Peugeot 1008 spotted testing again, debut imminent

KUALA LUMPUR: The Peugeot 1008 (naming is not official yet) was first seen way back in August 2017 in Southern Europe. The same test mule has been spotted again, which might indicate towards its debut. The Peugeot 1008 is believed to be an entry-level crossover SUV and will be slotted below the bigger 2008 in terms of the pricing. However, there is still no news about when the model will make its debut in the production-ready form.

Aesthetically, the Peugeot 1008 that has been spied testing now is almost identical to the one which was seen back in 2017. However, there are just a few changes now. Though it still appears to have taken bits from the 208, the flares for the wheel arches (fenders, precisely) are a lot bulkier. Moreover, the rear doors are longer too, which indicates that the wheelbase has gone up now. Mechanically, there is almost negligible light on any of the facts. However, it is most likely to use a three-cylinder engine. A manual gearbox is expected to be standard which will be sending power to the front wheels. An automatic gearbox is also expected to be made available.

The Peugeot 208 is sold in the Malaysia market in the Puretech and GTi forms. The standard model is powered by a three-cylinder turbocharged engine that can churn out 112 PS of maximum power at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 205 Nm which kicks-in from 1,500 rpm. The power is transferred to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic unit that comes with a quick-shifter. Since this Peugeot will be slotted below the 2008 SUV, the price would also be lower than RM 105,888, which is the OTR price (without insurance) for the bigger car.