Peugeot will launch the new 208 super-mini here at the end of June.
It draws on all the strong heritage, strengths and successes of Peugeot's iconic 205, 206, and the European best-selling 207. And with the launch of 208, Peugeot aims to reclaim leadership of the competitive small car in Europe next year.
The 208 adopts the new Peugeot corporate style lines seen on the Peugeot 508 and facelifted 308. Sporting a floating grille, newly sculpted lights, and boomerang rear lamps, the new Peugeot 208 appears sporty and athletic.
While it is slightly smaller on the outside than the 207 (7cm shorter and 1cm lower ), the 208 offers more knee room inside for rear passengers and a more generous boot capacity. It weighs on average 110kg less than 207, which translates into lower CO2 emissions and lower fuel consumption.
The 208's interior will see a true break from what has gone before. The new design features an elevated instrument panel positioned directly in front of the driver which gives information at a glance while a small steering wheel adds to driving enjoyment.
It will be available in the summer in both three and five-door hatchback and with a choice of three trim levels, Access, Active and Allure. Eighty per cent of sales in Ireland are expected to be Active level two models. And all 208 models will come equipped with ESP and six airbags.
The 208 engine range for Ireland will include a 1.0 litre 68bhp petrol model (99g/CO2 ), a 1.2 litre 82bhp petrol model (104g/CO2 ), a 1.4 litre 68bhp HDi diesel model (98g/CO2 ), and a 1.4 litre 68bhp eHDi diesel model (87g/CO2 ) with stop-start technology. Sixty-five per cent of sales are expected to be petrol models. Peugeot says that in achieving average CO2 emissions of 34g/km lower than the 207, the 208 will take the lead in its segment for lowest CO2 emissions.
Peugeot also points out that it has entered a new era in eco-design with 25 per cent of the materials used to construct the new car sourced from recycled materials. A world first, the 208's rear bumper and its fan assembly will be made using recycled materials, permitting a saving in manufacturing of 1,600 tonnes of fuel a year.
Des Cannon, Peugeot sales and marketing director, told the Advertiser: "The 208 was unveiled as a world premier at the Geneva Motor Show and has since drawn much interest from eagerly-awaiting customers. We aim to register 300 units from July to December of this year and have a target of 1,200 units in 2013, the first full year of sales. Peugeot's new 208 will indeed boost our market share to more than four per cent next year."
Prices and standard specification for Ireland will be announced closer to its June 30 launch date.
