Geneva show: Peugeot unveils 107 city car replacement, called the 108

One small digit, one big change


PEUGEOT HAS stolen a march on partners Citroën and Toyota by revealing details of its new joint-venture 108 city car ahead of them.

The car maker claims the replacement for the 107, which will also be the basis of the new Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo due to be announced next week, is more stylish and less basic than before. To this end, the range includes a convertible model called the 108 TOP!, featuring a roll-top roof, in addition to the more conventional mix of three and five-door hatchbacks.

At 3,470mm in length and 1,620mm wide, the 108 is around the same size as the old 107.  With kerbweights from just 840kg, it’s about as light, too. As before, it is powered by a 1-litre, 68bhp, three-cylinder petrol engine, mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox.

There are three versions of this engine emitting 88, 95 and 97g/km CO2 respectively, making each exempt from road tax. In addition, there is now a larger, 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine producing 82bhp and 99g/km CO2 meaning it, too, is zero-rated for tax, at least under current rules.

Meanwhile, in a bid to score five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, Peugeot has equipped the 108 with six airbags, antilock brakes with brake force distribution, electronic stability control and a speed limiter.

In keeping with its small-car cheekiness, the 108 can be personalised with a range of two-tone as well as exotic single-colours that include Purple Berry ‒ what Peugeot describes as a “stunning shade of violet”. In addition there are seven personalisation themes, three interior ambiences and a choice of six trims.

Peugeot promises the interior of the 108 will be more upmarket. It features MirrorLink connectivity which allows the driver to use the car’s 7in multi-media screen as if it where their phone’s touchscreen.

The new 108 goes on sale in July at prices still to be announced.