Peugeot debuts two new SUV models in different price ranges

Peugeot debuts two new SUV models in different price ranges

The futuristic design of Peugeot's latest SUVs, the 807 and the
Partner, caught the eye of onlookers at the Gaikindo Auto Expo at
the Jakarta Convention Center.

Although the cars were officially released last December in
the company's native France, the look of the 807 and the Peugeot
Partner, a base model Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) -- launched by
PT Astra France Motor on July 17, the day before the expo opened
-- was new to most people here.

The 807 has a more futuristic design than its diesel-powered
predecessor, the 806, which earned a 1999 award for best Multi
Purpose Vehicle from the auto industry.

At the expo, we were put into a group of three journalists and
allowed to take the vehicles on a short spin around the Automall.

Climbing into the cabin of the 807, the interior definitely
feels like a premium MPV.

The car moved around the test track smoothly. The suspension
-- independent MacPherson struts on the front wheels and
independent trailing arms on the rear wheels -- made the
luxurious leather seats particularly comfortable despite the
bumpy road around the office complex.

Since we did not take the vehicles very farm we did not
have time to check out all the features, but one thing that
caught our attention was the electric sliding passenger door. It
provides easy entrance for passengers and parents will appreciate
the smart "anti-pinch system" that it is equipped with to prevent
injuring children who tend to play with doors and windows.

And the sliding door and most features of the 807 are tailored
for parents, the targeted consumers for this vehicle. Although
the Peugeot 807 is not equipped with cruise control, the
automatic transmission will help parents relax as they take the
family out for a leisurely ride.

Families will be especially impressed with the many safety
features of the 807. It earned five stars in the European New Car
Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) crash test, making it the first
MPV to reach the highest safety class.

The 807 is equipped with airbags for the driver and front-seat
passenger, as well as side airbags and curtain airbags for all
three rows of seats.

Passengers are further protected by a precision antilock
braking system (ABS), electronic brakes (EBD) and 3-point safety
belts.

Powered by a 1,997 cc EW 10 J4 engine, the Peugeot 807 can
reach a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour, with the 139
horsepower (hp) engine running at 6,000 revolutions per minute
(rpm) and a maximum torque of 190 Newton meters at 4,100 rpm.

Like the 307 model, which was selected by some in the industry
as the best car in 2002, the 807 has a spacious cabin.

The interior of the 4.73 meter long and 1.85 meter wide
vehicle is large enough to provide ample room for passengers. The
fact that you can turn the front seats 180 degrees to face
backwards and fold down the second row makes roadside lunches
easy.

The Peugeot 807 is listed at Rp 396 million (US$46,500) and
the Partner sells for about Rp 175 million.

Although Peugeot classifies Partner as a SUV, it could use
more power to really satisfy the needs of more demanding terrain.

The 1,360 cc four-cylinder TU3 JP SOHC engine turns out 90
horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 120 Newton meter
at 3,400 rpm.

Partner, the first Peugeot model named with a word instead of
numbers, seats seven passengers and is also equipped with sliding
doors like the Peugeot 807.

At 4.14 meters long, 1.96 meters wide and 1.80 meters high, it
maneuvers easily on city streets.

Despite its rather small size, Peugeot provides top safety
features, including a driver's airbag, side impact beams in the
front doors and 3-point safety belts in the first and second rows
of seats.

Two seats in the third row can be folded down to provide room
for additional storage.

The Partner also has an engine immobilizer to go along with
the remote locking of the doors and trunk.

-- Novan Iman Santosa and Primastuti Handayani