Details:
- Price: Estimated RM72,888.00
- Engine: 1.6L - 110 hp at 5,800 rpm and 149 Nm at 4,000 rpm
- Economy: 6.1-litres per 100 km
- Transmission: Four-speed adaptive automatic with Triptronic
- Body: Features a monocoque body structure
Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, today launched the much-anticipated 207, which is the first Peugeot to be produced in Malaysia that will be exported to other right-hand drive markets in Asean as well as Sri Lanka.
"Aimed at urban consumers and young families, the 207 is aesthetically appealing, generously equipped, safe and above all, an absolute delight to drive," said SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, CEO of Nasim and Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group of Companies.
He said Nasim is targeting to sell between 5,000 and 6,000 units of the 207 next year. The 207 will also be exported to other right-hand drive countries in the region such as Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia as well as Sri Lanka.
Earlier this year, Automobiles Peugeot appointed Nasim as its partner to make Malaysia its manufacturing hub for the region. The 207 is the first car to be launched under this agreement.
"As a B-segment car, the 207 heads into an extremely competitive market currently dominated by Japanese makes. But we believe there is a current shift in the market towards European brands, especially in the aforementioned segment," SM Nasarudin said at the launch of the 207 today which was officiated by Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad.
He added Nasim will begin exporting the 207 immediately and the car will be featured at the 2011 Bangkok International Motor Show.
Equipped with a 1.6L engine, the 207 displays a bold exterior with Peugeot's trademark styling that sets it apart from the other makes in the segment. In particular, the competitive and expressive lines of the 207 as well as its 15-inch Interlagos alloy wheels illustrate the car's premium quality and dynamism.
Inside, the 207 is elegant yet contemporary with the inclusion of a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic air-conditioning with a pollen filter, an instrument panel made by luxury-watch maker, Jaeger, a multifunction display, sensor-activated automatic headlights and wipers.
The 207, with an estimated on-the-road price of RM72,888.00, offers premium audio capabilities with an MP3/WMA CD player with USB and auxiliary functionality connected to a six-speaker system. The player is also fitted with Bluetooth connectivity that can be paired with a cellular phone.
The front seats, set with a semi-bucket design, can be adjusted in a multitude of positions and provides greater confidence for dynamic driving. The boot of the 207 can accommodate 420 litres. Additionally, the 207 comes with door pockets with bottle recesses while the glove compartment offers ample storage and a cup, pen and sunglass holder.
One of the key attractions of the 207 is its drivability thanks to its Peugeot trademark road-holding capabilities and sequential transmission. The car is optimized to offer both comfort and dynamism as a result of an inverted pseudo-MacPherson strut where the architecture has been developed to improve the caster angle to ensure steering accuracy and feel while the rear suspension is equipped with an anti-roll bar.
The 207's four-cylinder 1.6L engine produces 110 hp at 5,800 rpm and 149 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It features hydraulic variable power steering to allow the driver to better understand the road surface and maximize driving pleasure while the 207's four-speed adaptive automatic transmission comes with Triptronic capabilities to enable the driver to engage the gears manually. The transmission is also fitted with a sport mode for more priority on vehicle performance and acceleration and a snow/traction mode to provide more grip on slippery surfaces. Fuel consumption for the new 207 is 6.1-litres per 100 km (mixed cycle).
In terms of safety, the 207 comes with ABS, electronic brake distribution, emergency brake assist, two smart airbags for the front passengers - which inflate in relation to the intensity of the impact - a rolling code immobilizer, "follow-me-home" functionality for the front headlights and auto-hazard warning lights which are activated upon sudden and heavy breaking.
Particular attention is also given for infant and child safety with two ISOFIX attachment points at the rear for child safety seats while the front passenger airbag can be deactivated to safely install a child seat at the front passenger seat.
The 207 features a monocoque body structure with high yield strength steel built into the critical areas of the body shell and is programmed with energy absorption and deformation zones.
"Like its tagline, the 207 certainly is an irresistible car and is the beginning of a new strategy for Peugeot in Malaysia and the rest of the region and we believe we will be able to achieve our sales target," said SM Nasarudin.
Picture Caption (From left to right): Mr Jean-Marie Le Guen, Chairman of the France-Malaysia caucus of the French National Assembly, Mr Gregoire Olivier, CEO Asian operations PSA Group, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Mr Jean-Yves Dossal, Sales Director Asian operations PSA Group, En SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group of Companies, En SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin, Group Managing Director of Naza TTDI.
