Super Sport Car Action: Peugeot 207

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Peugeot 207

The Peugeot 207 is a supermini produced by the French automaker Peugeot and unveiled in January 2006. According to JATO Dynamics, an automative market researcher, the model was the bestselling car in Europe in 2007. The 207 was launched in France, Spain and Italy during April 2006 and later on in other European, Israeli and Arabic markets. The UK launch was on 8 June 2006. Amicus and the TGWU, both unions representing workers at PSA's UK manufacturing plant in Ryton, Coventry, chose the same day to launch a campaign calling for the boycott of PSA's Peugeot and Citroën vehicles in the UK. The campaign was in protest against the company's plans to close the Ryton plant. Despite the boycott the sales of Peugeot in UK grew. Not to be confused with the 207 in the Brazilian market. That model is essentially a 206+ sold in some European markets. The 207 is the successor to the 206. The 207 is based on a modified version of the platform used for the Citroën C3, and is built in Poissy and a new plant near Trnava, Slovakia. Initially three petrol engines were available: 1.4-litre 8v with 75 or 16v 90 hp (67 kW) and 1.6-litre 16v with 110 bhp (82 kW; 112 PS). From late 2006, the 1.4 & 1.6 16v models were replaced by the new 1.4 vti 95 bhp (71 kW; 96 PS) and 1.6 vti a 120 bhp (89 kW; 122 PS) Valvetronic engines. Two turbocharged versions, one with 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS) , and the other with 175 bhp (130 kW; 177 PS) were also added to the range. The latter four engines result from the cooperation agreement between PSA and the BMW group. The diesel-powered engines available are a 1.4 litre 70 hp (52 kW) or a 1.6 litre HDi with maximum output of 90 or 110 hp (82 kW), the latter with the addition of an intercooler. The 207 is available as a three- or five-door hatchback, a 207 SW Station Wagon and a 207 CC coupé convertible. A GTI version is available with the 175 hp (130 kW) turbocharged 1.6 litre engine. It has sold well in Britain, being the sixth best selling car overall (and third in the supermini sector) in 2007 with more than 67,000 examples being sold.

Top Gear - Peugeot 207 vs Parkour (Free-Runners) - BBC

The Peugeot 207 Epure was a concept car presented at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2006 designed to preview the 207 CC coupé cabriolet which followed. The 207 Epure was fitted with a sophisticated hydrogen fuel cell.At the 2006 Geneva Motor Show Peugeot also unveiled a sporty concept car based on the 207 and badged as the 207 RCup. This Super 2000 version is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with maximum output of 280 hp (209 kW) and is intended as a successor for the 206 World Rally Car which was successfully used by Peugeot in the World Rally Championship, where it helped the team winning the manufacturers' championship in 2000, 2001 and 2002.A Super 2000 version of the 207 is used in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship as well as several rally championships across Europe. The 2008 European Rally drivers' champion and the 2007 and 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers' champions drove 207 Super 2000s.The Peugeot 207 was facelifted in July 2009. The car has been given a new front end and LED lights on the rear giving the car a bigger look.