Targeting the B segment, Peugeot has extended its traditional position with a new, all-encompassing approach. So, the 208 was designed in accordance with a goal to re-generate the small hatchback. It went on sale in Europe at the end of March 2012, and in the UK at the end of June, prior to an industrial and commercial launch in Latin America in 2013.

In Beijing earlier this year, Peugeot revealed the ‘Urban Crossover Concept’ to the Chinese public, a contemplation of the motor vehicle in an increasingly urban world.

Now, at the Paris Motor Show, the Marque is presenting the 2008 Concept. This concept car gives further thrust to Peugeot’s international conquest strategy. The engineers and stylists have worked together in Europe, China and Latin America to create this future vehicle of the range.

The city and Peugeot

Peugeot sees the human race becoming increasingly urban. It believes a new generation of city dwellers is coming alive. Connected, curious, they share numerous aspirations, regarding the way in which they keep themselves informed of news occurring across the Planet.

Peugeot has included several continents in the development of a new concept car with a view to marketing to an international clientele. So, for them, with them, the Peugeot Style teams in Paris, Shanghai and Sao Paulo have all created the 2008 Concept. It will go into production, as close as possible to its customers, first in France (Mulhouse) then in China (Wuhan) and later in Brazil (Porto Real).

The Marque mobilises its experience

With more than 15 million ‘2’ series vehicles, Peugeot has a credible history in the domain of compact cars. This is further reinforced by the arrival of the new 208. Recently, the marque has entered into the domain of the Crossover, with the 3008 and the inspiration drawn from the SXC Concept Car shown at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2011.

Wishing to merge these two fields into a new vehicle, Peugeot has developed the 2008 Concept, a small vehicle aimed at young-minded city dwellers who love the city, while also loving to escape from it.

Its identity is born through marrying a hatchback with a SUV. Capitalising on the process of re-generation unveiled by the 208, the urban nature of the 2008 Concept is established by compact dimensions: 4.14m long and 1.74m wide.

Painted fluorescent yellow with Velvet matt varnish, the body is punctuated with dark chrome details. The 2008 Concept combines a variety of impressions and pays particular attention to detail. The ‘floating grille’ has a design cut into the metal, combined with a dual-aspect treatment following the example of the new marque emblem. The headlamps bear the Peugeot identity. Their contours follow the technical functions as closely as possible and so form the sharp pupil of a cat. Chiselled in form, they are aligned with the front face to add individual character.

In profile, the curve of the roof accentuates the upper decoration of the rear doors. Cut into the metal, it appears crimped into the bodywork.

A 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine

Under its bonnet the 2008 Concept is equipped with a development of the new generation 3-cylinder petrol engines. The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine has a turbo and direct injection t with a power of 110bhp.

Source: Peugeot

Tags: Brazil, China, concept car, France, Mulhouse, Peugeot 2008, Porto Real, SUV, Urban Crossover Concept, Wuhan, yellow