Exclusive! Peugeot begins testing the 508 & 207 in India

Peugeot 508 sedan and 207 hatchback testing commences in India

PSA Peugeot Citroen may have finalised the location for their Indian plant only recently, but that won’t stop them from unveiling their wares for Indian market. As per a report by Overdrive, Peugeot will soon start importing the 508 sedan and the (soon-to-be-unveiled) 3009 MPV in India through the CBU route. While we are not quite sure about the 3009 MPV, we have spotted a couple of 508 sedan test mules on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway a few hours back. The 508 sedan test mules were joined by a couple of Peugeot 207 hatchback test mules as well – with all the four cars bearing the ‘testing’ plates. 

We believe that Peugeot won’t consider importing the 207 hatchback through the CBU route as it is not only an ageing model but also because the high duty structure will make the Peugeot small car as expensive as a mid-size sedan in India. However, Peugeot could be testing the 207 hatchback in order to gather crucial data for the development of an India-specific / India-ready small car. In all probability, the 207-replacement could be Peugeot’s small car for India when the French carmaker’s plant in Chennai is built and operational. We won’t be surprised if the 207-replacement would be manufactured in India and exported to other developing markets in a manner similar to Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki and Nissan. 

Meanwhile, the 508 sedan should help Peugeot establish a strong presence in the Indian market with its classy styling, luxury features and a fat price tag. The Peugeot 508 sedan in India is expected to be powered by two engine options – a 1.6-litre petrol engine putting out 156 PS of power and 240 Nm of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission; and a 2.0-litre diesel mill with a six-speed automatic transmission that is capable of churning out 163 PS and 340 Nm of torque. 

The 508 sedan is expected to attract a price tag in the range of Rs 18 – 22 lakhs. At this price point it will compete with the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord and the upcoming 2012 Toyota Camry. With a dealership and service network yet to be established, we expect the 508 sedan, the 207 hatchback / its replacement and the 3009 MPV to make its Indian appearance at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi.