PARIS MOTOR SHOW: New Peugeot 3008 here early next year

Peugeot Australia has confirmed the French car-maker's new 3008 SUV will go on sale here early next year, and motoring.com.au understands it will be followed by facelifted versions of the small 2008 SUV and 308 hatchback, plus an all-new 5008 large SUV.

The French brand today announced the all-new 3008, which switches from being a crossover wagon to ridgy-didge mid-size SUV to rival Mazda's CX-5 and Renault's new Koleos, will go on sale Down Under in the first quarter of 2017.

But hidden at the bottom of the press release was a quote by Peugeot Australia General Manager Kai Bruesewitz, who said: “The launch of 3008 will coincide with a significant refocus and refresh of the brand and model line-up in Australia.

“With its all-new platform and drivetrains, combined with its French design and engineering, we are extremely excited about the all-new 3008 and believe that this is the Peugeot SUV Australians have been waiting for.

"The remainder of 2016 will be dedicated to preparing our business for the launch of two all-new models and a refresh to a further two model lines in 2017."

We understand the two facelifted models will be an upgraded 308 hatch, which is yet to be revealed, and the updated 2008 revealed at the Geneva motor show in March, while the two new Peugeots will be the 3008 and a replacement for the 5008 people-mover, which will emerge as a bone-fide large SUV.

Before the new 3008 was revealed in May, we reported on both Peugeot's new five-seat medium SUV and its redesigned 5008, which will come with seven seats and – like all new Peugeot models – will be based on the company's latest EMP2 platform, as seen under the accomplished 308.

Few other details are available for the large new 5008 SUV, but Peugeot Australia says the new 3008, which shares only its name with its 308 wagon-based predecessor, will "appeal to customers in [Australia's] booming SUV segment.

When it arrives early next year, the next 3008 will not only bring a new platform and exterior design, but new technologies including an all-Euro 6 emissions-compliant petrol and diesel engine line up.

Unusually, considering its SUV pretensions, all models come with front-wheel drive only, although all-wheel drive is rumoured for introduction later.

Inside, an all-new cabin is managed by Peugeot’s second-generation i-Cockpit system, which introduces a large 12.3-inch virtual dash that is completely configurable, plus an all-new infotainment system that features Google maps and a row of toggle switch shortcut buttons to compliment the 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

Due to make its global public debut at the Paris motor show next month, the new 3008 measures 4450mm long, 1620mm high and 1840mm wide, making it 80mm longer, 50mm higher and the same width as the car it replaces. Benefitting from a longer wheelbase, Peugeot claims there’s far more legroom, as well as greater headroom and fractionally more elbow room. There’s also a bigger boot that’s claimed to be the largest in the segment.

The new French SUV also gains a ‘Magic Flat’ function that sees the split rear seating fold flat into the floor. The front passenger seat can fold to help carry longer items, while the boot is configurable and accessed via a gesture-controlled power tailgate.

It's unlikely the 3008 will be offered in Australia with the option of an electric scooter or folding electric bike that – at least in Europe -- Peugeot hopes will encourage owners to park on the outskirts of a city or town. The folding electric scooter, called the e-Kick, is said to have an impressive pure-electric range of around 10km. Mounted in the rear boot in their own docking station, both the scooter and bike are charged while on the move.

Despite being bigger and more spacious than the car it replaces, engineers claim to have trimmed more than 100kg from the existing 3008’s kerb weight thanks to its new underpinnings, as well as the use of thermoplastic for the floor and tailgate, and aluminium for the front wings, suspension arms and even the rear seat frames.

Depending on the model, the 3008 will be available here with both a turbocharged 121kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 110kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, both matched with a six-speed automatic transmission co-developed with Aisin.

That means the 95kW 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (seen here in the 208 and 308) won't be offered in the 3008.

However, Peugeot Australia is yet to confirm whether the faster GT version will be part of the launch line-up.

Revealed in June and also set to debut in Paris next month, the 3008 GT "is being considered as part of the range", said Peugeot Australia spokesman Tyson Bowen.

"The GT is currently on the list of cars being considered for price and spec," he said. "Once we've done that we'll announce the line-up.

"If we're going to launch it, it will be part of the range from launch."

Powered by a bigger, stronger 2.0-litre turbo-diesel pumping out 132kW/400Nm and paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, the 3008 GT comes with a host of design and equipment extras including 19-inch alloy wheels surrounded by wider, blistered wheel-arches, plus Peugeot’s trademark two-tone paintwork dubbed 'coupe-franche'.

Between mainstream 3008 models and the GT variant there will be the 3008 GT-Line, which is also under consideration for Australia and features many of the GT's visual upgrades but at a lower price thanks to less powerful engine, 18-inch alloys and black instead of the GT’s chromed wing mirrors.

In Europe, 3008 pricing has been set above mid-size SUV rivals the Nissan QASHQAI, so prices ranging between about $35,000 and $50,000 here.

What's coming from Peugeot in 2017:
308 facelift
3008 redesign
2008 facelift
5008 redesign