Peugeot and Citroen ready new product offensive

FRANCE is not only known for the Eiffel tower and baguettes but the European country also boasts a thriving automotive scene, which can often be forgotten here in Australia.

Renault, Peugeot and Citroen all hail from France, but none of these car-making brands have managed to make a serious dent in Australia’s ultra-competitive market.

Fingers crossed then that the new models from the latter two brands will gain traction in local showrooms because we really are in the midst of a new French Renaissance – at least in the automotive industry.

With a big-booted body style, the Peugeot 508 Touring is 30mm longer than its sedan sibling, and offers up 530 litres of boot storage with all the seats in place.

Are you sick of the glut and oversaturation of high-riding SUVs but still want the practicality and space? Perhaps the new Peugeot 508 wagon is the answer!

Blending sophisticated European styling with the roomy dimensions of a large wagon, the 508 Touring is expected to touch down in local showrooms mid next year alongside its sedan sibling.

Unfortunately that’s really all we know about the car for now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look at what’s offered globally and make educated guesses on what we can expect.

Although Australian powertrains are yet to be confirmed, it is expected that Peugeot Australia will only import the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine available in either a 135kW or 168kW tune.

With six engines available international – two petrol and four diesels – Peugeot’s local arm will likely only bring in the petrol versions as oil burners fall out of favour in Australia.

Both petrol engines are 1.6-litre four-cylinder units, but thanks to turbocharging, Peugeot has wrung out 135kW or 168kW, paired exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Overseas, customers also have the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but given the lack of interest locally for electrified powertrains, the eco-focussed engine will remain a Europe-only affair for now.

If SUVs aren’t your thing, the Peugeot 508 Touring maybe just the thing you’re after, marrying car-like dynamics and handling with ample storage space and practicality.

Compared to its sedan counterpart, the 508 Touring is 20mm taller and just 30mm longer, but boasts a massive 530 litre boot that can expand to a capacious 1780L once the 60:40 split-fold rear seats are stowed.

Inside, both 508s are largely the same, with Peugeot’s now signature small steering wheel, 10.0-inch Apply CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible infotainment unit, massaging front seats and 12.3-inch digital instrumentation.

Hopefully the 508 Touring drives as good as it looks, but either way it will take the fight to the Holden Commodore Tourer, Ford Mondeo wagon and Mazda6 wagon when it touches down.

Citroen’s C5 Aircross may have a hard time competing against the dominate Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, but its French flair could be a boon for those looking for something a bit quirky in the mid-size SUV space.

Meanwhile, compatriot brand Citroen will introduce Australians to its quirky C5 Aircross mid-size SUV that is set to go on sale around the same time as the Peugeot 508 Touring.

Launching into the biggest segment in Australia, mid-size SUVs, the latest Citroen is going to be fighting an uphill battle against market favourites such as the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

To give it an edge though, Citroen’s C5 Aircross will be its first model to roll out the brand’s Hydraulic Cushion suspension system that is touted as being able to greatly improve ride comfort with tweaks to damping quality.

The first Citroen model to feature Hydraulic Cushion suspension, the Citroen C5 Aircross will likely retain the ultra-comfortable ride quality of the Grand C4 Picasso.

So for those looking for a cloud-like ride, the Citroen C5 Aircross will likely sport the famous, and well-deserved, super-sumptuous ride quality that French cars are known for.

On the inside, the newest Citroen will feature an 8.0-inch infotainment display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof and heated front pews, as well as all the latest safety gear such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

Again however, local engines are yet to be confirmed but could run a wide gamut including a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol shared with the aforementioned 508, 1.2-litre three-cylinder engines found in other Citroen models or even oil-burning units.

Like the Peugeot, the Citroen C5 Aircross’ engines are yet to the announced for the local market, but sharing the same platform as the 3008 and 5008 is a positive sign.

Being built on the same EMP2 platform as the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 though, means the Citroen C5 Aircross will probably be pointy and direct in the steering department with tight and communicative chassis control.

The biggest hurdle to the Peugeot 508 Touring and Citroen C5 Aircross’ success locally may just be how much they cost next to some already well-entrenched rivals, so we have our ears firmly to the ground for pricing.

For now though, we are happy to report that French car-makers are making a strong play at becoming relevant in the Australian automotive landscape once again. Vive la France!

 

Protect your Peugeot and Citroen. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.