Peugeot Blog
Grid set for 24 Hours of Le Mans, Peugeot starting 1-2-3Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot 
As we reported yesterday, Peugeot was clearly the fastest in qualifying for this weekend's running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The record-setting runs of all three 908 HDi diesel-powered LMP1 cars places Peugeot's entire field of entries 1-2-3 on the starting grid. That's impressive considering two of Peugeot's car crashed during the past two weeks of practice. Audi is hoping that its team's experience, quicker pit stops and more fuel efficient R10 LMP1 cars will eventually carry it past the Peugeots, despite starting fourth, fifth and seventh on the 55-car grid. And thanks to the speed of Lola Aston Martin driver Stefan Mücke whose petrol-powered car earned the sixth spot on the starting grid, not all the front runners will be diesel-powered.
As for classes other than LMP1, the next fastest LMP2 class was dominated by the Porsche Spyders not surprisingly, while LMGT1 is being led by the #63 Corvette Racing C6.R. The Corvettes will be chased this year by the particularly fast #50 Larbre Competition Saleen S7 and some slower but determined Aston Martin DBR9s from Aston Martin Racing. Finally, LMGT2 will be another great battle between Porsches and Ferraris, with the #76 Imsa Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on pole for the class. Remember the amazing GT2 class finish of last year's race between Flying Lizard's Jorg Bergmeister in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo in a Ferrari 430GT? If not, watch it again here as a reminder of why Le Mans is absolutely amazing. Also check out this great post at UltimateCarPage that has a detailed breakdown of all 55 cars with an image of each one and a list of their drivers.
[Source: 24 Hours of Le Mans, UltimateCarPage, Photo by JEAN FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty ] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot destroys Le Mans lap record in qualifyingFiled under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot 
The 76th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place this weekend, and just like last year, Audi and Peugeot will be duking it out in front with their diesel-powered LMP1 cars. The Audi R10 is a proven race machine, both durable and fast, but the Peugeot 908 has often times proved faster. Late yesterday at the first qualifying session for the endurance race, the 908 proved to be the fastest by far when it shattered the lap record at Le Mans by 7.8 seconds! The car was being driven by French driver Stephane Sarrazin, who man-handled the 908 around the track in 3 minutes and 18.513 seconds. A truly amazing feat, though what's more incredible is that the next five fastest times also beat the previous lap record, two of which were Audi R10s. Unfortunately, the second and third fastest times behind the fastest Peugeot 908 were two more Peugeot 908s. The Peugeot cars are clearly faster than the Audis so far in qualifying, but that was the case last year and Audi pulled out a win just like it has the past four years in a row. Unlike the Le Mans Series races where Peugeot has won the first three races so far this year, Le Mans is about endurance and Audi has proven seven out of the last eight years that it can last longer than the rest.
[Source: Reuters, Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty] Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Peugeot goes flying at Le MansFiled under: Motorsports, Videos, Peugeot 
Le Mans has seen its fair share of spectacular crashes, perhaps most notably the Mercedes CLR-GTR that caught air and did several flips before landing outside the guard rail back in 1999. While not as outrageous as the Mercedes, Peugeot caught some air as well this past weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans test when Marc Gene lost control of his 908 Hdi and hit the wall at over 120 mph. Luckily, Gene was able to walk away from the crash and will be able to drive in the race in less than two weeks. Footage from the crash can be seen after the jump.
Thanks for the tip, Mark!
[Source: YouTube via LeMans.org] Continue reading VIDEO: Peugeot goes flying at Le Mans Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
BMW/PSA engines to be used in more than just the MINI, 7-series hybrid comingFiled under: BMW, Peugeot 
BMW and PSA teamed up to produce the 1.6-liter four-cylinder currently found in the R56 MINI Cooper, but according to an interview with BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, the four-pot will also find its way into the BMW 1-series. The pre-release of his interview in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung didn't divulge which models would benefit from the four-cylinder engine, whether it will be available in both naturally aspirated or turbocharged guise or what markets in which it will be sold.
Reithofer also mentioned that the next generation 7-series, due to be released later this year, would be equipped with a new hybrid drivetrain. No timeframe was outlined as to when the hybrid 7 would be released, but when it is (likely next year), it's expected to be the mild-hybrid, co-developed with Daimler, originally shown on the X5 Vision EfficientDynamics concept.
[Source: Forbes] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Officially Official: Peugeot production of 308 RC Z CoupeFiled under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes, Geneva Motor Show, Misc. Auto Shows, Peugeot 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 RC Z Coupe Concept
Originally expected to be announced a while back at the Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot has finally officially announced today at the Lisbon Motor Show that the attractive RC Z concept will go into production. Using styling cues from the Audi TT and the classic Karmann Ghia, we think that Peugeot could have a winner on its hands with its new sporty coupe. While Peugeot has not yet announced details on what will be offered underhood of the production machine, the concept used a version of the Mini's 1.6 liter turbo four. We'll be getting all of the details within time, as the official production version will be unveiled in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. European buyers will have first crack at the RC Z when it goes on sale in the sprint of 2010.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Officially Official: Peugeot production of 308 RC Z Coupe Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot rolls out millionth new 207Filed under: Euro, Plants/Manufacturing, Peugeot 
Click above to view the 1,000,000th Peugeot 207 in high resolution
It has only been two years since Peugeot introduced the 207, and already the French automaker has produced over 1 million examples of the new car. The car hit the market in April 2006 with the three- and five-door hatchbacks, and has since rolled out in convertible, wagon and several sport models.
Last year alone Peugeot sold half a million new 207s, which are manufactured at three plants across Europe - in France, Slovakia and Spain - with a combined rate of 2,500 vehicles per day. In a segment crowded with over 70 different models, the 207 has emerged as the market leader. Its "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" success has been driven in part by the double Intercontinental Rally Challenge titles that the 207 Super 2000 took last year, mirroring its big brother 908 HDi's success in Le Mans racing.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Peugeot rolls out millionth new 207 Permalink | Email this | Comments
Stress reliever: Peugeot/Citroen adopts new plans to prevent suicideFiled under: Etc., Euro, Safety, Peugeot  With six employee suicides in the past 18 months, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen thinks it may have a stress problem. While experts have found no direct link between the suicides and work stress, one in five PSA employees has reported feeling extreme pressure at work, and many feel that there isn't enough time in the day to get their work done.
To ease some of the stress on its 114,000 employees, PSA has implemented several initiatives to help workers get relief from tension. It's is trying everything from reducing the size of manufacturing teams and keeping managers on a particular job longer to establishing a 24-hour hotline for employee counseling. PSA has taken the issue so seriously that the French automaker is going to the extraordinary step of hiring an additional 500 workers to help ease the heavy workload. With 26 new models launching in the next year, PSA workers will need all the stress management they can get. Hopefully that Citroen grille goes away with the new models, that thing stresses us out and we don't even work there.
[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
12 Hours of Sebring: Audi makes a Peugeot sandwich on starting gridFiled under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot 
As we mentioned yesterday, Audi and Peugeot have been locked in a battle of lap times all week at Sebring Raceway in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race on Saturday. In yesterday's practice sessions, Audi turned in a very fast lap of 1:43.195s that would eventually earn it the pole position. Peugeot answered Audi's effort later in the day, however, during the actual qualifying session for the race that would determine the starting grid. The 908 HDi driven by Stephane Sarrazin crushed Audi's top lap in practice with a time of 1:43:117s, which effectively secured Peugeot the pole position.
Unfortunately for Peugeot, fate stepped in and bitch slapped the French automaker's racing team. Welcome to America, guys. Just nine minutes after the qualifying session began and after the 908 HDi had recorded its fast lap, the No. 8 Mazda was involved in an accident bad enough to cancel the session entirely. ALMS rules state that a minimum of ten minutes must be run in a qualifying session for it to count. Therefore, Peugeot's fastest lap time was thrown out. Since the nine-minute long qualifying session couldn't be counted, organizers used lap times from earlier in the day during practice sessions in which Audi set the fastest lap time mentioned above.
Thus, your starting grid for the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring will be Audi and Peugeot on the front row, with another Audi in the first spot of the second row. Both teams obviously view what transpired yesterday very differently. Read the press releases from both Audi and Peugeot after the jump to see how they really feel about each other.
[Source: ALMS]Continue reading 12 Hours of Sebring: Audi makes a Peugeot sandwich on starting grid Permalink | Email this | Comments
12 Hours of Sebring: Audi finally beats Peugeot with week's fastest lap yetFiled under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot 
Click above for high-res gallery from this week's 12 Hours of Sebring practice
An epic battle is shaping up for this weekend's running of the 12 Hours of Sebring. Audi versus Peugeot. The R10 TDI versus the 908 HDi. Diesel versus diesel. This will be the first and perhaps only time that these two teams race on American soil, though the contest will be repeated many times in the European Le Mans Series this season. Since Monday, Audi and Peugeot have been battling for the best lap times during practice sessions in preparation for this weekend's endurance race at Sebring Raceway, and Peugeot got the upper hand on both Monday and Tuesday. Audi, which is fielding two cars to Peugeot's one, finally fought back today posting the fastest lap time of the week thanks to driver Dindo Capello, who ran a 1:45.491, just 0.017 seconds faster than Stephane Sarrazin in the Peugeot 908.
But Audi and Peugeot in the LMP1 class should be wary of focusing too much on each other, as there are other entrants that could spoil their fun. Marco Andretti, for instance has been blisteringly fast in his Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX-01b, setting the second fastest lap time overall on Tuesday. As we learned from watching the LMP2 class beat up on Audi last year, Le Mans racing is anyone's game. The nature of endurance racing, however, favors fuel economy, and therefore the diesel-powered R10 TDI and 908 HDi should have the advantage. There will be plenty of great racing in the GT1 and GT2 classes as well, with Aston Martin squaring off against the Corvette Racing Team and Porsche taking on Ferrari, respectively. Stay tuned for race results probably late Saturday or early Sunday, and check out some spectacular images from this week's testing in the gallery below.
[Source: ALMS] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Geneva 2008: Peugeot 308 GT THP 175Filed under: Coupes, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Peugeot 
Click the pic above to see a hi-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 GT THP 175
If you want a MINI, but you'd rather it looked and felt like a Peugeot 308, then this is the car for you. It's got the same engine that Peugeot makes for BMW's kleine Wunder-brand, but it's got all that chunky Peugeot goodness that MINI couldn't wouldn't ever replicate. And not only will you get 175-HP, a Scrabble-icious combination of letters and numbers, and mirrors with a Dumbo-esque flavor, but 37.1-MPG frugality is yours for the taking. Check out the hi-res gallery below for a closer look at the swifty, thrifty Pug.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Geneva 2008: Peugeot 308SW says big and funky in FrenchFiled under: SUVs, Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Peugeot 
Click the image above for hi-res shots of the Peugeot 308SW
The Peugeot 308SW (for SportWagon), on the show floor, does not look like a big car. It certainly doesn't look big enough to swallow seven full-sized people. On the rotating podium, however, the car looked almost monstrous. Get inside, and the car appears to be even larger. If you sit in the driver's seat in Geneva, the rear hatch lies somewhere around Lichtenstein. It's that capacious. As with so many French things, the pics don't do it justice, but have a look at the gallery of hi-res photos to see if you can see what we see.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot to produce pretty 308 RC-ZFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Geneva Motor Show, PSA, Peugeot 
click the picture to view a Google translated version of the source
PSA is putting its very attractive 308 RC-Z into series production, and will make a formal announcement at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. When we saw this curvaceous coupe in in Frankfurt last year, German flooded our imagination. As has been previously pointed out, there's a lot of Audi TT in the roofline, and the side elevation evokes the Karmann Ghia. We can give Peugeot a pass on that, since the car's designer is German, and there are worse fates than aping two very stylish coupes.
The design hides easter eggs for alert viewers, too. The roof and backlight are formed from polycarbonate and use a double bubble shape to increase headroom for occupants, while at the same time evoking racers by Zagato. The upkick in the doors where they meet the rear quarter windows also offers visual amusement, too. Underhood is a direct-injected, 218-horsepower 1.6L four-cylinder that's shared with the MINI. With less than 2,700 pounds to haul around and Peugeot's storied suspension prowess, the grin might never leave your face.
The 308 RC-Z would be a great vehicle to lead Peugeot's return to the North American market. Many may remember unreliable chariots of woe when they think of Peugeot, but we can't shake our affection for the 405 Mi16. With small cars and coupes showing signs of life, now could be the time, and we think this car would sell better than useless crap on eBay. Thanks for the tip, vlatko!
[Source: AutoBild]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot 3008 crossover to join the charge... forwardFiled under: Spy Photos, SUVs, Euro, Crossovers/CUVs, PSA, Peugeot, Citroen 
It's more than a little unusual to see the French mounting an assault on anything, but reports indicate that French automakers are attacking the crossover sport-utility market with a vengeance. In Geneva, Renault will unveil the production version of the Koleos crossover, which follows the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4008 as the first SUVs from the land of fashion and crepes. Now Peugeot is preparing its second wave in the form of the 3008 crossover.
Targeting the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan, the 3008 is expected to hit European markets in 2010. Power will reportedly come from 1.6-liter turbocharged fours burning either gas or oil and driving either two wheels or four. Inside, flexible seating configurations are expected to be on offer in both five- and seven-seat formats. The styling is anticipated to follow closely along Peugeot's design language, with a big mouth and a prominent badge on the hood. And since where there's smoke there's an overturned car on fire, Citroen is expected to get its own version, as well.
[Source: Auto Express] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Coming to America: Peugeot to compete in 12 Hours of SebringFiled under: Motorsports, Peugeot 
Stephane Sarrazin pilots the Peugeot 908 HDi to a record 1:42.801 lap time at Sebring. (Photo courtesy of ALMS.)
Race on Sunday, sell on Monday. That's the time-honored, though oft-refuted mantra used by motorsport's patrons to justify the enormous expense of top-class motor racing. It might be a bit of a stretch for Peugeot, however, who announced today their US debut at this year's 12 Hours of Sebring, the first race in the 2008 American Le Mans Series, now entering its tenth season. Peugeot doesn't even import to the United States, but this just goes to show how single-minded the French team is in its pursuit of victory over its diesel rivals at Audi.
According to ALMS chief Scott Atherton, "It is no secret that Peugeot's ultimate goal for 2008 is to once again claim victory at Le Mans, and there is no better proving ground than Sebring." Peugeot evidently agrees. The decision to compete at Sebring comes after last month's test session where Stephane Sarrazin set a record 1:42.801 lap time at the Florida track behind the wheel of the Peugeot 908 HDi, beating the previous lap record set by Audi's Marco Werner last year by a full two seconds. It warrants repeating in case you missed it: two full seconds. That ended up being motivation enough for Peugeot to ship the car on over again to compete in the actual race, where Sarrazin will share driving duties with Nic Minassian and Pedro Lamy. We'll see how Peugeot does against Audi and the rest of the field when the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring gets underway on Saturday, March 15.
Press release after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Kamal!
[Source: ALMS] Continue reading Coming to America: Peugeot to compete in 12 Hours of Sebring Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot confirms roster of F1 drivers for Le MansFiled under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Peugeot  The automotive media are all abuzz with Peugeot's announcement of its drivers' line-up for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French automaker's team took pole and second place at the event last year, and an overall victory in the European series where the equally matched Audi R10 TDI did not compete. PSA, however, is not about to rest until its team thoroughly trounces its rivals, especially Audi, and as we reported previously, towards that effort Peugeot has been recruiting top talent from Formula One to pilot the 908 HDi to victory lane.
The announced roster includes Ferrari test driver Marc Gene, BMW Sauber tester Christian Klien, former Lotus pilot Pedro Lamy, former Super Aguri driver Franck Montagny, former Minardi driver Stephane Sarrazin, Honda F1 test driver and former Le Mans winner Alex Wurz, F1 veteran Ricardo Zonta, and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Nicolas Minassian joins the team as the only member never to have earned his F1 Superlicense. Notable is the absence of Sebastien Bourdais, the four-time Champ Car champion who drove the second-place 908 HDi last year alongside Sarrazin and Lamy, but he has his hands full in F1 this year. With such an experienced roster of drivers, Peugeot could stand a more than decent chance of unseating Audi from its domination of the event, broken since 2000 only by the Bentley Speed 8, which Audi themselves supported.
[Source: Autosport, Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Geneva '08 Preview: Peugeot 308 SWFiled under: Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Peugeot 
Click above to view high-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 SW.
Peugeot has been bringing its 308 line-up into full focus, arriving in Geneva with both the 175-hp hot-hatch version as well as this, the new 308 SW. The wagon replaces the previous 307 SW and adds upgrades with a number of innovative and utile features.
 Despite its compact size, the 308 SW can actually accommodate seven passengers, thanks to removable third-row seating. Without the third-row and with the modular second row in place, the 308 SW can accommodate an impressive 674 liters of cargo under the load-bay cover. Remove the second-row seats as well, and the spacious little sport-wagon can swallow a cavernous 2,149 liters all the way up to the roof. Compared to the 308 hatch, the sport-wagon had its wheelbase stretched 100mm and the rear overhangs by an additional 124mm. Other improvements include a larger glass panorama roof that extends beyond the second row (see right), and a liftgate with a separately accessible glass window. Combine that with the more aggressive styling of the new range and the 308 SW shapes up to be a compelling package for European buyers looking for some extra versatility without losing the driving dynamics and economy of a conventional small car.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Geneva '08 Preview: Peugeot 308 SW Permalink | Email this | Comments
Geneva '08 Preview: Peugeot 308 GT THP 175Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, Peugeot 
Click to view in our hi-res image gallery
It says a lot about Peugeot that BMW - well known and lauded for its engines - turned to the French automaker to develop and produce the motor for the second-generation MINI. Never to miss an opportunity, Peugeot put the same engine into the 207 GTi, and has now shoehorned it into the 308 to create the new 308 GT THP 175, which parent company PSA will be unveiling in Geneva.
The 1.6-liter turbo four produces 175 horsepower, but Peugeot insists the real kicker is in the torque: 195 lb-ft of it, which gets the hot 308 up to 62mph in a very respectable 8.3 seconds. Even more respectable, however, is the fuel economy of 37.1mpg and low carbon emissions of 180g/km. Naturally, the appearance has been updated to go with the bigger engine, with a new front bumper, rear spoiler and lowered suspension, and a new steering wheel and aluminum shifter and pedals inside. Buyers can choose between manual or automatic transmission, each with six speeds. Although the 308 GT THP 175 will only be offered as a three-door, a detuned five-door will also be offered driving 150 horses through a four-speed auto. What would be even more interesting is if this same engine found its way into the production 308 RC-Z.
[Source: CarScoop] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
F1 drivers line up to drive the diesel Peugeot 908 Hdi at Le MansFiled under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Peugeot 
Peugeot had a great season in Le Mans racing last year, having taken the series title but narrowly missing victory at the main event. The French team is ready to bring the diesel fight back to Audi's doorstep, and too that end has recruited yet another Formula One driver to pilot the diesel-powered 908 Hdi at the 2008 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ricardo Zonta drove for BAR-Honda, Jordan and Toyota, and until last season served as a test driver for Renault. Although he never won a grand prix, he did more relevantly take the FIA GT championship in 1998 after his Mercedes broke down at Le Mans.
While Peugeot has yet to announce its line-up for the 2008, last year the roster included several names from Formula One, including former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve (with whom Zonta drove at BAR), four-time Champ Car champ Sebastien Bourdais (who starts in F1 this year for Scuderia Toro Rosso) and veteran Ferrari test driver Marc Gené. Alex Wurz, who in 1996 became the youngest driver ever to win Le Mans and recently signed as a test driver for Honda F1 after leaving Williams, is also rumored to be part of Peugeot's line-up when they it announce sometime in February.
[Source: Autosport]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Peugeot gets new vans to Partner with Citroen BerlingoFiled under: Economy, Minivans/MPVs, Euro, Commercial Trucks, PSA, Peugeot 
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And while most wouldn't think of a miniscule European van as hot, PSA's Peugeot brand has its day in the sun with its new Partner vans, unveiled together with its sister-company Citroen's new Berlingo.
The new Partner is virtually identical to its partner, the Berlingo, but is distinguished by some unique features and sheetmetal. The passenger version is labeled the Partner Tepee and gets a multi-function roof called "Zenith". It's also available with a pseudo-off-road package called the Partner Tepee Outdoor. The outgoing version, on the market since 1996, continues on as the entry-level Partner Origin (like the Berlingo First). And, of course, there's a utilitarian version set up for light commercial use with a 1.8-meter long cargo floor that can be extended to 3 meters by dropping the Multi-Flex passenger seats, which gives the Partner LCV an additional 400 liters (14 cubic feet) of cargo space on top of the 3,300-liter (116 cubic-foot) conventional capacity.
[Source: Peugeot]
Continue reading Peugeot gets new vans to Partner with Citroen Berlingo Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Mitsubishi could partner with PSA at new Russian plantFiled under: Plants/Manufacturing, Mitsubishi, PSA, Peugeot, Citroen 
More news from the advancing front of European carmakers expanding eastwards: PSA, Europe's second largest automaker and the French parent company of Peugeot and Citroën, is considering opening its new plant in Russia to partnerships with rival carmakers.
The new factory is located in Kaluga, some 180 km outside of the capital, Moscow. Russia is considered one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide, alongside India and China, where Western automakers have also been setting up factories, principally through joint ventures with local manufacturers. PSA's Kaluga plant, scheduled to begin production in 2010, will start out building only Peugeots and Citroens, principally mid-size automobiles which PSA says accounts for 60% of the Russian market for new cars.
If PSA did look to partner with another automaker for production at Kaluga, it could go even father east to Japan's Mitsubishi, which recently obtained financial incentives from the Russian government to assemble cars there and with which the French carmaker already partners on its SUVs.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - subscription required] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
|
Peugeot blog
Peugeot history
Dutch tuning and styling
Super Cars
Green Cars, Reviews & Buying tools
Streetcars
Performance, Modified Cars
|
