The smaller the car is, the harder it usually is to develop without losing money. After all, regardless of particular preferences at each region, the vehicle’s size has always been related in any degree to how much it should cost. So even though an automaker wants (and/or needs) to create a high-standard car, compact ones are always harder to generate profit. This is why some companies started to focus these ones on cutting costs, which ended in very rational models like Dacia Logan and Datsun Go. If your strategy for them calls for some kind of luxury touch, taking another automaker as partner has proved itself a very efficient solution in nowadays. Fiat 500, to give an example, shares its platform with the European Ford Ka. The latest Renault Twingo does so with the upcoming smart fortwo, and so forth.
If you’ve seen pictures of this car’s predecessor, you’ve certainly noticed that PSA and Toyota didn’t worked too much on differentiating Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo. Despite having more parts in common helps to cut production costs, it also brings the problem of selling pretty much the same car, under different badges. Therefore, the client ends seeing only one car, when each one could offer it a new option with characteristics of its own. Judging by the few official photos that have been released so far, one of the biggest concerns of these automakers was to change this situation. Peugeot is the only one to have changed the name of its hatchback, but only in order to follow its current naming strategy. All the three will make their official debuts in this year’s Geneva Auto Show.
Since Peugeot was assigned to work with the mid-level market, above cheap cars and under the high-luxury ones, the only way a supermini could keep up with it would be investing on sophistication. Rather than bringing lots of equipments, 108’s upscale feeling comes from being elegant. Using the right quantity of items makes the front fascia look solid. It’s interesting to notice that while the overall layout was inspired on 208, the details seem to have been borrowed from 308. The high-tech touch is made with Peugeot’s feline headlights, which lead to sides which once again look elegant for looking simple. The chrome line under the windows matches the wheels, while the slightly boxy silhouette creates a nice connection with 107’s looks.
The rear fascia, in turn, holds two of the most interesting design elements of this car. The glass tailgate is placed between the charming set of tail lights: since 208’s claw shape has elevated industrial costs, 108 simulates it by using red and white portions on a more conventional piece. Besides that, Peugeot would never forget what turned into a very important trend for this category: personalization. 108 already debuts in three or five doors and with the optional cloth-top panoramic sunroof, which makes Peugeot call it a convertible. You can mix and match the car’s colors between body and color in all of them, but some versions have exclusive options, such as the three-door convertible’s two-tone paint. After that, there are seven personalization themes, for visual accessories, and three interior ambiences, according to the trim.
Having so many options to offer enables 108 to suit almost all kinds of customers, whether inside or outside. Its city-car intention are proved by its external dimensions, which are 40-mm longer but 10-mm narrower than what 107 had. Like Twingo, using such short overhangs will come in handy at urban maneuvers, while a 196-liter trunk handles most common uses (replacing the puncture repair kit with a spare wheel drops it to 180 liters). Storage areas are many, scattered around the cabin, but big volumes can be held by folding the 50/50 rear bench – freeing a 750-liter room. The equipment list will be very similar to its competitors’, including six airbags, keyless entry, electric power steering, infotainment system with 7” touchscreen and stability control, to give some examples.
When it comes to performance, 108’s characteristics start with the great weight of 840 kg, which appears on its entry-level Access trim – the others will be Active and Allure, on both body options, whether using the TOP! panoramic sunroof or not. Engine options will always use three-cylinders, and they start with three versions of the carried-over 68-hp 1.0L unit: the e-VTi version emits only 88 g/km of CO2, while the VTi raises that to 95 g/km with the same five-speed manual transmission and to 97 g/km with a five-speed automatic. And, for the first time, you can have (a little) more power with the PureTech 1.2L engine, good for 82 hp and 99 g/km always using manual gearbox.