What's the news?
Anyone would think there was a huge motor show just over the horizon, what with all the new metal reveals we've seen in the past few days. And now Peugeot is in on the act, whipping the covers off its brand-new 108 city car ahead of March's Geneva exhibition.
Exterior
Peugeot seems to have its mojo back when it comes to design. The 108 is a pretty little thing, looking like a shrunken 308 with its indented headlights, wide grille and smooth appearance. It has minimal overhangs front and rear, and wraparound rear light clusters. The overall effect is of something very pleasing on the eye.
What makes it really appealing is its diminutive size - the new Peugeot 108 is only 3,470mm long and 1,620mm wide - and it weighs as little as 840kg in certain specifications, which should make it a delight to drive. What's not so appealing is the appearance of more crazy punctuation in car names: the 108 comes in two versions, one with a retractable fabric roof named the 108 TOP!. Hopefully, this doesn't mean you have to bellow the car's name at the salesman in your local Peugeot dealership if you decide to buy one.
Interior
Much mention is made here of 'sophistication' and 'contemporary', plus trying to make owners feel like they're in a car of a class above. The speedo is part of the steering column, there's a seven-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash, automatic air conditioning comes as standard and there's keyless entry and go too. If you go for the TOP!, the 80cm wide by 76cm long roof is fully electric. Peugeot's recent interiors have been good and we have no doubt the 108 will continue that theme.
The little Peugeot has a 180- or 196-litre boot, depending on whether you pick a spare wheel or a puncture repair kit, rising to 750 litres when you fold the 50/50 split rear seats down. There are airbags everywhere, while the French firm is also promising plenty of connectivity with Bluetooth, a MirrorLink set-up that puts your phone's applications on the touchscreen and can even allow voice commands (if your phone supports it), plus other infotainment goodies.
Mechanicals
Two three-cylinder engines, four derivatives of said powerplants and two gearboxes are on offer. The 1.0-litre has 69hp and comes with three CO2 outputs - the eco-orientated 88g/km e-VTi five-speed manual, the 95g/km VTi with the same transmission and the same engine with a five-speed semi-automatic set-up, emitting 97g/km. Above that is the 1.2 PureTech VTi manual, with 83hp and emitting 99g/km. So all versions of 108 will be exempt from VED in the UK.
The 108 has a rear beam axle made from a shaped tube, said to improve guidance and reduce weight over a comparable pressed steel item. There's a choice of 14- or 15-inch wheels on low-rolling resistance tyres, plus electric power steering and various driver-aid systems like hill start assist, an emergency collision braking system and brake force distribution.
Anything else?
We touched on personalisation earlier and Peugeot is keen to make this stand up to the market leaders in this area. There are eight colours to choose from, two of which are specific to the 108 as it is - the golden copper Aïkinite and Red Purple, which is, to our eyes, violet. Go for a three-door and the braver among you can choose from a pair of two-tone paint options, which are Red Purple and Gallium Grey, or Lipizan White and Aïkinite. The TOP! has three colours of fabric roof, too.
But the seven personalisation 'themes', for the door mirrors, floor carpets and key fobs, are intriguing. There's Dressy, Dual, Diamond and Sport, which are all fairly conventional - but also Kilt (it uses tartan cross-hatched banding), Barcode (self-explanatory) and Tattoo, which features 'quasi-metallic flowers to personalise the cabin'. Make of these what you will.
The 108 will be premiered at Geneva and goes on sale in the UK on July 1st.
Matt Robinson - 15 Feb 2014
