Peugeot makes comeback with elegant designs

Is the Kenyan motorist slowly forgetting the Peugeot brand?

Growing up just after Kenya’s independence, few cars were closely integrated into our lives as the Peugeot.

Whether in the 504 or the 404, we all at one point or the other travelled in this legendary marque.

These models were the symbol of authority, driven extensively by the administration and our parents in equal measure.

That is all in the past now, so let us fast-forward to the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The French have been busy doing more that throwing kisses and taking passport-sized baths.

Looking at the beautiful cars on this page, I could not help but marvel at the elegance of the SR1 concept that made its international debut at this annual show.

Closer home I recently learnt that battle for Marshalls, the long time custodians of the Peugeot brand, has been resolved, and one Kamlesh (read Paul) has landed on his feet, again.

Will he have the magic touch to revive the wounded lion? Judging by the effort going into its design, he has a chance.

According to industry experts and the team at PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second largest auto manufacturer after Volkswagen, this concept is significant for two reasons.

First and most obviously, as a sports car, it hopes to play in the big league.

It is new from the ground up and not a derivative of its siblings from mainstream hatchback or saloon stable.

Second, it is the first in a string of designs we hope to see from Jean-Pierre Ploué, the new head of PSA design and Gilles Vidal now design director of Peugeot.

Under this new team, the SR1 avoids the static gaping yawn we have been served over the last decade.

Voted European Car-of-the-Year three times starting in 1969 with the 504, in 1988 with the 405 and more recently with the 307 in 2002 this brand is indeed a car that has stood the test of time.

The 504 was produced until 2006 in Kenya long after worldwide production stopped.

The French have always led in vehicle design.

They are innovative and judging by the reactions from within the car design industry, this new direction will win the hearts and minds of the public.

While the SR1 gives us a sneak preview into the future, the re-energised lion presents the RCZ.

A cute coupe proves that Peugeot is clawing at the competition and intends to leave permanent scars.

When you look at this drop dead gorgeous coupe you see exactly who it has in its sights. The Audi TT, the Porsche and the BMW Z4.

Peugeot clearly wants to play with the big boys in the top league and it has a fighting chance.

This is the first exclusive model from the marque that does not use the numbering system we have come to love.

No more 306, 308 or even 1007.

This train of thought was first revealed in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and later at the home of concept cars in Geneva in 2008.

There was an initial order of 200 RCZ ‘Limited Editions’ which were all sold out in just 48 hours last year.

This model is set for launch this year but chances are we shall only see it here in 2011.

It will be available with three engine options with varying power capacity ranging from 115kw (156bhp) to 147kw (200bhp) all with six-speed gearboxes.

While the RCZ represents the immediate present, the SR1 is Peugeot’s design language of the future.

According to Peugeot, it depicts elegance, purity, dynamism, allure and controlled power.

It is the car that hopes to shift your ‘whet dreams’ from German engineering to French style.

It’s sculptured bonnet sweeps down the sides and stretches to the chiselled backside.

The exterior reminds me of Chris Bangles flame surfacing while the interior is quite obviously inspired by BMW.

In an interview posted on the Peugeot website, Amko Leenart who is responsible for the 908 Peugeot, admitted that “BMW revolutionised vehicle interior styling by proposing, in particular, numerous variations on shapes: variation between incurved (concave) surfaces to have a thinner object, and more rounded (convex) surfaces for strength, to be precise”.

That said this concept brings Peugeot shoulder to shoulder and neck to neck with anything else on the road from Monza to Stuttgart.

It is a statement of intent that the PSA Peugeot Citroen powerhouse has no intentions of seating back as the exclusive gravy train leaves the station for the automotive heaven lined with milk and honey.

Powered by a 230kW (313bhp) engine turning and steering all four wheels, this car aims to please in the corners.

Like any good sports car, it seats closer to the ground. As can be expected it will have the option of green technology using PSA’s Hybrid4 technology.

I think this new offering, ushers in an exciting future for the motor industry giving enthusiast the choice we enjoyed when the 205GTI reigned supreme in the company of the Golf GTI and Audi Quattros.

Like Paul’s Biblical conversion on the road to Damascus and the contradictions that come with the new custodian of the Peugeot brand, we pray that the legendary Lion will continue to roar in Kenya.