Peugeot reveals all-new model and naming convention

Peugeot has revealed an all-new model and an all-new model naming convention.

The radical overhaul of the French brand’s historic model naming structure, which dates back to the 201 of 1929, was revealed overnight alongside the new 301 – a small sedan that will only be sold in emerging left-hand drive markets in central and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Confirmed to make its global debut at the Paris Motor Show in September before going on sale first in Turkey in November, the 301 will be the first vehicle to bear Peugeot’s new model nomenclature, which will in future see all of the brand’s model names end with either the digit 1 or 8.

For more than 80 years Peugeot’s model names have included three digits, with a central ‘0’ separating the first number – which has always denoted the vehicle’s size – and the last number, which indicates the generation of the model.

Peugeot supplemented this in the early 1990s with new bodystyle nameplates such as CC (for coupe-convertible) and SW (for station wagon) and, since 2005, ‘double-zero’ names for high-riding new models like the 3008, 4008 and 5008.

However, the Parisian brand’s long-running numeric naming strategy always had a finite lifespan since it was only a matter of time before replacement models would run out of larger numbers to apply to the end of their names.

To remedy that, Peugeot says its future models will no longer change their number when they are renewed. That is, once its existing ‘7’ models - including the 107, 207 and 607 – are replaced by the 108, 208 and 607 respectively, all model names will permanently end with an ‘8’, as the 308, 3008 and 508 already do.

The exception to this rule will be emerging-market models like the new 301, which will be manufactured at Peugeot’s Vigo plant in Spain primarily for Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Maghreb and the larger Gulf, African and South American states.

Peugeot says that models that end with an ‘8’ will continue to represent “value for money and status”, while models than end in a ‘1’ will be affordable new conquest models “designed specifically to fulfil new customer expectations”.

“Following the example of the 201, the ‘1’ will represent the marque’s affordable models offering status which fulfil customer expectations centred around practicality of use, versatility and reason,” said Peugeot.

The company says permanently fixing its numeric nameplates will make its model range easier to understand for customers globally, including in emerging markets.

“The wider coverage of the markets at international level calls for the launch of conquest models in the large volume segments at the heart of the market,” it said.

Peugeot says its first ‘1’ model, the 301, is specifically designed to appeal to a wide customer base and expected to become one of its best-selling vehicles worldwide.

“It offers modern styling and features, carefully adapted to fulfil the expectations of the different markets in which it will be sold.”

Peugeot says the compact 301 sedan, which rides on a 2650mm wheelbase and measures 4440mm long, will follow in the footsteps of previous Pug sedans like the 404, 504, 305, 405, 406, 407, 408, 508 by offering class-leading rear passenger space and cargo capacity, via a huge 506-litre boot.

The 301 will be powered by a range of small petrol and diesel engines matched with both manual and automatic transmissions, including the 53kW 1.2 VTi three-cylinder petrol engine seen in the upcoming 208 hatch, plus four-cylinder 68kW 1.6 HDi diesel and 85kW 1.6 VTi petrol variants.

Aimed at middle-class families in search of a cheap but stylish small sedan, the 301 will come standard with automatic air-conditioning, an MP3 audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, rear parking sensors and remote boot opening, while safety gear should extend to electronic stability control, ABS brakes, four airbags and an emergency brake-assist system.

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