Favey’s masterplan is to unleash eye-catching design and unusual bodystyles, potentially expanding the 408 Fastback philosophy into other market segments. “The 408 is a bit sedan, a bit SUV, it’s a new thing. It’s a car that goes much beyond just the volume it makes, it’s a statement.”
He continues: “The important thing for me is on the first look at any new Peugeot, people have to be able to say within a tenth of a second: ‘That can only be a Peugeot’. I keep saying to our design team: ‘Bring me cars that cannot be a Hyundai or a Kia or whatever else.’ Ours need to stand out.”
Two new cars for China too, in partnership with Dongfeng
Peugeot showcased two concepts at this year’s Beijing motor show amid, Favey reckons, a sea of lookalike designs. The Concept 6 sedan and Concept 8 SUV show an edgy new take on the brand’s design, and the production versions – co-developed with Dongfeng – will relaunch the Peugeot in the world’s biggest car market starting next year.
Favey calls the look our “Feline Future design language”. A key aspect is the evolution of the light signature: a series of vertical, claw-like slashes will turn horizontal, evoking the plastic strips on the 205 GTi’s tailgate. It’s another nod to heritage, something the Chinese brands lack.
New Peugeots will be underpinned by a renewed focus on quality. The 208 and 2008 now get a completely overhauled 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine backed by 1.86-million miles of testing, in a bid to eliminate its predecessor’s warranty claims. “You have to learn from your mistakes and the new Turbo 100 is now the most efficient and best quality on the market,” vows the boss.
He hopes the renewed focus on quality and customer service should boost loyalty. That’s important because Peugeot is only holding steady in Europe, no surprise says Favey considering its car line-up – bar the 3008 and 5008 SUVs – are in their twilight years. But Fastlane’s new model and technology push is charged with driving European volume from 800,000 to 1-million units by 2030. It’s time for Peugeot to floor it.
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