SA Car Fan has scooped the first on-the-road images of Peugeot’s new 2008 crossover vehicle. Only set for official unveiling at March’s Geneva Motor Show, we were lucky enough to stumble upon the Peugeot 2008 during its advertising shoot in down town Cape Town. Cape Town is a favourite destination for Peugeot television and print shoots with both the latest 208 and 5008 campaigns having been shot in South Africa’s ‘Mother City’.
Peugeot did in fact release the first studio images of its 208-based crossover just ahead of last month’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, at which time three images of the new crossover were leaked. The images seen here, however, are the first fully-exposed images we’re yet to see of the 2008 crossover on-road.
The Peugeot 2008 has appeared across various concept showings by the French manufacturer, but the Peugeot ‘2008 Concept’, unveiled at last year’s Paris Motor Show, was the closest to the production ready car we see here. The production-ready 2008 now wears new front and rear contrasting bumpers with subtle skid-plates and the gets a taller roof-line with smaller, non-concept wheels.
The front has been given 208-sculpted headlights and fog-light surrounds, with LED daytime running lights, while the chrome surround grille and surfaced bonnet are instantly recognisable from their humble 208 underpinnings. From the back, the crease running beneath the rear window and joining the tail-light clusters is a notable styling feature, as is the sculpted step-like roof-line atop the rear door access.
In keeping with the 2008’s mini-SUV styling, the Peugeot 2008 gets a slightly taller body than the 208, but we have to say that the 2008 is still a diminutive car in the metal. The aluminium-look roof rails, chromed wing mirrors, contrasting colour side-sills, 17-inch wheels, widened wheel-arches and raised ride height, complete the crossover overhaul. The full-length panoramic roof should also be available as standard on certain models.
Under the bonnet, the Peugeot 2008 will most likely feature a turbocharged version of Peugeot’s sprightly 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine, which is expected to produce around 82 kW, but still return as little as 4.7 L/100 km. Other engines for the local market are likely to include the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, a 1.6-litre VTi and finally, the punchier turbocharged 1.6 THP.
We’ll bring you all the official news and specifications of the Peugeot 2008 when it is unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Images courtesy of Leon Oosthuizen at: LeonsLens.com
