GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Peugeot 208 revealed

French car maker Peugeot revealed its all-new 208 compact hatch at the Geneva Motor Show – the model lighter, leaner and more technologically advanced than its predecessor.

Launched amidst a cavalcade of dancers and blaring music at this year’s show, the all-new Peugeot 208 was shown in three- and five-door guises and brings to the table a flashy new digital cockpit, new three-cylinder engines and light weight underpinnings.

In a world where most new cars grow in size, Peugeot has taken the unusual step of making its 208 smaller than the 207 -- now 70mm shorter and 10mm lower for a 3960mm length and 1492mm height. Despite this, interior room has been improved, and boot space is up by 15 litres to 285.

Petrol engine sizes have also decreased, down from 1.4- and 1.6-litres to 1.0- and 1.2-litres, and they're now three-cylinder units instead of four. Diesel engines will also be offered with engine stop-start systems.

Coming to Australia in October, Peugeot's local PR manager, Jaedene Hudson, told motoring.com.au in Geneva that we can "...expect the 208 with the mix of the three- and five-door [models] ".

"There's also a good mix of engines, a couple of which are ultra fuel efficient. At this stage we haven’t finalised engines for Oz, but we'll have a mix of petrol and diesel, manual and auto. Which ones they'll be we're not sure," added Hudson, who said that the three-cylinder models were a distinct possibility.

"I think those small engined cars are becoming more popular," added Hudson. "People understand why they're popular. Fuel economy is always something on people's minds, especially when petrol prices rise."

The interior is also a high point for the new Pug, which now features a digital layout.  Peugeot says the interior is a "...true break from what has gone before, beyond the recognised technical constraints and cultural references," thanks to an elevated digital instrument cluster and a new touch-screen setup.

"The interior design with the touch screen [stands out]," says Hudson. "There's a lot of technology in the car, so in terms of innovation that's one of the highlights."

The exterior design of the new Peugeot 208 is also dramatic, and could become a trend setter in the compact car segment.

"The strength of the 208 lies in its style: it is a real ball of energy. It has the potential to please everyone, like a popular piece of music that touches the human soul regardless of culture," opined Gilles Vidal, Peugeot's Style Director.

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