New 3008 leads Peugeot SUV expansion

Peugeot is set to make a much more concerted and streamlined attack on the booming SUV market, starting with at least two current models melding into one when the new-generation 3008 SUV launches globally within 12 months.

The Nissan QASHQAI rival is the first of a new family of SUVs from Peugeot that are scheduled or mooted to arrive over the next few years, including a 2008 update, an all-new large seven seat SUV sometimes referred to as 6008 and a super-mini dubbed 1008 in the press.

But as these vehicles roll out over the next few years, Peugeot’s total model range will be in the process of being slashed from 26 to 13 and its platform count from five to two.

Currently a high-rise two-wheel drive with crossover styling, the new 3008 is set to adopt a tougher SUV look and feel and gobble up the similarly-sized Mitsubishi-sourced 4008.

But a senior Peugeot exec has also hinted the 5008 people-mover – which was sold briefly in Australia -- could be consumed by the new 3008 as well, as sales of the traditional wagons fall victim to SUVs in Europe.

Asked if the 3008 and 4008 badges would merge when the 3008 replacement is launched, Peugeot’s global product planning chief Laurent Blanchet told motoring.com.au at the Frankfurt motor show last week:
“I cannot answer precisely your question because we have a plan for launch of the car in the future.

“But I would say just remember that today we have different offers; we have 3008, we have 4008 and we have 5008.”

Blanchet nominated the “renewal” of Peugeot’s C-SUV segment presence as a high priority for Peugeot.

“We have to be successful in the C-segment SUV because it is an improving segment and it is a worldwide segment. All countries have such vehicles and it is a growing market.”

Blanchet also hinted that work on a larger D-SUV (6008), which could also absorb the 5008 model and is mooted for a launch before 2020, was underway and would soon become public: “We will see, we will give you some information in the next months,” he said.

The 3008 replacement has broken cover in Europe in heavy and rather lairy disguise. Based on the EMP2 font and all-wheel drive architecture that also underpins the successful 308 small car, it is expected to have exterior styling inspired by the Quartz concept and use the unique i-cockpit driving position.

It should be offered with a group of three and four-cylinder petrol engines, turbocharged diesels and at some point, a petrol-electric hybrid.

Australia is one of few markets in the world where the 4008 has been a success for Peugeot and was its biggest seller here before the latest 308 lobbed. However, the joint-venture between Peugeot parent PSA and Mitsubishi isn’t expected to be renewed.

Instead, PSA now has an agreement with General Motors and its Opel division for SUV development.

Peugeot boss Maxime Picat told motoring.com.au in Frankfurt that the brand’s future plan called for “three or four” SUVs badged “two, three, four, six or two, three, five, six or something like this”.

He played down the prospects of a 1008 mini-SUV: “It is a good question, lots of small concept cars from competitors, small SUVs. But not many in the streets. So it’s all about (too much) sub-segmentation. We have to be cautious.

“We used to make a super segmentation of the market and put in lots of silhouettes in every segment. We are not going to make the same mistake on SUV … We will take a strong proposition to market and not offer diversity.”

Peugeot’s 26 models will be cut to 13 by 2020, with the emphasis on core model lines and their expanding group of SUV spin-offs. That means the 108, 208, 308 and 508 are the emphasis, while orphans like the RCZ coupe get the chop.