Peugeot with partner force

Peugeot sees itself as one manufacturer with two brand names, Peugeot and Citroen. When this is not enough to provide the economies of scale to compete with strong rivals at every level of the market, the hunt is always on for companies with similar goals. Peugeot's joint ventures demonstrate that emotion can't be allowed to hinder the best or most economical way to develop a new component or model.

Currently, Peugeot is in bed with Renault, Fiat, Ford, Toyota, BMW and Mitsubishi. With Renault, Peugeot shares expertise and production for a declining market in V6 petrol engines and automatic transmissions. The tie-up with Fiat generates several shared people carriers and light commercial vans. Peugeot and Ford share diesel engine expertise and production.

Peugeot's need for a state-of-the-art small petrol engine for the 207 was shared with BMW who also needed a new engine for the Mini. The clever new Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 were a similar direction to where Toyota was heading for its new Aygo, so it made sense to share a new Czech Republic facility. Peugeot and Mitsubishi are currently working on a new SUV softroader combining Peugeot drivetrain expertise with Mitsubishi all-wheel drive know-how.

A look at the current Peugeot range and where it is built provides an insight into the Peugeot armoury and how its model range slots together, even if they won't all reach Australia:

107 A cute little car that slots between the smart and the Polo/Barina/Clio/206/Yaris class, it comes as a three and five door along with its Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo siblings. Built in a new facility at Kolin in the Czech Republic, all have local potential at the right price.

206 This evergreen model from late 1998 continues alongside its 207 replacement in some markets after production hit 5,407,200 at the end of 2005! Built at the Mulhouse and Poissy facilities in France, Ruyton (UK), Palomar (Argentina), Porto Real (Brazil) and Wuhan in China from 2006.

As 207 production winds up at the new Trnava, Slovakia facility (pictured) in Eastern Europe and ultimately replaces the Ruyton facility, Peugeot production is being wound down in the UK in two stages before Ruyton is closed in 2007. Ruyton is a former Rootes Group site at Coventry inherited by Peugeot after the company took over Chrysler Europe operations. The 206 wagon which followed in 2002 is built in Ruyton and Porto Real.

Peugeot's Iran production facility has just recently commenced building the 206 after a series of earlier models that go back to the Rootes and Chrysler days of building the Hillman Hunter there.

207 Launched in April 2006, this new model is due to hit Australia in 2007 with two distinctive front styles catering for the classic and sporting market. Produced initially in Poissy (France), Villaverde (Spain) and later Trnava (Slovakia).

307 Peugeot's most popular new model with over 2.5 million produced from April 2001 to December 2005 is available as a three and five-door hatch, a four-door sedan first seen in China from June 2004, the Coupe-Cabriolet from September 2003, Touring wagon and glass-roofed SW from 2002. Built in Sochaux and Mulhouse (France), Palomar (Argentina) and Wuhan (China).

1007 Peugeot's radical concept car which was half sports hatch, half high-rider coupe, went into production in April 2005 at Poissy (France). It introduced Peugeot's unibody Platform One with electric sliding doors for tight city parking which later provided the platform for the 207. Over 75,000 had sold at the close of 2005.

407 Built exclusively at Rennes (France) from April 2004, almost 425,000 were built by the close of 2005. The Touring wagon followed in September 2004 and the Coupe in November 2005.

607 Peugeot's current flagship was upgraded with the latest 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel in 2004 after it was launched in May 2000. Sold here only as a V6 petrol, it is overlooked locally despite a 147,400 production figure by the close of 2005. May have potential as a local diesel model now that the local 407 range shares the same engine.

807 Peugeot's people carrier is also sold as a Citroen C8, Fiat Ulysee and Lancia Phedra. Launched in June 2002, it is built at SevelNord (Valenciennes, France).

Partner Peugeot's VW Caddy rival is seen here as the Citroen Berlingo. Available as a family wagon and light van, sales passed the one million mark at the end of 2005 following its 1997 launch. It is built in Vigo (Spain), Mangualde (Portugal) and Palomar (Argentina).

Expert A light delivery van also sold as the Citroen Dispatch and Fiat Scudo. Launched in October 1995, it is also built at SevelNord (Valenciennes, France).

Boxer Although it's not a Ferrari or Porsche derivative, this Peugeot has been built at SevelSud (Italy) as a shared Fiat model since February 1994. A light commercial in the Ford Transit market, Peugeot offers no less than 150 versions.

Related article: