Peugeot Cars Australia public relations manager Jaedene Hudson said the only chance of the vehicle coming here was if major right-hand drive markets such as Britain and Japan convinced head office to add RHD to the production schedule.

Peugeot is warming up to launch the all-new 208 in Australia in October, in five-door and three-door hatchback forms.

And although there are no plans for a 208 Touring wagon in the new range, it seems likely that a small crossover wagon – previewed as the Urban Crossover Concept at the recent Beijing motor show – could emerge as a 2008.

The 208 hatch, 301 sedan and – potentially – 2008 compact SUV are all based on PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s new PF1 mini platform.

Like the 208, the 301 will be offered with the new three-cylinder petrol engine in its 1.2-litre VTi 53kW guise, along with two 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines, the 68kW HDi diesel and 85kW VTi petrol.

About 440mm longer than the five-door 208, the front-drive 301 offers a generous 506 litres of boot space – almost double that of the hatch – along with what Peugeot describes as “record occupant space in the rear seats”.

Stylistically identical to the 208 hatch around the front, the 301 is also expected to share the 208’s lightweight construction that has stripped more than 100kg out of the car’s mass compared with the 207.

Equipment includes electronic air-conditioning, MP3 audio system with Bluetooth hands-free kit and USB connection, remote opening of the boot and rear parking assistance.

While the 208 will be built in PSA’s Slovakian plant, the 301 has been slated for production at the Vigo plant in Spain.

The first country to get the 301 will be Turkey in November, ahead of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Maghreb, Middle East, Gulf and African States, as well as some Latin American marketsAlthough China is a major sedan market, that country is not listed among the destinations for the 301.

China already has a 308 sedan – a vehicle not sold anywhere else.