Peugeot 208 more likely to be EV-only in Australia

Hanging out for a brand new Peugeot 208 in Australia? Don’t maintain your breath, except you’re prepared to go electrical.

The French model’s rival to the Volkswagen Polo hasn’t been accessible Down Below for the reason that new technology went on sale globally in 2019, and Peugeot’s native managing director says the Australian arm isn’t more likely to carry it again – apart from the electrical e-208.

“Now we have all the time put down that the perfect situation [for us] is the e-208,” stated Kate Gillis, MD for Peugeot Citroen Australia.

“After we discuss concerning the [petrol] 208, it’s not a consideration for our market. That’s one factor we checked out and stated it simply doesn’t really feel like the best transfer.”

“If we’re going to maneuver into that smaller section, we’re going to do it with one thing that’s fairly impactful. We are able to see that even from an abroad perspective; the success of the 208 is driving firmly on the electrified model,” Ms Gillis continued.

“We’re ensuring that we’re bringing out the absolute best vary we will, and we really feel the e-208 is is the best transfer inside that house.”

As lately reported, the e-208 (and the bigger e-2008) appear on monitor for a 2023 launch in Australia alongside an electrical van, although ultimate particulars and extra particular timing are nonetheless to be confirmed.

In abroad markets, the Peugeot 208 is on the market with 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines alongside the 115kW e-208 EV.

The 1.2-litre PureTech turbo petrol is obtainable in 75, 100 and 130 horsepower guises (56kW, 74kW and 96kW), whereas the 1.5-litre BlueHDi turbo-diesel is obtainable in a sole 100 horsepower (96kW) tune. Six-speed handbook and eight-speed automated transmissions can be found relying on engine variant.

Within the UK, the e-208 instructions a circa £7000 ($12,668) premium over the high-spec 96kW 1.2-litre petrol engine with the eight-speed automated – the latter the identical drivetrain provided within the newest Peugeot 308.

In the meantime, an upgraded e-208 was confirmed for Europe with a brand new, extra environment friendly 51kWh (48.1kWh usable) 400V battery pack, and a brand new 115kW/260Nm electrical motor (up 15kW).

Peugeot says it’s aiming for common vitality consumption of “round 12kWh per 100km” versus the bigger e-308’s spectacular 12.7kWh declare. Such improved effectivity ought to assist the e-208 obtain “as much as 400 kilometres” on the WLTP cycle, although official certification continues to be in progress. The e-208’s earlier vary declare was 362 kilometres.

Peugeot enhanced the e-208 as lately as late 2021, including 22km extra vary than the unique model launched in 2019 via a warmth pump and humidity sensor that elevated the HVAC system’s effectivity, a brand new tyre compound for the 16-inch alloy wheels to minimise rolling resistance, in addition to a revised ratio for the electrical motor’s gearbox “that will increase vary on street and motorway journeys”.

Additional, the corporate claims the upgraded warmth pump and sensor introduced a real-world vary enhance of 4km “in city visitors at temperatures near 0 levels celsius”.

The e-208 has been a gross sales success for the model in numerous components of Europe, itself a part of one of the vital well-liked mannequin ranges within the area – the 208 was the best-selling new automobile in Europe and the UK in October 2022 with over 17,000 gross sales.

Peugeot says virtually 110,000 e-208 autos have been produced because it was launched in 2019, and it’s the top-selling electrical automobile throughout all segments in its house market of France.

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