Peugeot 207

[kjw206]

Article from www.autoexpress.co.uk

Peugeot 207 Is Getting Into Shape


t's Britain's best-selling car with private buyers, but Peugeot isn't taking the success of the 206 for granted. Instead, the French manufacturer is well on the way to putting its replacement, the 207, into production. And, as our exclusive pictures in the current issue of Auto Express magazine show, it looks set to cause a stir in the supermini market. Our images have been created with insider knowledge, and are an accurate representation of what the new supermini will look like when it goes on sale in 2005.

The car has many obvious family influences. Its ellipsoid headlamps are borrowed from the RC concept sports cars displayed at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. Meanwhile, the straked bonnet, high roofline, angular rear doors and curvaceous rump are taken from the 307 to give the 207 a purposeful appearance.

Coupé Cabriolet and SW estate variants will also appear, while three and five-door hatchbacks will be available with a full-length glass roof, following the option's success on the 307 SW.

However, the 207 won't be much bigger than its predecessor. A 10cm longer wheelbase will help to end criticisms of the current model's poor legroom, but short overhangs mean the overall length will extend only slightly. Underneath, the 207 will have much in common with Citroen's C3, launched last year. It uses the same platform and is likely to have a similar suspension set-up, while the 207's 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines are to come from the C3 and current 206. Diesel power will be supplied by 1.4 or 2.0-litre HDi units. The larger will offer 90, 110 or 130bhp and will be a new lightweight engine, co-developed with Ford.

Two performance versions are also planned. A 180bhp 2.0 petrol model will use the unit due to appear in the latest 206 GTi, while a diesel with a similar output is expected from a tuned version of the HDi.
As well as these cars, a flagship model - possibly badged Roland Garros - is expected to feature leather seats, sat-nav and digital climate control. At the other end of the scale, a reasonably well equipped entry-level car will be available for under £8,000. Hatchbacks are to be built at Ryton, Coventry, home of the 206, and all other variants will be constructed in France. The car will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2004, and go on sale in Britain the following spring. Craig Cheetham