The European Car of the Year award is perhaps one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive world. This ceremony originated in European roots but turned into a worldwide organization in time. "The Car of the Year" title! Many brands around the world are putting their cars into competition for this international award. However, since there will be only one winner, the dose of challenge increases every year. Today, we are going to talk about the Peugeot 208 which is the winner of 2020 Car of the Year award.
History of the Peugeot 208
First of all, I would like to give some general information about the history of the Peugeot 208. It is a super mini car which manufactured by the French automotive manufacturer Peugeot Motor Company. 208 firstly introduced in 2012 at Geneva Auto Show. It generally designed for a better loading capacity and cabin space for passengers. When we compare it with the predecessor, 208 offers more cabin space and loading capacity than 207. At the first phase of the production process, 208 manufactured as three doored hatchback vehicle for a year. Just after a year, a five doored hatchback variant unveiled by Peugeot. As a successful super mini car, 208 has a solid place in automotive industry for several years.
About Peugeot 208
Now, let’s talk about the features of the Peugeot 208. This beautiful award winning body design created by Yann Beurel. Main body assembled in Slovakia and the homeland France. The exterior design of 208 has got a futuristic and aggressive look when you see the vehicle’s body at first glance. The unusual grille design makes 208 more distinguishable than any other vehicle in traffic. Nevertheless, this unusual design carries some marks from his ancestors such as; iconic Peugeot Lion. Also, the lightweight chassis design offers a better traction and better fuel efficiency when we compare it with the older generations. When we check out the interior design, we can see a perfect combination of technology and luxury. Interior design looking so dynamic and fresh thanks to colour options on cabin design. 208 provides a multiple technological advantage to the customers. First, we can say that 208 has got a multifunctional multimedia system which is Peugeot Connect. It is compatible with the Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Moreover, Active Info Display system providing a practical way to reach all details about the status of the vehicle. Also, you can access all these features by using a Multitouch Screen which is a standard equipment with Peugeot Connect. 208 have some features about driving safety too. Our first feature is Active City Brake Technology which prevents an accident when driver fails to react in time under 20 km/h by using a short range sensor. Second feature is Cruise Control and Speed Limiter which stabilize your vehicle’s speed on the desired point. Finally, The Peugeot Connect SOS and Assistance which triggered automatically in use of an emergency brake or when airbags inflate in an accident.
Technical Specifications of the Peugeot 208
When we focus on to the technical specifications of the Peugeot 208, three different engine variations welcome us. They are; 1.2 Puretech (Petrol type engine), 1.5 BlueHDi (Diesel type engine) and e-208 (Electrical version of the 208). When we look at 1,2 Puretech, we see that there are three different power options, 75, 100, and 130. The number suffix at the end of the engine types shows the horsepower of the engine. With 74, 100, and 129 horsepower options, Puretech provides sufficient performance for daily use. Transmission options vary in 5, 6, and 8-speed gears. Our next option is 1.5 BlueHDi. It is a diesel fuel-powered engine type with a capacity of 100 horsepower. The engine, which has a 6-speed gearbox, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 10.2 seconds. Finally, when we look at the electric option e-208, 50 kW Lithium-Ion batteries welcome us. The e-208, which can reach a maximum speed of 150 km, has a 1-speed transmission. Although its 349 km range doesn't sound very long, it is quite enough for daily use.