Description Of The Car

Peugeot 207 GT Preview

A few months ago, Peugeot launched the new 207. A bit bigger and heavier than the 206, in typical new-supermini fashion, its a competent little car but not a setter of standards.






There were, however, signs of driver-interface redemption - not in the 110bhp, turbodiesel GT HDi version (the ride too firm for that old 205 flow, the steering too artificial-feeling, with its obvious electric power, even if its precision was pleasing) but in a basic 1.4 version with skinnier tyres and less weight up front. This steered and handled really nicely, well enough to give hope for a future hot version if done the right way.

Excitement is reaching fever pitch for fans of performance Peugeots. Next year sees the arrival of the new 207 GTi - a hot hatch which looks set to rival the class-leading Renaultsport Clio 197, with razor-sharp handling and racy looks to match.

It promises to be the first sporty Peugeot that truly lives up to the legend of the original 205 GTi. But if you cant wait a few months - or something less fiery would suit your budget better - how about this, the 207 GT?

Its powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the forthcoming GTi, but it has a little less boost, so power drops to 150bhp.

However, with the 0-60mph sprint taking around eight seconds and a top speed in the region of 130mph, it still provides plenty of punch on paper. So how does it shape up on the road?
Well, if youre looking for a car that turns heads wherever you go, the 207 GT isnt quite it. Theres no doubt the sleek lines and panoramic glass roof are appealing, but theres not even a new badge on the tailgate to help mark the newcomer out. Visually, the petrol GT is identical to its diesel-powered brother, as it comes with the same 17-inch alloy wheels, subtle bodykit and spotlights mounted in the egg-crate front grille.

Clearly Peugeot wants to make sure theres plenty of distance between the GT and GTi models.
Inside, its a similar story, with white-faced dials, drilled alloy pedals and a metal gearknob dropping the only hints that youre in something sporty. However, accelerate hard away from a standstill, and its clear that the 207 GT is no ordinary supermini.

The new 1.6-litre powerplant was jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW, and will also power the new MINI. The unit features direct-injection and a twin-scroll turbo-charger - which is designed to help reduce lag - and the warm hatch kicks out a useful 240Nm of torque from only 1,400rpm. With such low-down urge, it feels a bit like a diesel, but the bonus is that this thrust continues right across the rev range.

Unlike the frantic, high-revving nature of the Clio 197s normally aspirated motor, its straightforward to access the 207 GTs power, and the result is fast progress and simple overtaking. However, despite shorter gear ratios, shifts of the five-speed box still feel too long, and cog-swapping is a vague process.

But the best bit isnt the engine - its the way the car goes around corners. Simply put, the 207 GT is one of the best handling cars Peugeot has built since the firms Eighties heyday. It offers keen drivers some real fun in twisty bends. Engineers have used the same basic suspension set-up as the diesel-powered GT, but have tweaked the dampers, stiffened the rear torsion beam and used firmer bushes on the front wishbones.

And these upgrades can be felt as soon as you turn into a corner at speed, as the nose dives straight for the apex, while the lively rear end adds to the feeling of agility. Theres plenty of grip, and thanks to a ride thats firm but still compliant, it is possible to attack bumpy roads with gusto.

Steering feedback is also excellent, thanks to a revised electrically assisted rack. And the good news continues when it comes to the price, as the 207 GT offers great value for money. The £14,345 asking price includes automatic headlights, climate control and electronic stability control. If you equipped Fords Fiesta ST to a similar level, it would cost £600 more. So the 207 GT adds up to an excellent warm hatch, and is a good omen for the flagship GTi version.

News

With the September new car market reporting a slight decline of just under 1%, Peugeot has seen its sales increase by 1.3%. This growth is also reflected in YTD sales which again out perform the market which is down 3.5%.

The strong performance of the recently introduced Peugeot 207 promoted it to the best selling Peugeot in September. Indeed, the 207 has seen greater early success than that of the iconic 206, with total sales in the first four months of over 16,000 units, an increase of 4% when compared to the first four months of 206 sales way back in 1998/99.

This combined with the success of the Peugeot 107, which to date continues to out sell both its two sister cars, helped Peugeots small car sales increase by 22%, compared to September 2005.

With the introduction next month of the Peugeot 207 GT THP 150 powered by the jointly designed PSA Peugeot Citroën / BMW Group turbo charged petrol engine, and further new 207 derivatives to be launched next year, Peugeots small car sales are set to grow even further.