Peugeot 307: Riding a car that turns heads

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Speeding in a Peugeot 307 XS Sporty really turns heads. Not only because it is a brand new car, which was just launched on March 1, but mostly due to its sporty and elegant design.

The stylish eye-look headlight design adds to its uniqueness, helped by the wide windshield and curved hood.

After the success of previous types -- including the multipurpose van 806 HDi (high pressure direct injection), 406, 306 and 206, the type that helped Marcus Gronholm win the 2001 World Rally Championship -- what more can a Peugeot 307 offer to motorists?

The XS Sporty type has sophisticated features, especially the auto switching on-off headlamps and rain sensor.

The headlamps will automatically switch on when the car passes through a dark area, like a basement parking area or a tunnel, and switches off again in sunlight. The butterfly wiping system also automatically switches on when it rains.

The car is also equipped with Follow-me-home system which allows the headlamps to remain on 45 seconds after the engine is turned off. The system is meant to enable the driver to walk to his or her front door, although with most executives having maids or security guards to open their door, this isn't really necessary in Jakarta.

With MacPherson independent suspension and integrated hydraulic shock absorbers, drivers can pass bumpy roads in Jakarta without having to stop.

Electric Brake Force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist help drivers to stop quickly on slippery roads or when speeding. The automatic hazard lamps will switch on in case of sudden deceleration and switch off when the driver picks up speed again.

During last week's test drive, Peugeot 307 proved to be very comfortable at speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour on the city's toll road. The car can reach 100km within only 11.6 seconds.

For those who must travel in congested traffic during peak hours, Peugeot 307 also offers an automatic version, thanks to the use of the Porsche tiptronic system which enables the driver to move the transmission system from automatic to manual without any clutch pedaling.

When curving, the back suspension helps the car to remain stable even at high speeds.

Despite the compact size and all the features above, one might be surprised upon entering the car, its interior is quite spacious. Even with its hatchback model, Peugeot 307's trunk capacity reaches 420 liters.

For passenger safety, all cars are equipped with driver and passenger air bags with additional side and curtain air bags for the XS Sporty, both manual and automatic transmission.

Like other European cars, Peugeot 307 also has an onboard computer that tells the temperature, time and date and has a radio. But this feature can be easily changed by using a small knob on the steering column below the wiper knob.

For a big city like Jakarta, the car is quite economical, averaging 100 kilometer to 7.2 liters.

With all these features, it's no wonder 55 jury members of 21 countries in Europe named Peugeot 307 the Car of the Year 2002. Moreover, the car frame is made of recyclable composite material and is also equipped with catalytic converter to reduce emission.

Only just 10 days after the launching, 65 completely built up units have been sold.

With the market target being active and assertive people aged between 30 and 40 years old, the XS Sporty could be yours for Rp 227 million.

Peugeot 307

Dimension Length: d 1,587 cc Maximum power: DIN 110 bhp/5750 rpm Maximum torque: 147 Nm/3900 rpm Fuel supply: High compression direct injection Fuel capacity: 60 liters Fuel type: Super TT

Types and Prices (off the road) XS Manual Transmission Rp 209 million XS Sporty Manual Transmission Rp 227 million XS Sporty Automatic Transmission Rp 240 million