The 2013 Peugeot 2008 is a Global Crossover with Efficiency at its Heart

11 years, 8 months ago - 8 March 2013, Autoblog

It was always going to be hard for Peugeot to follow the blind-man-can-see-it neon paint of the 2008 Concept car – which was seared onto our retinas in Paris last year – but that doesn't mean the production version of the CUV here in Geneva is unattractive.

The rather more sane white paint still covers pert, attractive lines on the new French crossover, and the Peugeot folks certainly have high hopes that European shoppers will feel good about it, too.

The Peugeot 2008 is a B-Segment follow-up to the automaker's larger 3008 CUV, and is set to go on sale in the spring of this year. The 2008 will be offered in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and is therefore a pretty big deal for the recently struggling Peugeot.

The goal of the 2008 is to offer a package that is usefully sized for urban environments, but with enough flexibility for customers that travel outside city streets. To that end, Peugeot has equipped the front-drive crossover with its Grip Control system, which allows for terrain and condition specific programming by the driver. Standard, Snow, All-Terrain and Sand modes all provide distinct operational programming to maximize traction.

Engines will be of both three- and four-cylinder configurations, with many options of both gasoline- and diesel-burning varieties. The gas engines will range in output from 82 to 130 horsepower, while diesel offerings will muster from 68 to 115 horsepower. The most efficient of the diesel engines will offer a heroic 61.8 miles per gallon on the European combined cycle.