Showing posts with label Peugeot. Show all posts

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Marchionne Says European Car Market Won’t Recover Without EU Intervention

If anything, Sergio Marchionne is a man who speaks his mind – a bit too often, some might say. Still, the CEO of the Fiat-Chrysler group is deeply concerned about the drop in European car sales and he thinks something should be done about it.

Marchionne, who is also the head of ACEA, the European auto manufacturers’ association, is strongly endorsing the idea that there should be a European Union-led coordinated strategy if the industry is to survive.

“I am concerned that if we don’t find a collective will to resolve this at a European level, it is going to become a permanent crisis”, he said on Wednesday, October 10.

The Peugeot 208 may be the French firm's newest and hottest product and the second most popular supermini in Europe after the VW Polo, but the economic downturn in the region has put a dent in sales.

A Peugeot spokesperson, who was not named, told Autonews Europe that the brand is cutting output and its sales outlook for the 208 sub-compact hatchback on weak demand in the European market, without providing any specific numbers.

Say what you want about the aesthetics of the smiley-shaped grille of older Peugeot cars, but we know that it has proved its worth when it comes to saving the lives of dogs.

How else can you explain the fact that for the second time (see the first incident here), we have discovered a video showing a pooch that made it out alive after being hit by what looks to be a Peugeot ~~308~~ 307 compact hatchback?

According to the poster of the clip, the dog was allegedly hit at a speed of 90km/h (56mph), which sounds a lot to us, but without additional information, there's no way of being sure.

With the 208 replacing the 207 in Peugeot’s European line-up, it was natural that the French automaker would introduce a racing version of the new model to succeed the highly successful 207 S2000 International Rally Championship car.

Peugeot's new competitor in international rallying is the 208 R5, which made its world premiere at the ongoing Paris Auto Show. Due to FIA’s new rules that were introduced to reduce costs and will come in effect next year, the 208 R5 is quite different to the car it replaces.

After the U.S. market meltdown, which resulted in General Motors and Chrysler receiving a bailout, the two automakers along with Ford recovered quickly and are now posting near-record profits.

However, it seems that Detroit's Big Three have to face the fact that, even though their sales are blooming in most parts of the world, the European debt crisis will put their local operations in the red.

According to a report from the Detroit News, GM’s Opel/Vauxhall and its French partner PSA Peugeot Citroen, Ford of Europe and Fiat will lose a combined US$4 billion this year because sales in the Old Continent are slumping to their lowest levels since the mid-1990s.

While the Onyx, and to a lesser extent, the 2008 concepts are the most impressive models at Peugeot's Paris Motor Show stand, the French carmaker also brought along the production version of the 208 GTi that promises to rekindle the ideals of the original 205 GTi.

The new model's arsenal includes a potent 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that sends 197hp (200PS) and a peak torque of 275Nm (203 lb-ft) to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, and a revised chassis with new components and re-tuned suspension settings.

Name the first French supercar that comes to mind – did anything pop up without looking at Wikipedia? We thought so.

France's automakers may be quite able at creating successful compact models, but success in premium segments has so far, eluded them - and a supercar is definitely out of the question.

This hasn't stopped their designers from sharpening their pencils on extravagant concepts that grace auto shows all over the world. With the latest event taking place in Paris, something exciting was definitely on the menu.

Besides the 260bhp RCZ R and the Onyx Supercar and Super Scooter models, Peugeot is also displaying a fourth concept model at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the 2008, which hints at the firm's Nissan Juke rival that will be presented next year.

The 2008 is a follow up to the ‘Urban Crossover Concept’ revealed in Beijing earlier this year with a more vibrant color scheme, but other than that, the two models are identical.

Displayed alongside the regular versions of the mildly refreshed RCZ at the French firm's Paris Auto Salon booth is a thinly disguised prototype of a model that will soon gain the title of the most powerful production model in Peugeot's automobile range.

The study is the RCZ R and it is showcased in Paris in matt black and copper livery that echoes another Peugeot concept unveiled at the show, the ‘Onyx’ supercar.

When Peugeot unveiled the new 208 GTi hot hatch earlier this month prior to the car's world premiere at the Paris Motor Show on September 27, the automaker noted that it plans to produce a limited run model with enhanced specification and bespoke styling cues.

Today we learn that Peugeot will build 54 examples, 29 of which will be heading to the United Kingdom. The French carmaker says it chose this number to represent each year since the UK launch of the original 205 GTi in 1984.

When it formed an alliance with General Motors last February, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-biggest car manufacturer, said that this would not affect its partnerships with other manufacturers.

Yet according to Agence France-Presse, Peugeot’s head of R&D Gauillaume Faury said that the French group would end its joint venture with BMW on hybrid research that was established in February 2011, and continue with GM instead.

If you lived or grew up in Europe during the late 1980s through the early 2000s, you will no doubt remember the iconic Rallye series from Peugeot, which started out with the 205 supermini and continued with the 306 compact and the smaller 106.

The common denominator of the series was that the Rallye models were usually based on fast versions of their respective hatchback counterparts (i.e. the 106 XSi and 306 GTI) but did away with most luxury amenities such as electric windows and mirrors, the heavy seats and in some cases, even power assisted steering and airbags.

Peugeot's ultimate goal was to lower the cars' weight to improve performance and handling while also offering them at a lower price point – something that made the Rallye models extremely popular with driving enthusiasts on a budget.

Today, Peugeot is looking to re-enter the sports hatch segment with the new 208 GTi that is lighter at 1,160kg (2,557 pounds), smaller, and thanks to its new 197hp (200PS) 1.6-liter turbo engine, more powerful than the disappointing 206 and 207 GTi models.

With the European market in turmoil, Peugeot has every reason to pay more attention to the models it builds and sells in overseas markets like the 408 Sedan, which is an extended-wheelbase, notchback version of the 308 hatch that is offered in China, South America and more recently, in Russia as well.

The spies over at China's Sohu captured some pictures of an undisguised prototype of the facelifted 408 Sedan.

The public outside of Europe may not generally know it, but Peugeot has a long history in the motorcycle segment having introduced its first bike back towards the end of the 1800s and continues to do so today offering 14 different models including scooters, multi-gear bikes and mopeds with engine capacities from 50cc to 500cc (0.5-liters).

At next week's 2012 Paris Motor Show, the French company will present a new prototype three-wheeler named the Onyx Concept Scooter, and yes, as you may have guessed already, it was inspired by the 680HP diesel-electric Onyx Hybrid Supercar Concept.

The new Peugeot 208 Type R5, to be unveiled on September 27 at the Paris Motor Show, is the French marque's second competition model based on its new supermini after the 208 R2 that was introduced back in May.

We only get a single darkened picture of the 208 Type R5 that sports Peugeot's racing colors (in case you didn't notice, there's a thin yellow line between those BMW M stripes), but the carmaker has released initial details on the vehicle that will compete in the upcoming R5 category, to be launched by FIA in 2013.

Set to be one of the most impressive concepts at this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, the Onyx is Peugeot's vision of what a 21st century supercar should be.

The concept's sharply styled body features wings and doors that are handmade from pure copper sheet, and whose appearance Peugeot says will change over time gaining a patina, while the other panels are from carbon fibre painted matte black.

The Onyx incorporates some design references to the RCZ such as the ‘double-bubble’ roof and aluminium arches, but overall, it's a unique looking model.

"The silhouette of the Onyx is sculpted softly, sensuously, but it is also alive and technological," explains Sandeep Bhambra, Onyx Exterior Stylist. "From the first sketches I wanted to create a showcase for technological excellence and craftsmanship by combining elements demonstrating high aerodynamic performance, Black Diamond lamps and copper bodywork panels fashioned by hand."

French car (and scooter) brand Peugeot may be having troubles in the European market, but that's not going to stop it from attending the Paris Motor Show where it plans to debut an array of production and concept models including the facelifted RCZ coupe and the performance RCZ R Concept.

We will begin our tour with the refreshed RCZ that will arrive in European showrooms during the first quarter of 2013.

The 2013 model year version of Peugeot's Audi TT challenger has received a round of cosmetic and equipment updates, while keeping the same engine range as before, including a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol in 154hp (156PS) and 197hp (200PS) variants, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel generating 161hp (163PS).

Peugeot's designers have gifted the 2013 RCZ with a more stylish and less bulbous front end by redesigning the headlamps and front bumper and adding the firm's more compact and chic "floating grille".

The release of the first images of Peugeot's 2008 Concept on Tuesday ahead of a world premiere at the Paris Motor Show later this month has been followed up with fresh details on the study and official confirmation for the launch of a closely related production model beginning from 2013. Read more »

First Photos of 2013 Peugeot RCZ Coupe Facelift

The onslaught of new and updated production cars and concept models from Peugeot that are heading to the Paris Motor Show (including the 2008 CUV and Onyx studies) continues with the first imagery of the refreshed for the 2013 model year Peugeot RCZ Coupe.

The facelift comes a little over two years since the two-door model went on sale in Europe and it brings some welcome styling changes such as the replacement of the large front grille with a much more petite unit along with a new front bumper housing LED daytime running lights and redesigned headlamps.

In 2010, Peugeot launched the first-ever diesel-electric hybrid in the form of the 3008 Hybrid4.

The crossover was fitted with a 163HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel powering the front wheels and an electric motor with a 27HP continuous and 37HP maximum output driving the rear axle.

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Fiat-Chrysler CEO Marchionne Says European Car Market Won’t Recover Without EU Intervention

Peugeot Reducing Production of New 208 Supermini as European Sales Slow Down

Amazingly, Peugeot's Smiley Grille Saves Another Dog's Life

Peugeot Sport Replaces 207 S2000 Rally Racer with New 208 R5

Detroit's Big 3 to Record US$4 Billion Combined Losses this Year due to European Car Sales Slump

Peugeot 208 GTi in the Flesh from Paris and on Film in New Promo

Peugeot Unveils Onyx Hybrid Concepts in 680HP Supercar and…Three-Wheel Scooter Flavors

Peugeot 2008 Soft-Roader Concept Hits at Next Year's Production Model

Some Like it Hot: New Peugeot RCZ R Study with 260HP Debuts in Paris

Peugeot Announces New 208 GTi Limited Edition for Britain

PSA Peugeot Citroen Reportedly Terminates Hybrid Research Partnership with BMW, Continues with GM

Peugeot Le Mans Dealer Creates 208 Rallye Concept, Should the French Automaker Build it?

Spied: Peugeot Updating Chinese Market 408 Sedan

Peugeot Onyx Supercar Gets Scooter Concept Sibling, will Also Debut in Paris

Peugeot Sport Teases New 208 Type R5 Racer with 280HP Prior to Paris Motor Show

New Photos and Details of Peugeot's Onyx Supercar Concept, gets a 680HP V8 Diesel-Hybrid Powertrain

Peugeot Unveils RCZ Facelift and RCZ R Study with 260HP, Both go on Sale Next Year [45 Photos]

Peugeot Details 2008 Small Crossover Concept, Confirms Production Model for 2013

First Photos of 2013 Peugeot RCZ Coupe Facelift

Peugeot Lowers 3008 Hybrid4 Diesel-Electric Hybrid Crossover CO2 Emissions to 91 g/km

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