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January 27, 2015
Peugeot 208 Unveiled in Japan
Peugeot 208
Peugeot 208 Arrives in Japan
World Premiere at Geneva Motor ShowThe new flagship model for Peugeot, the "Peugeot 208," has finally been announced in Japan. This model, which represents not only the 200 series but also the future direction of Peugeot, carries significant meaning and plays a crucial role. Sales will commence on November 1st.
Text & Event Photographs by SUZUKI Fumihiko (OPENERS)Photographs by MOCHIZUKI Hirohiko
More Compact, Lighter
The latest Peugeot 200 series, now a full model change and renamed "208," has finally been unveiled in Japan. As the successor to the "207," it is positioned as the model to establish Peugeot's presence in the B-segment, with the slogan "RE-GENERATION." In Europe, it has already fulfilled this important role admirably since its launch, with sales exceeding targets and remaining strong.
The first characteristic of the 208 is its packaging, which achieves a smaller body than the 207 while providing a larger interior space. Although the wheelbase remains the same at 2,540mm as the 207, the front and rear overhangs have been shortened, placing the wheels closer to the body's corners. This results in a size reduction of 75mm at the front and 10mm at the rear. Meanwhile, rear seat knee room has increased by 50mm, and trunk capacity by 15 liters compared to the 207.
Furthermore, the 208 incorporates modern weight-saving measures, including the use of aluminum front beam absorbers, a revised front subframe size, laser welding for the roof, and the application of high-tensile and ultra-high-tensile steel panels. Compared to the 207 with the same engine, it is a full 100kg lighter.
Styling Reimagined
The second characteristic is its appearance.
"Agile, emotive, spirited, intuitive, concentrated energy, a generational leap..."
These are the keywords for the 208's design. While retaining the feline-like image characteristic of Peugeot, the front face features a grille that appears to float, and the overall form is sculpted as if from a single block, emphasizing its compactness. Looking at the rear, the tail lights, with their curved lines formed by three LED tubes, harmonize with the body.
Compact Steering Wheel and High-Visibility Instrument Panel
The interior also features unique innovations.
A combination of a high-visibility instrument panel and an extremely small, oval steering wheel has been adopted.
According to Peugeot, this allows the driver to naturally view the instrument panel from above the steering wheel while driving, minimizing eye movement. The inspiration for this came from the head-up display used in the "3008."
Focus on the New 1.2-Liter 3-Cylinder Engine from PSA Group
The lineup in Japan will consist of four grades: two 5-door models, the "208 Premium" and "208 Cielo" (equipped with a panoramic glass roof), both featuring a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, there's the sporty 3-door "208 GT," which uses the same 1.6-liter engine with a turbocharger and a 6-speed manual transmission, and the "208 Allure," a 3-door model with a 5-speed manual transmission and the newly developed 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine. All models are right-hand drive.
Of particular note is the "208 Allure," scheduled for release in Japan on December 1st, slightly later than the other three grades. Its 3-cylinder engine, equipped with 4 valves, incorporates numerous technologies for improved efficiency, such as reduced friction loss, enhanced combustion efficiency, and variable valve timing. This has successfully led to a reduction in CO2 emissions.
While specific figures for Japan are yet to be confirmed, European figures show a combined fuel economy of 4.5 L/100km (approximately 22.2 km/L) under the New European Driving Cycle and CO2 emissions of 104g/km, demonstrating high competitiveness compared to rivals. A balancer shaft is employed to mitigate vibrations.
Prices Start from 1.99 Million Yen
In terms of safety, as the successor to the highly-rated "207," the "208" achieved the highest rating of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP in 2012. Furthermore, the materials used in the vehicle's manufacturing actively incorporate recycled and natural materials.
Finally, regarding pricing in Japan: the "208 Allure" is 1.99 million yen, the "208 Premium" is 2.16 million yen, the "208 Cielo" is 2.40 million yen, and the "208 GT" is 2.58 million yen.
Incidentally, at the 208 launch event, Japan's first minivan from the Peugeot brand, the "5008",
Peugeot 208
Body Dimensions | Length 3,960 x Width 1,740 x Height 1,470mm
Wheelbase | 2,540mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,470/1,470mm
Minimum Ground Clearance | 120mm
Minimum Turning Radius | 5.4 meters
Vehicle Weight | Premium 1,160kg Cielo 1,180kg GT 1,200kg
Trunk Capacity | 285 liters
Engine | Allure 1,199cc Inline 3-cylinder DOHC
Premium and Cielo 1,598cc Inline 4-cylinder DOHC
GT 1,598cc Inline 4-cylinder DOHC with Turbocharger
Maximum Output | Allure 60kW (82ps) / 5,750rpm
Premium and Cielo 88kW (120ps) / 6,000rpm
GT 115kW (156ps) / 6,000rpm
Maximum Torque | Allure 118Nm / 2,750rpm
Premium and Cielo 160Nm / 4,250rpm
GT 240Nm / 1,400-3,500rpm
Fuel Economy | Premium and Cielo 13.4km/L
GT 15.2km/L
Brakes Front/Rear | Ventilated Discs/Discs (Rear brakes are drums only on Allure)
Suspension Front/Rear | MacPherson Strut/Torsion Beam
Tires | 195/55 R16 (205/45 R17 only on GT)