Here at AUSmotive we’re big hot hatch fans. For us, the Peugeot 306 holds a special place, not in the least because we lusted after an S16 at a time when our budget couldn’t stretch that far, but also because we rate it as one of the best looking hatchbacks of all time.
Just take the time to admire the next 306 you see on the road. It’s still a great looking car.
So, to help us all celebrate Bastille Day here’s some French we’ve picked up along our motoring journey: Panizzi, Delecour, 306 Maxi!
Here’s all the left over bits from the Australian International Motor Show. The cars that didn’t quite have enough material for their own sub-gallery or, in some case, cars that usually don’t fit the AUSmotive niche.
The Suzuki Swift S-Concept you see above caught our eye. It looks quite sharp, don’t you think. Speaking of which, the Joss prototype is worthy of a second look. Can Australia really produce a world-class supercar?
You’ll see new metal from Bentley and Maserati. As well as the ‘all-new’ Ford Focus and those teeny weeny Mad Max concepts. Pretty mad looking they are, too.
The best France could offer was Peugeot this year, no Renault to be seen. The new 508 sort of looks alright, but the person responsible for the rear light detail on the 207 SW needs to be guillotined!
Japan popped in with the still menacing Nissan GT-R and Toyota FT-86II Concept. Incidentally, that seemed to be the only car on the Toyota stand that wasn’t prefixed by the word Prius.
And, finally, the Mitsubishi Concept PX MiEV probably the only concept car ever to feature massive Brembo brakes hidden behind chunky alloy wheels. Oh yeah, remember the first time you made a model car and there were bits of glue all over the place? Yeah, check out the front grille on the PX thingy if you can. Bit of a rush job, do you think?
In the battle of the heavyweights Audi has landed the first punch by claiming a front row lockout after qualifying at the Le Mans 24 hour race. For a team with such a great winning record of late, it’s difficult to believe this is the first pole for Audi Sport Team Joest since 2006.
It was the #2 Audi R18 of Benoît Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer (3m 25.738s) that qualified ahead of the #1 Audi driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller (3m 25.799s). A desperately close margin of just 0.061 seconds.
Frenchman Tréluyer set the pole-winning time and he was rapt with the result, “I was born so close to here and the 24 Hours is such a challenge and I was not even thinking about the pole position and then I did and it is just fantastic. I’m so happy about the car, about the job by the mechanics, engineers and it’s just such a nice present to them for all the work they have done up to now.”
Close behind in third place on the grid is the #9 Peugeot 908 of Pedro Lamy, Sebastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud (3m 26.010s).
Official reports from both leading outfits can be read after the break. The race starts at 11pm tomorrow evening Australian eastern time and television coverage is available from One and live audio can be accessed online from Radio Le Mans. And don’t forget to download your free Spotter Guide so you can see who’s who.
Unless something very weird happens at Le Mans this year the race will be won by a Peugeot or an Audi. The Peugeot team won in 2009, and were quicker last year, too, but reliability issues forced all 908s to retire, leaving Audi to claim its ninth victory in the 24 hour classic.
That will have been a bitter moment for the French team and they will be hoping to make amends this weekend. So, perhaps it’s little surprise that, in order to help the drivers clear their minds for the race, they have taken a different approach to their preparation. Instead of arriving at scrutineering in the back of a plush Peugeot they took part in a 125km bike ride.
Merc Gené, 2009 race winner, said, “It was both original and great fun to arrive all together on bikes for scrutineering. Physically, everything went well and we all especially enjoyed the atmosphere in the team. This really is the best spirit I’ve ever experienced in a team and I hope that the results reflect that.â€
Despite forming one third of the winning team in 2009, Australia’s David Brabham is no longer required by Peugeot. All the best to Audi, then!
If you do wish to keep a close eye on the fortunes of the Puegeot 908s you can do so via Peugeot Web TV. See the official team website for more details.
This crazy looking electric powered Peugeot EX1, complete with 250kW, has set a new lap record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife for an electric powered car. It didn’t hang about, either, posting time of 9:01.338—oh so close to breaking the 9 minute barrier—at an average speed of just over 138km/h for those slow with their calculators.
Stéphane Caillet, from Peugeot’s Research & Development Centre, was the man behind the wheel and we reckon he deserves a big pat on the back. He knocked some 50 seconds off the lap record, previously held by the MINI E.
The official word from Peugeot, plus a brief video clip, can be seen after the break.
In a further sign the Chinese market is becoming increasingly important to the world’s car manufacturers another concept model has been previewed ahead of Auto Shanghai. This time it’s Peugeot wanting to cash in early with this pretty cool looking SxC concept.
Indeed, Peugeot say they want to launch at least one new model per year in China. What’s more, the SxC was designed at the Peugeot Style Studios based in Shanghai. According to the press guff the SxC explores the future of crossover vehicles.
We’ve only been given three pics at this stage, but so far, we like it. Even if the interior is a bit too Battlestar Galactica.
Peugeot has released images of its new 308 range, which will make its local debut in Melbourne this July at the Australian International Motor Show.
Styling cues have been sourced from the SR1 concept car and the updated 308 is latest Peugeot to rid itself of the company’s once familiar goofy oversized grille. I’m sure you’ll agree the world is now a better place.
Impressively, the weight of the new model has dropped across the range by an average of 25kg. Okay, that’s not a lot, but it’s a welcome step all the same. And, of course, no new model would be complete without LED daytime running lights and Peugeot has duly obliged.
For now we’ve got a few more pics and a press release from Peugeot UK. Once we have more news on the local lineup we shall let you know.
Here is the AUSmotive photo gallery from the Australian International Motor Show industry day. There are 128 photos in all and you can simply click on each thumbnail to access a 2000px super image.
Highlights include a couple of track specials in the form of the awesome Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the rear-engined V6 Renault Megane Trophy. Others to look out for are the Toyota FT-86G concept, the Ford Focus RS, a trio of Lamborghini Gallardos and the highly desirable Audi R8 V10 Spyder, which looks great in all white.
Dedicated articles on the following cars can be access by clicking on the links below:
A big thank you to Daniel McKenna who joined the AUSmotive crew at AIMS and brought you many of the pictures you see here.
This funky little rocketship looks like something that could only have been created thanks to an automotive designer’s wildest dreams. But it’s the real deal. It’s called a Peugeot EX1 and it features a couple of electric engines giving a total of 250kW. It weighs bugger all and it is lightning quick, apparently.
Utilising an all-wheel drive system Peugeot say the EX1 the car has “already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start.” Although, at this stage, no numbers are given to support those claims.
I guess that means we just have to marvel at the wild exoskeleton structure that has an overall height of just 90cm and features spectacular rearward opening doors.
There’s heaps of pics after the break, make sure you check them out, this EX1 is tres cool!
Peugeot has just released these images of their new 508 saloon and wagon. The 508 will be launched in 2011 and Peugeot say this is the first of their models to take styling cues from the SR1 Concept (well, they both have four wheels I suppose).
A mix of petrol and diesel e-HDi engines will be offered with the 508. Also joining the range will be a HYbrid4 option. This eco-warrior model has headline specs of 200bhp, all-wheel drive and a CO2 figure of just 99g/km.
Peugeot reckon the interior of the 508 is pretty flash saying, “Every detail has been chosen to offer indisputable perceived quality, both visually and to the touch.” The interior does look quite nice at first glance, although a closer inspection shows there are a lot of buttons and it could be a bit fiddly.
Outside, we’re being told the look is “timeless” and typical “French chic”. To be honest, it’s a bit hard to tell from these pics. More than usual, the 508 is one of those cars that needs to be judged in person and not from images. In the photos supplied the 508 looks svelte and smooth, while at the same time looking bloated and not quite right.
Take a look at the pics after the break and judge for yourself.
UPDATE 14 July: Peugeot Australia has just sent out the following info, “The 508 is being developed for a local market release by mid 2011… [it] will be unveiled to the public at the 2011 Melbourne International Motor Show.” Full release below.
The factory backed Peugeot 908 HDi FAP machines are all set to defend their 2009 Le Mans 24 hour crown. But seeing as the French team have demoted Australia’s David Brabham from the winning car to the LMP2 category AUSmotive’s full support will be behind the Audi R15 TDI.
Of course, Peugeot won’t care about that too much as they’re far too busy preparing the 908 for its fourth and final outing at La Sarthe. Indeed, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director, Bruno Famin is expecting a close race with the R15s from Ingolstadt, “This is the 908 HDi FAP’s fourth and final year of competition. It is an outstanding car and I think we can look forward to an incredibly thrilling Le Mans 24 Hour; I believe it will be very close from flag to flag.”
Famin also explains a bit about the changes made to the car since its 2009 success, “Our work initially focused on adapting the 908 HDi FAP to the new 2010 regulations, which essentially meant the engine and bodywork. The only aerodynamic change is the result of having to adjust to this year’s new engine power levels.
“We have endeavoured to recover some of the power lost because of the rule changes, which involved working with Bosch on improving engine combustion, reducing power losses through friction with Total and improving the flow efficiency of the intake and exhaust systems with Dow.”
There’s more from Peugeot and their three-car team after the break. For Australian readers television coverage of the 2010 Le Mans 24 hour race will be provided by One HD on free to air, and the EuroSport channel on Foxtel will also have extensive coverage of the race, including practice and qualifying sessions. Check your local guides for details. A live online radio broadcast, with English commentary, is also provided for free by Radio Le Mans.
Peugeot will take part in its first Nürburgring 24 hour race next month. To help boost the launch of their RCZ coupé the French marque will enter two cars featuring 147kW 2.0 litre turbo diesel engines.
There will be one team of French drivers (car #200) and a team of German drivers (#201). The numbers represent Peugeot’s 200th anniversary.