PSA Eyes Global Markets With Upcoming 2008 CUV

PARIS – PSA Peugeot Citroen says the Peugeot 2008 cross/utility vehicle it will launch this spring in Europe is its first model conceived from the start to be global, with product development contributions from its technical centers in China and South America.

Manufacturing begins soon at its plant in Mulhouse, and next year it will go into production in Wuhan, China, followed by Porto Real, Brazil.

“There will be small differences in the cars” reflecting market and regulation peculiarities, says spokesman Pierre-Yves Etienney. “But globally, for the customers, they are virtually the same.”

Peugeot has not released technical details of the vehicles beyond a length of 163.8 ins. (416.0 cm) and the fact that it is “relatively light” in mass.

Peugeot has had reasonably good success with its C-segment 3008 CUV, and hopes for the same results in the B-segment with the 2008, using the running gear and engines of the Peugeot 208 hatchback.

In France, the 308 hatchback was the seventh best-selling vehicle last year, at 45,746 units, and the 3008 CUV was ninth best at 43,803. The B-size 208 sold 66,368 units in France in 2012.

The 2008 will be offered in France with the small diesel and 3-cyl. gasoline engines of the 208. The diesel will have an emissions rating of 99 g/km of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 63 mpg (3.7 L/100 km).

Peugeot says it designed the car aiming at “a new generation of customers…eager to always be on the move. They feed on dynamism…and are looking for products which reflect their personality.”

Photographs released by Peugeot show a 2008 that is bulkier than the 208, with roof rails, high wheel arches and black bumpers that give the CUV a taller, huskier look. The new model rides on 17-in. tires and Peugeot says the driving position is higher than on the 208.

Taillights and daytime running lights are light-emitting diodes, and Peugeot says the headlamps offer a cat’s eye appearance. Feline touches have been a design staple at Peugeot, whose logo is a lion.

The car was designed by a team led by Eric Dejou, who says the first sketch for the car held up to the end. Dejou studied design at Creapole, the French “ecole superieur” for applied arts in Paris.

“Creating the 2008 was a real challenge, but we had a very precise idea of the vehicle we wanted to offer to customers,” Dejou says. “The design at the advance phase needed no major modifications to go into production. The first sketch was the good one.”

The 2008 will be fighting for share with the Opel Mokka and upcoming Ford Ecosport. The 2008 is expected to make its public appearance at the Geneva auto show in March.