PSA has revealed more details of the Peugeot 208, the world premiere of which will be on 6 March at the Geneva motor show.
This successor to the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the 207 will be launched in Europe in spring 2012, PSA states (June for the UK). The 208 will be available with two new Trémery-built three-cylinder petrol engines, with displacements of 1.0 and 1.2 litres. There will also be 1.4- and 1.6-litre diesels, as well as a 1.6-litre petrol and a turbocharged version of the same unit.
The car itself is stated as being 70mm shorter and 10mm lower than the 207, but the wheelbase is claimed to be the same 2,540mm. It is also 110kg lighter on average compared to the 207, with the base version weighing 975kg, PSA says.
As for innovations, a manufacturing world first is claimed: the rear bumper and the fan assembly are made entirely of a mix of either recycled or natural-origin materials.
Trnava in Slokavia was the first PSA plant to start building the 208. Production began there in November 2011 and is presently on slow ramp-up. Poissy in France and Villaverde/Madrid, which both build the 207, are also expected to switch over to 208 manufacture.