Peugeot's 2 series started in 1929 with the 201; in the 77 years since then more than 13.2-million of that car and its successors have been sold, including 5.2-million 205 and 5.4-million 206 versions.
Now Peugeot has introduced the 207, first seen at the Geneva auto show in March 2006 and launched in South Africa on Thursday (June 29) only three months after its European release.
It'll be available here initially in four models - all five-door hatchbacks - with two more, one a three-door, to follow by the end of the year. Selected models from the 206 range will also continue to be imported, offering Peugeot customers a wide choice of B-segment models in the 1007, 206 and 207 ranges.
Peugeot SA's MD Kees Jan Boorsma commented: "We're not unhappy that a customer might end up choosing between a 206 and a 207.
"We'd rather have customers choose between two Peugeots rather than between a Peugeot and another make."
The 207 was designed at the new Peugeot style centre and clearly shows the company's new brand identity in its wide "fishy" grille between two large headlights.
Its waistline is very low for a large glassed area, sloping up to a firm but neatly sculpted tail highlighted by diode-effect tail lights.
The body is finished in one of two styles:
- Sport, with a distinct "nose" on the panel above the grille reminiscent of the 907 concept, chromed grille and round front fog lights in chromed surrounds.
- Classic, with a smoother front treatment, no fog lights and a a concealed tailpipe.
Four engines are immediately available - two petrol and two diesel - ech driving through a five-speed manual gearboxes.
- The 1.4-litre petrol engine has two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, with variable valve timing on the inlet cam. Peugeot quotes 65kW at 5250rpm and 133Nm at 3250, with 120Nm available from 2000rpm.
- I drove a 1.6-litre petrol 207 at the launch; this model produces a claimed 80kW at 5750 and 147Nm at 4000rpm.
As those numbers suggest, it's a revvy engine, distinctly lazy below 3000rpm; once in the power band above four, however, it becomes raucous and feels increasingly laboured as it approaches the red line.
You need a certain lack of mechanical empathy to keep it spinning but when you do it produces the goods, accelerating smartly out of corners and overtaking quickly and safely when required.
The 1.6i's gearbox is typically Peugeot, light in action but a little vague, with a "floppy" feeling (several journos at the launch used that word) to the gearstick.
Once you get used to where the slots are, however, very fast changes are possible; I had to take care when selecting first, however, not to hook third instead, which I did a couple of times on the launch drive, with embarrassing consequences.
The clutch doesn't help, unfortunately, as it takes up rather suddenly, uncomfortably high off the floor.
- The first of the diesels is a 1398cc SOHC turbo with common-rail fuel-injection, good for 50kW at 4000rpm and 160Nm from 2000rpm, Peugeot says, while using only 4.5 litres/100km - we'll see about that when motoring.co.za gets one on test.
- The 1.6-litre, 16-valve HDi engine lays claim to 80kW at 4000rpm and 240Nm at 1750, with an overboost function giving a temporary increase to 260Nm. It's fitted with a particulate filter.
At the launch however it acquitted itself well, pulling well up the steep hills of Mpumalanga - provided it was in the right gear. If I let the revs fall below 2000 it would a long moment to begin winding itself up for action, and the power tailed off smartly above 4000rpm.
This quite narrow spread of power dictated some snappy gearchanges; this was no problem as both the clutch and gearbox action of the diesel were distinctly crisper than those of the 1.6i petrol version.
Of the two it is the more sporty, despite its relative lack of urge - it demands more involvement from its driver but rewards well-executed cog-swapping.
- The 1.6-litre, 16-valve HDi engine lays claim to 80kW at 4000rpm and 240Nm at 1750, with an overboost function giving a temporary increase to 260Nm. It's fitted with a particulate filter. None were available at the launch but if it's anything like the 1.4 it should be fun.
Two more petrol engines, a 55kW entry-level 1.4 and a 110kW, 1.6-litre turbo, will be added soon.
Embarrassing consequences
The 207's five-speed manual gearbox is typically Peugeot, light in action but a little vague, with a "floppy" feeling (several journos at the launch used that word) to the gearstick.
Once you get used to where the slots are, however, very fast changes are possible; I had to take care when selecting first, however, not to hook third instead, which I did a couple of times on the launch drive with embarrassing consequences.
The clutch doesn't help, unfortunately, as it takes up rather suddenly, uncomfortably high off the floor.
The 207 rides on upside-down Macpherson struts in front and a torsion beam rear axle - with the rear anti-roll bar cleverly placed inside the hollow axle. The ride is firm, sometimes a little bouncy on poor surfaces, but the 207 sticks to the road like a leech.
It goes exactly where you point it with admirable disregard for bumps and lumps in the road, up to quite impressive levels of sideways G, before you begin to feel understeer.
Self-centering action
The electric power steering feels a little wooden but, like that of the new Renault Clio, has a strong self-centering action at cruising speed that covers a multitude of sins, and it's light enough for the wussiest of hairdressers in the urban snarl - not that this is a "girly" car; its handling and roadholding are way too good for that.
Braking is by ventilated discs in front and either solid discs or drums, depending on the model, at the rear; with assistance from an anti-lock system that includes electronic brake-pressure distribution and emergency pressure assistance that automatically switches on the hazard lights.
The pedal feels spongy if you stomp on it when the car is stationary but there's no lack of Brick Wall Effect when you're barrelling into a tight corner and urgently need to scrub off speed.
Generally speaking, all the 207's mechanical controls are like that - rather remote but very effective.
Emphasis on safety
French automakers place huge emphasis on safety and the 207 is no exception, with five stars from Euro-Ncap testing (one would expect no less) with high marks for pedestrian safety thanks to a bonnet designed to cushion the impact and keep the flying body away from the hard mechanical components beneath.
The passengers are looked after by front and side crash bags (plus side curtain bags on the 1.6-litre models) with pre-tensioned and load-limited front seat belts, IsoFix kiddieseat anchors and a really annoying display on the fascia that uses pressure pads to check which seats are occupied and then swears at you in bleepish until all the passengers are buckled up.
The interior of the 207 is distinctly upmarket, with a soft-touch, woven-finish fascia and pleasant-feeling cloth upholstery. The instrument panel is laid out like that of a big motorcycle with three strongly outlined, round dials, backlit in soft red at night.
The 207's wheelbase is 98mm longer than that of the 206 (2540mm vs 2442mm) and the extra space has been put to good use by providing more legroom front and rear and an extra 25 litres of boot space (up from 255 to 270 litres).
The 60:40 split rear seat folds flat, level with the floor of the boot.
There's an oddments tray above the (refrigeratable) glove box, a cardholder, three trays and two cupholders in the centre console and big storage bins in the door panels.
Three trim levels
The 207 comes in three trim levels: XR X-line and XS. Even the base XR model has an anti-theft alarm with motion sensors, follow-me-home lights, a full-size spare wheel, remote central locking, air conditioning, front electric windows, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver's seat and a six-speaker radio/CD player with fingertip controls on the steering column.
The X-line specification adds painted door releases and side strips, heatable power side mirrors and a trip data computer while the range-topping XS has the Sport styling as well as dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, rain-sensing automatic wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, power windows all round and a leather-covered steering wheel.
The XS also has a fragrance diffuser in the centre air-con vents that scents the cabin with one of seven fragrances developed by a leading French perfume specialist.
Prices
- 1.4HDi XR - R139 900
- 1.4i X-line - R138 900
- 1.6i XS - R156 400
- 1.6HDi - R166 400
Still to come:
1.4i XR three-door (end October) - R125 900
1.4i XR five-door (December) - R129 900
The 207 comes with a three-year or 100 000km warranty; a maintenance plan is an extra-cost option. Service intervals are 30 000km for the petrol engines and 20 000km for the diesels.