Peugeot is expecting a big sales boost in the UK from two new small turbocharged petrol engines which, the company claimed, will also start to reduce its traditional reliance on diesels.
The PureTech petrol engines – 1.2-litre three cylinder direct injection units developing 110 or 130bhp, with diesel-like torque figures of 205 and 230Nm respectively – make their debut in the redesigned 308 and coming 308 SW wagon. They are destined for the 208 and 2008 later in the year.
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Unlike the 1.6-litre, four cylinder 125bhp unit in the previous 308, which was a joint development with the BMW Group, the new turbo engines are all PSA’s own work, and are 21% more economical with 18% lower CO2 emissions, according to official data.
As a result, Peugeot is expecting a sizeable shift in overall sales and the share taken by petrol engines in the UK for the new 308 range. It is confident of improving sales by 22% this year – 3,000 cars – with all the increase attributed to the new engines.
But diesels have not been overlooked as the new car lines also offer new 1.6-litre 120bhp and two-litre 150bhp BlueHDI engines. Through a combination of measures, these clean up the exhaust emissions while improving fuel economy by up to 4%.
In the past, petrol models accounted for only around 12% of 308 sales in the UK, and 14% across Europe. With the new engines, the company is predicting a 29% share for petrol in Britain and 27.5% in Europe. The change in the balance will be most noticeable among private buyers: the automaker expects petrol engines to take a 60% share compared with 40% previously.
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By GlobalDataThe 120bhp 1.6-litre diesel is expected to be the top fleet choice.
The petrol-diesel sales mix should move closer into line with those of the rival Ford Focus line where the I3, EcoBoost one-litre turbocharged petrol engine takes 41% of sales in the UK and is the choice of 70% of retail customers.
Peugeot UK has previoulsy launched one- and 1.2-litre normally aspirated I3 PureTech units for the 108, 208 and 2008 lines.
ANALYSIS: The models likely to be axed by PSA’s Tavares
