|
|
CAP Blog > CAP Blog > Martin's Blog
|
|
Apr
21
Written by:
Martin Ward
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
This week’s manufacturer news
 CITROEN – Has revealed a concept car called Metropolis, which pays homage to Chinese development with a design that reflects its dynamism and ambition. It will be on show in the French pavilion at the Shanghai World Fair from 1st May to 31st October 2010.
 SEAT – Has released photographs of the all new Alhambra. Measuring 22cm longer and 9cm wider than its predecessor, it expected to go on sale this summer. The new Alhambra will be available with the following choice of engines: TSI 150ps petrol, TDI 150ps diesel or TDI 170ps diesel.
 VOLKSWAGEN – Has unveiled a concept car at the Hanover Trade Show. The new Milano Taxi is an electric vehicle which is capable of generating 115ps and has lithium-ion batteries that can be charged to 80% of their capacity in just over an hour. The car is finished in the traditional Milan Taxi colour of green and black, and the concept is presented as a study into the viability of a mass-market all electric taxi. Volkswagen is aiming to launch its first electric vehicle by 2013.
Test car – Peugeot 3008 2.0 HDi Exclusive
 This was more than just a test drive; this was a drive going from one well-known landmark to another. I drove past Emley Moor Tower near Huddersfield on Wednesday morning, down to the Eurotunnel terminal, then underneath the Channel and into France. Around three hours later, the other famous tower was in sight, the Eiffel. Negotiating the Arc de Triomphe was an absolute nightmare; it is horrendous, as there are absolutely no rules whatsoever. It is every Frenchman for himself, with the chance of a bump being very likely.
I went in the Peugeot 3008 to have a meeting with PSA Group and they thought that I was mad to choose to drive down and not fly. I found the journey to be relatively enjoyable though as it is a great car to drive. To be honest, it made a nice change from checking-in, taking off your shoes and belt, and emptying your hand luggage.
 Peugeot describe the 3008 as a crossover, which is a bit confusing as most people don’t really know what a crossover is. It can be interpreted as a small 4x4, a van with windows or a people carrier, but after driving it for some considerable time trying to work out exactly where it sits in the market and what sector it sits in it, I came to the conclusion that the 3008 is none of these. I have decided that it is a great contender in the C sector, fitting in there fair and square with the VW Golf, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. Peugeot may not like this assumption, as they already have a C sector car (the 307) and no manufacturer wants to do battle with itself or overcomplicate the range. It’s easier to call it something else than face up to the fact that it might just be better than its brother. The 3008 measures 4,365mm in length compared to a Ford Focus at 4,337mm.
The 3008 is selling extremely well around Europe and Peugeot admit that they cannot produce enough. It has a well built exterior and the interior is a huge improvement on any previous Peugeot. It still isn’t up to premium brand standards, but they are getting there. I got out of the 3008 in Paris after 485 miles from Huddersfield feeling fresh, without any aches, pains or discomfort. It really is a very comfortable car and a great long distance cruiser.
 The driving position is good, due to the fact that you are sat fairly high up in comparison to other C sector hatchbacks. It also has a raised centre console that almost makes you feel as if you are sat in a sports car. The luggage area isn’t huge; at least not as big as you would think when you look at the car from the outside, but it is big enough for three large suitcases with the rear parcel shelf in position. The floor of the luggage area can be moved up and down; this is a very practical attribute as a little more space can be created. It also has a split rear tailgate, which makes loading much easier.
The 3008 I had was powered by a 2.0 litre HDi diesel engine that produces 150bhp, so it is certainly not lacking in power. It goes from 0-62mph in 9.7seconds and has a top speed of 121mph. It easily cruised at 130kph on those open French motorways with hardly any noise intrusion into the cabin. The official combined fuel consumption figure is 50.4 MPG and up until the outskirts of Paris, the car achieved an average of 51.3 MPG, which is a good result. However, the city traffic took this down to 46.5 MPG as I did seven miles in 1hour 55 minutes due to the horrendous traffic jams. I reset the trip computer on the way back once we had reached the open roads and the MPG went back up to over 51.3 over 455 miles. The six speed gearbox is silky smooth and with the gearstick being fairly high up on the centre console, it is very close to hand and easy to use.
The most disappointing thing about the 3008 is the turning circle, which is 12.14m compared to a Ford Focus at 10.6m. This makes it difficult to turn around on a road and even more difficult to park in a supermarket car park. You can’t seem to just turn this car into a space without having to reverse a couple of times to manoeuvre it in.
I was so glad I had driven to Paris as all flights were cancelled and there was no other way of getting back home, so was I mad after all?
The cost of the 3008 Exclusive is £21,495 on the road, which seems like a reasonable price. It is fully loaded with standard equipment including a panoramic glass roof, visibility pack (containing auto headlights and wipers), head-up display, 17” alloy wheels, cruise control and a three-position boot load floor. Prices for the 3008 start from £16,595.
Tags:
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
