Peugeot set to barge into SUV fray
Another Gallic brand is keen to munch a piece of the lucrative 4WD piePeugeot has been watching from the sidelines as virtually every rival brand has cashed in on the burgeoning demand for SUVs in recent years, but it's now set to join the booming segment with an all-new contender.
Say hello to the 4007, an all-terrainer that has been co-developed with Mitsubishi and PSA partner, Citroen. Look carefully and you'll see the resemblance with the Japanese brand's second-generation Outlander, unveiled locally last week at the Sydney motor show.
As for the 4007 name, Peugeot says it gains a 'double-zero identity' as it represents another new concept in the development of Peugeot's model range. The '4' represents its size within the Peugeot range and the '7' specifies its generation.
The newcomer measures about 4640mm long, which means it's fairly large for its class -- the new Toyota RAV, by comparison, spans 4600mm from bumper to bumper.
One of the 4007's trump cards is a frugal 2.2-litre diesel engine with the latest Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS) to minimise its environmental impact.
Co-developed with Ford, the 2.2-litre HDi diesel unit features direct common-rail injection and pumps out 115kW and a robust 380Nm. What's more, Peugeot says it's capable of using a 30 per cent mixture of diesel biofuel without any modifications.
The standard transmission is a six-speed manual gearbox to make the best use of the high-torque characteristics of the 2.2-litre HDi diesel engine. An auto -- possibly also with six speeds -- will be offered alongside the manual.
The big Pug will come standard with a host of electronic driver aids, including traction control and a stability control system -- but these will be biased towards providing good on-road dynamics, rather than endowing the vehicle with heroic off-road ability.
Visually, the 4007 is unmistakably a Peugeot, thanks to the large, toothy grille, prominent lion badge and sharply angled headlights. It's not a classical beauty, but it's by no means ugly either.
No word as yet on a local launch date, but an Oz debut in the second half of 2007 seems a reasonable bet.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
