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Peugeot has a very good reason to unveil the SXC concept at the Shanghai Motor Show, as the crossover model has been designed and developed by the Peugeot Style Studios of China Tech Center. In addition, the SXC name stands for “Shanghai Cross Concept”, with Peugeot claiming that the crossover study was build to suit the tastes of Chinese buyers.

At 4,870mm long, 1,610mm tall and 2,035mm wide, the sleek crossover is a large vehicle. To put it in perspective, the BMW X6 measures 4,877mm long. The SXC features several styling cues seen in recent Peugeot concept cars, such as the SR1, HR1 and the EX1. The French firm said the study combines elements from both SUVs and saloon models.

As China’s auto market continues to grow in numbers and significance, carmakers from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond are flocking to the world’s most populous country to reap the benefits. For its part, French automaker Peugeot plans to reinforce its presence in China by launching at least one new model per year into the market starting with the new local market 508 saloon that will be introduced alongside a brand new concept model at next week’s Shanghai Auto Show. Read more »

Toyota, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and BMW are the carmakers closest to reaching their CO2 targets next year, according to a report by market research firm JATO Dynamics. The targets are imposed by the European Union, whose objective for 2015 is to enforce a fleet average CO2 level of 130 g/km for manufacturers selling cars in Europe.

In order to reach that objective, CO2 targets are lowered progressively each year. In 2009 the average was 145.9 g/km and in 2010 it went down to 140.9 g/km. Emissions regulations will be imposed starting next year, with significant fines to be enforced to automakers that will not comply with the new emissions limits.

You can never get it wrong when casting attractive women in commercials, right? That's what the people from Peugeot must have thought when they commissioned this TV ad for the restyled Peugeot 308. The car plays a very marginal part in the commercial, with the 30-second long footage being dominated by the Peugeot's owner, an attractive young lady who walks with no umbrella in the pouring rain just to get to her beloved 308. Not the most creative of ads, but at least the people from the casting department did their job.

A low-cost company has to find low-cost ways not only to produce, but also to market and sell its products. This is why Renault devised a strategy to sell Dacia models online, through an Internet sales program that will be implemented in Europe.

“Internet sales will quickly become a reality. Many of our customers know what they want before they step into our showrooms, so an online sales channel makes sense,” said Gerard Detourbet, head of Renault's low-cost program.

But that isn't the only reason. Renault will be soon facing the threat of a low-cost rival coming from the French group PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Rumored to receive the abandoned Simca name, the new make could sell its vehicles exclusively through the Internet, as sales chief Jean-Marc Gales hinted at the Geneva Motor Show.

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot uncovered its new 908 HYbrid4, a diesel-hybrid endurance race car designed to compete in the 2012 edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Starting from 2011, regulations for the Le Mans race make hybrid vehicles eligible for top honors, with the objective being to encourage makers in developing hybrid race cars that can challenge the supremacy of diesel-powered Audis.

Unless Peugeot is hiding a surprise in its pouch, the French carmaker's presence at the upcoming Geneva Salon will most likely go under the radar. Aside from the subtly facelifted 308 family which includes the hatchback models, an estate and the coupe-cabriolet, Peugeot's stand will also host the premiere of two limited edition models.

At next month's Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot will unveil its refreshed 308 range that enters the 2011 model year with some subtle styling changes, revised powertrains and the introduction of a fuel efficient micro-hybrid e-HDi variant with CO2 emissions under 100g/km.

All three body styles of the Ford Focus-rivaling 308, including the hatchback, CC coupe-convertible and the SW station wagon, have been given a new face that subtly incorporates the latest stylistic codes of the Peugeot brand.

This translates to a less smiley and more compact sized front grille, reshaped LED headlamps and running lights, a new hood design and a re-sculptured front bumper. The fresh alloy wheel designs, new brand logos and some trim changes on certain models complete the exterior makeover.

At a special event held in Paris, French automaker Peugeot released the first details on its new 908 endurance racecar, with which it will participate at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). Codenamed 90X, the competition model features an all-new 550HP 3.7-liter V8 diesel engine that replaces the 2010 908 HDi FAP's 5.5-liter V12 oil-burner and complies with the new regulations introduced for 2011, including the demand for a “shark fin engine cover”.

Already partners in developing 4-cylinder petrol engines, BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën have decided to set up 50-50 equity joint venture named the BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, which will primarily focus on developing hybrid components. Sharing the cost of research and development as well as production and component purchasing, the two companies expect to achieve significant economies of scale.

The looting of the Ferrari 599 GTB owned by former Tunisian president Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali and the smashing of cars owned by his relatives including a Ferrari California may have been eye-catching in an offbeat sort of way, but there are more important automotive-related stories coming out from Tunisia.

It has been reported by several news agencies that Tunisians are also destroying random vehicles made by Kia, Fiat, Porsche and other makers. The reason? Because the companies that distribute them are controlled by members of the ruling family. Now, in light of all the latest developments, many international automakers are reviewing their business ties to the extended family of Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali, according to the Financial Times.

The daily newspaper said that up until now, the country's car market, which totaled just under 60,000 units in 2010, was heavily regulated by its trade ministry that favored importers controlled one way or another by relatives of the former president or his wife, Leila Trabelsi.

In less than two weeks, 2010 will draw to a close. So what better time to look back at the real stars of this year’s motor shows: the concept cars! Enter into a world where considerations like practicality and profitability fall by the wayside and the world’s designers and engineers show us their true potential. Let’s count down...my Top 10 Concept Cars of 2010!

Want to buy a car owned by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Well, if for whatever reason the answer is yes, here's your chance. Iran's state television reported on Monday that the country's president has decided to auction off his 1977 Peugeot 504 sedan to raise money for the Mehr Housing Plan, which is aimed at providing affordable housing for low-income families.

A new assembly line was officially opened this week in the Argentine capital on which the high-end Peugeot 408 sedan will be built. The Argentine president joined PSA Peugeot Citroen executives for the opening.

Peugeot plans to kick off sales in Argentina and Brazil in the next few months, with the plan to expand sales to 25 other Latin American countries eventually.

Pricing and market launch date were not given, although communications chief Daniel Moretti of Peugeot Argentina told local media that the 408 will be presented to the dealer network by December and reach its first customers in January.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has officially launched production of the "Peugeot 408" at its El Palomar, Buenos Aires plant in Argentina. The launch ceremony was attended by Carlos Gomes, PSA Peugeot Citroen senior vice president, Latin America; Javier Varela Sobrado, managing director of PSA Peugeot Citroen Argentina; and Argentina’s President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

In addition to the El Palomar plant, PSA Peugeot Citroen also operates a components/engine plant in Argentina.

Earlier this year, Peugeot launched and introduced the new Peugeot 408 sedan to the Chinese market. Now it looks like the French manufacturer is also keen on bringing their compact sedan to another market, South America.

Peugeot also announced that the "Peugeot 408", the long wheelbase version of the 308, is currently being produced at the company’s PSA Peugeot Citroen Palomar production plant in Buenos Aires, Argentina and will eventually be sold in 27 countries, including Argentina and Brazil.

The 0 denotes the Peugeot 408 as a Peugeot, while the 8 signifies the sedan’s generation.

The Peugeot 408 is offered with a choice of 1.6 Liter 16 V four cylinder making 110 HP or a 2.0 Liter 16 V cranking out 147 HP.
The new Peugeot 408 is a mid-size sedan created by the French car manufacturer Peugeot especially for the Chinese market. The car was designed in France and although intended for the Chinese market, Peugeot plans on selling the car in other countries as well around the world as well.

Peugeot is launching a new "sedan Peugeot 408" in China. This model is designed special for growth market countries and produced by the joint venture companies in China namely Peugeot Dongfeng.

Peugeot 408 using low-cost platform with MacPherson front suspension (front) and torsion-beam (rear). Be extended 2710mm wheelbase, or a 100mm longer than the Peugeot 308 hatchback. With the addition of the rear trunk, total length of 4680mm or 400mm so longer than 308.

1.6-liter engine can produce maximum power of 110hp and 2.0-liter engine can be 147hp. Engine with VVT technology has been removed from Peugeot models in circulation there.

The Chinese and South American version of the Peugeot 408 , built on an extended 308 platform and developed by Peugeot and China's DFM, is expected to increase Peugeot's Chinese sales - 410,000 in 2009 - by 30 percent.

“Whilst the car has not been officially confirmed for right-hand drive production at this stage, we are quietly confident that it will be in Australia in the not-too-distant future,” General Manager of Peugeot Australia Ken Thomas said.

“The car has an extended wheelbase allowing for more interior space and the sedan shape obviously allows for more boot space.”

In China, the Peugeot 408 will be powered by a version of the 1.6 litre engine developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW, along with a 2.0 litre petrol unit, producing 79kW and 110kW respectively.

The 508 marks the return of Peugeot’s “five-0″ designated models, last seen on the 505 from 1979 to around 1992.

Say bonjour to Peugeot Sport's next generation racing car, currently codenamed 90X. Set to compete in the 2011 racing season, the 90X will replace the four-year-old 908 HDi, which took first place in the 24h of Le Mans in 2008.

Peugeot had entered four 908 prototypes at this year's edition of the Le Mans, but while the racers took the top four spots in the qualifying round, all four cars had problems and were retired before the end of the race. This was the first time that none of the Peugeot 908s finished the 24-hour classic. So now, the French carmaker is preparing its successor that has just completed its first track test.

There's a new addition to the range of Peugeot's 207 hatchback. It's called the "Sportium" and it builds on the specification of the previous special edition ["special edition" translates to "higher-spec model" in Peugeot's language...] 207 Millesim model. Available exclusively as a hatchback with a choice of either a VTi 95HP Euro 5 petrol engine or Peugeot's new HDi 92HP Euro 5 diesel engine, the Sportium is priced in the UK from £12,595.

On the 20th of January, 2009, 56-year-old mother-of-three Judith Evans was killed when her Peugeot 107 hit a Vauxhall Vectra in a head-on collision in Buckinghamshire, UK. The matter recently went to court where it was heard that the victim sustained multiple fractures and chest and abdominal injuries which the Thames Valley Police noticed were unusually severe given the force of impact.

Experts from Peugeot and Vehicle Safety Consultancy Ltd believe that the 107 should have provided good protection for this sort of crash, and yet this was not the case. Why?

Evans' Peugeot 107 met all EuroNCAP safety standards, with the 107 and it's Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo siblings having scored four stars in a 2005 test. It was fitted with front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters along with front and side body airbags for both driver and passenger.

The investigation suggests it may have to do with weight. Not the weight of the Vectra compared to the 107, as Peugeot has suggested, but the weight of the 107's driver.

The ongoing love affair between the BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën has just become more intense as the two companies announced today their intention to further expand the cooperation to include hybrid components for front-wheel-drive vehicles by singing a memorandum of understanding. Both parties have agreed not to disclose financial details of the agreement.

Celebrating its 200th anniversary, Peugeot is showcasing its signature HYbrid4 all-wheel drive hybrid system featuring an electric motor driving the rear wheels, and a conventional gasoline engine powering the front.

Peugeot's claims bragging rights to the world's first Diesel Hybrid Crossover by launching the 3008 HYbrid4. A 163 hp diesel engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission, while a 37 hp electric motor powers the rear wheels.

Named the HR1, Peugeot designers claim that there are elements from the city car, coupe and SUV philosophies to get the final look of this hybrid.

Powering the HR1 is a 1.2-litre, three cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine driving the front wheels. Petrol engine and electric motor work independently of each other classing the HR1 as a through-the-road hybrid.

The flood of Pre-Paris Auto Show surprises continues with the online debut today of the Peugeot HR1 compact SUV hybrid concept.

With a face clearly inspired by the sports-focussed SR1 hybrid concept, Peugeot says its HR1 concept is more than merely a hybrid CUV, borrowing elements from city cars, sports coupes and SUVs alike.

As with the SR1, the HR1 is powered by PSA Peugeot Citroen's Hybrid4 technology, with an 82kW 1.2 litre three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels and a 28kW electric motor powering the rear wheels.