Next Peugeot 108 Could Go All-Electric Sharing Base With New Fiat 500
While some manufacturers phase out their city cars, Peugeot will retain the 108 in service as long as the demand for it is viable.
Therefore, Peugeot boss Jean-Philippe Imparato told AutoExpress that the tiny hatchback will live on, confirming the decision was made earlier this year.
A few weeks ago we decided to keep the 108 in our lineup. Why? For what? Because this car has reasonable success and because it is significant, he said. We sell around 6,000 cars a year in the UK.
I don’t want to lose money on any car in my portfolio though. I’m trying to protect the residual value of my Peugeot cars. So, we’re going to keep the 108 until the customer tells us ‘ No guys, we no longer want it. ‘
For the Peugeot brand. The recently unveiled Fiat 500 Electric could be of significant importance as it could share the platform and powertrain with the next generation 108.
Imparato said that after the two firms seal the deal, he will be “happy to discuss it”. It is illegal to do anything during the merger while in the meantime.
The updated Fiat 500 launched earlier this week features a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeding the 118 PS (117 HP/ 87 kW) electric motor. In the WLTP loop. The car will fly 320 km (199 miles) and does the 0-100 km / h (0-62 mph) in 9 seconds. Up to a top speed of 150 km / h (93 mph).
The battery will be recharged in about six hours with a 7.4 kW wall box. Up to 80 percent in 35 minutes with an 85 kW charger.
In 2014 the 108 entered service and shared the sticky parts with the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo. So, it offered in two body styles, 3- and 5-door hatchback. With a few petrol and front-wheel drive engines. The car brought together in the Czech Republic as are its siblings.
Imparato also proposed, on a related note, a bigger vehicle that would fit above the 508 family model built on the current variant of the EMP2 platform architecture of PSA. Such a platform could make use of FCA software, which would be more upmarket if the deal goes through by 2021.