Peugeot 207

Infobox Automobile


name = Peugeot 207
manufacturer = Peugeot
parent_company = PSA Peugeot Citroën
production = 2006–present
assembly = Poissy, France Madrid, Spain Trnava, Slovakia
layout = FF layout
body_style = 3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
2-door coupé convertible
5-door station wagon
predecessor = Peugeot 206
class = Supermini
engine = 1.4 L (52 kW)
1.4 L (67 kW)
1.6 L GT (112 kW)
1.6 L HDi (82 kW)
1.6 L Turbo (130 kW)
related = Citroën C3
Peugeot 1007
similar = Fiat Punto
Ford Fiesta
Opel Corsa
Renault Clio
length = Auto mm|4030|1
width = Auto mm|1748|1
height = Auto mm|1472|1The Peugeot 207 is a supermini produced by the French automaker Peugeot and unveiled in January 2006. According to JATO Dynamics, an automative market researcher, the model was the bestselling car in Europe in 2007 [cite web|title=Volkswagen tops the charts in 2007 as European market grows by 0.8%|publisher=JATO Dynamics|url=http://www.jato.com/extFrameSet.asp?page=894|accessdate=2008-02-05] .

Launch

The 207 was launched in France, Spain and Italy during April 2006 and later on in other European markets.

The UK launch was on 8 June2006. Amicus and the TGWU, both unions representing workers at PSA's UK manufacturing plant in Ryton, Coventry, chose the same day to launch a campaign calling for the boycott of PSA's Peugeot and Citroën vehicles in the UK. The campaign was in protest against the company's plans to close the Ryton plant. [cite news
author=Mark Tran
title=Unions call for Peugeot boycott
date=2006-06-08
url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1793131,00.html
publisher=The Guardian]

Design and specification

The 207 is designed to be the successor to the 206. However, Peugeot has decided to keep the 206 in production until 2010, though since December 2006 production has taken place in Poissy, near Paris rather than at the Ryton plant in England. The 207 is based on a modified version of the platform used for the Citroën C3, and is built in Poissy and a new plant near Trnava, Slovakia.

It is available with six petrol engines as well as three HDi diesel engines. From petrol-powered engines there are two 1.4-litre 8v with 75 or 16v Convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and now a 1.4 vti convert|95|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on as well as four 1.6-litre: a convert|110|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on base version, a convert|120|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on Valvetronic engine, and two turbocharged versions, one with convert|150|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on , and the other with convert|175|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on. The latter three engines result from the cooperation agreement between PSA and the BMW group. The diesel-powered engines available are a 1.4 litre Convert|70|hp|kW|0|abbr=on or a 1.6-litre HDi with maximum output of 90 or Convert|110|hp|kW|0|abbr=on, the latter with the addition of an intercooler.

The 207 is available as a three- or five-door hatchback, and a 207 CC coupé convertible version was launched in March 2007, details of the 207CC were first released by Peugeot in December 2006. Station wagon and mini MPV versions are expected to join the line-up later this year. A GTI version is available with the convert|175|hp|abbr=on turbocharged 1.6 litre engine.

It has sold well in Britain, being the sixth best selling car overall (and third in the supermini sector) in 2007 with more than 67,000 examples being sold.Cite web|url=http://www.economicnews.ca/cepnews/wire/article/38779|title=Rising UK Popularity of Diesel Cars Reflected in Year-End Sales Figures for 2007|accessdate=2008-05-26|work=economicnews.ca]

Brazilian version

In May 2008, Peugeot's Brazilian branch announced it would not manufacture nor import the Peugeot 207 to Brazil, but instead it would change some elements of the 206 already in production [cite web|title=Peugeot mostra 206 com frente e painel renovados, chamado de 207 Brasil|publisher=Best Cars Web Site|url=http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/un13/278-09.htm|accessdate=2008-07-09] , arguing it would be impractical to do otherwise. The car features a new front end, new rear bumpers and tail lights, designed to resemble the European 207, along with a new dashboard in the interior. Minor changes were made to mechanical parts such as the suspension and gearbox [cite web|title=O 207 dos emergentes|publisher=Best Cars Web Site|url=http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/testes3/peugeot-207-2.htm|accessdate=2008-08-11] .

In order to differentiate this modified version of the 206 from the European 207, Peugeot planned to name it “Peugeot 207 Brasil”, but soon dropped the “Brasil” from the name, as this decision gained generally negative reactions from the media [cite web|title=Muito barulho por nada|publisher=Best Cars Web Site|url=http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/editorial/279.htm|accessdate=2008-07-09] . The Brazilian 207 has also been criticized because it was perceived essentially as a facelifted 206, despite Peugeot's efforts to market it as an entirely new car and even selling it at a higher base price [cite web|title=Peugeot 207 Brasil: primeiras fotos|publisher=Notícias Automotivas|url=http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/peugeot-207-brasil-primeiras-fotos/|accessdate=2008-07-09] . It was released in Brazil in late August 2008. Peugeot also plans to release station wagon and sedan versions of the car.

The sedan version, based on the 206 SD sold in Iran, is expected to be realesed in December 2008 and will be named “207 Passion”. It has not been as criticized as the hatchback version, [cite web|title=Peugeot 207 Passion, a versão sedã|publisher=Fast Driver|url=http://www.fastdriver.com.br/site/noticia/not2464_19.asp|accessdate=2008-07-09] probably due to the fact the 206 SD never saw a release in that country.

Concept cars

Peugeot 207 Epure

The Peugeot 207 Epure was a concept car presented at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2006 designed to preview the 207 CC coupé cabriolet which followed. The 207 Epure was fitted with a sophisticated hydrogen fuel cell.

207 RCup

At the 2006 Geneva Motor Show Peugeot also unveiled a sporty concept car based on the 207 and badged as the 207 RCup. This Super 2000 version is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with maximum output of Convert|280|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and is intended as a successor for the 206 World Rally Car which was successfully used by Peugeot in the World Rally Championship, where it helped the team winning the manufacturers' championship in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

New 207 WRC

A version of a 207 is used in the P-WRC, by Swede Patrik Sandell, and his car may be the gateway to Peugeot entering the WRC series with a new 207 WRC car like they used to with the Peugeot 206. There have been rumours floating around of a possible re-entry by peugeot into WRC, but nothing has yet to be confirmed as PSA Peugeot Citroën, who are Peugeot's parent company. PSA already has a team in the championship by means of the Citroën C4 and it would seem a waste of money to have two teams under the flag of the same parent company.

"Peugeot 207 S2000, Possible base for a 207 WRC."

Notes

External links

* [http://www.peugeot.com/en/products/cars/peugeot-207.aspx Official international 207 English website]