Peugeot's Geneva hat-trick

Peugeot intends to create waves at the upcoming Geneva motor show by hosting a trio of world premieres.

One of the newcomers is the eagerly anticipated 207 GTi THP 175, which will soon take its place atop the 207 line-up as the performance flagship.

Its 175 nomenclature denotes its output in horsepower (which converts to 130kW on the metric scale). The THP stands for Turbo High Pressure, distinguishing it from the low-blow 207 GT that debuted internationally last year.

The engine -- shared with the new Mini Cooper S -- was jointly developed with BMW, and is big on low-end torque, as evidenced by its peak figure of 240Nm, on tap from a barely-ticking-over 1600rpm.

The GTi is due to arrive in Oz around mid-year, adding some much-needed spark to the baby hot-hatch segment, now that the much-loved Renaultsport Clio 182 has been discontinued. Renault fans, meanwhile, must now wait for the new-generation Clio 197.

Getting back to Geneva, the centerpiece of Peugeot's stand will be the 207 SW Outdoor Concept -- a car that previews the upcoming station wagon variant of the 207.

The concept features a panoramic glass roof, split-opening rear hatch and "huge modularity and spacious qualities", according to its maker.

Visually, it appears to have pseudo off-roader pretensions, thanks to SUV-style wheelarch flares. Don't expect off-road capability, though, or you'll be disappointed.

However, one vehicle that should exhibit at a least a modicum of all-terrain prowess is the new 4007, also due to debut at Geneva.

You might notice that the 4007 looks remarkably like the new Mitsubishi Outlander, and that's because it was spawned from the Japanese vehicle. It's just been Peugeot-ised by the addition of the brand's trademark smiley grille.

Only one engine variant has been announced for now, a new 2.2-litre HDi  (turbo-diesel) engine with DPFS (Diesel Particulate Filter System). It produces 116kW and a fat 380Nm of torque. Peugeot says it will also offer the driver the facility to select two- or four-wheel drive modes.