If localized well, it could be a Hyundai Elite i20 rival.
The Peugeot 208 hatchback has been spotted in Mumbai by Motor Octane, adding substance to reports that the French company is attempting to enter India for the third time. We remind readers that car manufacturers in India are known to import global cars for benchmarking. Some companies like Renault, have used India as a test bed for upcoming vehicles.
The 208 is a premium hatchback and it seems that it has come at a time when the demand in this segment is quite strong.
The 208 is powered by naturally aspirated 1.0-liter and 1.2-liter PureTech petrol engines producing 68 bhp and 82 bhp respectively. There is also a turbocharged version of the 1.2-liter unit that develops 110 bhp. These motors are paired to either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearboxes. The diesel range gets the 1.6-liter, three-cylinder units that churn out 75 bhp and 100 bhp and are mated to a 5-speed manual. There is also a high output 1.6-liter diesel unit capable of 120 bhp and is offered only with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The 208 is fitted with a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system and also gets features such as park assist, Active City Brake and reversing camera. The Active City Brake technology (automatic urban braking when there is a risk of collision) is a new system that reduces the seriousness of an accident by applying brakes in case the driver fails to react; this system works in speeds under 20 mph (30 km/h).
Peugeot will also look to increase localized content in a bid to aggressively price the 208, and to get there, it has to launch a factory, partner with a current player, or buy an existing facility.
[Source: Motor Octane]
