Peugeot will launch its first car, the 508 luxury sedan in India in 2012 and the car will be showcased at the Auto Expo. Peugeot will appoint dealers across India to sell its 508 model, next year and will follow a top-down approach (similar to Renault) in launching its products.
Peugeot 508
The 508 is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 18 lakh – 22 lakh and will compete with the likes of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and the Nissan Teana.
The 508 has floating-style single, large radiator grille clearly revealing its European origin. In fact, the 508 is forward-looking, dynamic and in many ways better than its predecessor, the 407. The 508 is 4,792 mm in length, 2,068 mm in width and 1,456 mm in height. Length-wise, the 508 is smaller than the Honda Accord (4950 mm) and the Toyota Camry (4815 mm).
The well-sculpted headlamp units comprising LED day/night lamps coupled with the bi-xenon directional headlamps make the 508 look lively and contemporary. The 508 has a head-up display, four-zone air conditioning, start-stop button, Bluetooth and it also has 545 litres of boot space. Quality, fit and finish too is top notch.
In international markets, the Peugeot 508 is powered by a 1.6-litre e-HDi FAP diesel engine that produces 112 bhp of maximum power and 285 Nm of maximum torque. The engine comes with either a 5-speed/6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Being a CBU, expect the same engine for the India-bound model. Safety features in the 508 include dual front airbags, curved head restraints in the front, with integral multi-position adjustment to secure the passenger from collisions.
Peugeot at 2012 Delhi Auto Expo
The French auto giant will showcase three of its India-bound models including the 508 saloon at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. “The Auto Expo will mark our first formal presence in India. We will display vehicles that will best demonstrate the DNA of Peugeot. We have just developed the world’s first diesel hybrid,” said a company official. Peugeot is expected to unveil its models on a display floor of roughly 500 square meters.
No Citroen in near future
Citroen fans may have to wait for a while because Peugeot has no plans as of now, to launch car from its close ally (Citroen) in the Indian market. Peugeot needs to get its network and infrastructure in place, before the plant comes up in 2014.
Peugeot plant
The company is investing a sum of Rs. 4,000 crore for building its production plant in Sanand, Gujrat which will become functional by 2014. It has to be noted that Peugeot began its work at the plant site in November 2011 after a foundation stone-laying ceremony at Sanand. The upcoming Peugeot plant is spread across 600 acres and will have an initial production capacity of 1.7 lakh cars per annum and will likely be scaled up to produce 3.4 lakh cars per annum by 2016.
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