BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen Sign Agreement to Develop New 4-Cylinder Gasoline Engine

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed a new agreement that will see the two companies developing the next generation of their jointly designed 4-cylinder petrol engine that will meet EU 6 requirements. The agreement was signed by Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën, in Paris on Tuesday.

The current generation of the four-cylinder engine is being used in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged forms on a bevy of MINI, Peugeot and Citroën brand models.

"We have always been very successful in our cooperation with our partners, and that is particularly true with regard to PSA. We are delighted to continue our engine cooperation and look into options for further collaboration," said BMW Group's Reithofer.

On the behalf of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the group's Chairman of the Managing Board Varin said: "This new agreement with BMW is confirming the success of the cooperation between our two companies which has produced 1.3 million engines since 2006. I am confident that the next generation of jointly developed engines will reach the same success as the current generation."

The two firms added that they also agreed to examine other possible areas for cooperation at systems and component level, with the aim of leveraging synergies in the development, production and procurement of selected parts.

Peugeot - Citroen and Toyota Produce One Millionth Mini

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota are celebrating the production of their one-millionth, co-developed minicar at their joint-venture manufacturing plant in Kolin, the Czech Republic. The Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota AYGO, where introduced into the European market in the first half of 2005 having all received a minor facelift in 2008. The three tiny, A-Class vehicles are available in either a 3- or 5-door version and with either a petrol or diesel engine.

Peugeot UK Launches 3008 with More Powerful Diesel and Six-Speed Auto

Peugeot will expand its 3008 crossover range in the UK this June with the introduction of the 3008 HDi 163 FAP Automatic variant, which will be available in two trim levels, Sport and Exclusive, priced from £21,395 and £22,795 respectively.

The latest 3008 model gets a new and more powerful 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that delivers an output of 163bhp at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 340 Nm (258 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm. The HDi 163 is only available with a six-speed automatic gearbox that features two driving modes - automatic and sequential selection control.

According to the French automaker, the 3008 HDi 163 FAP Automatic completes the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 10.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 127mph (204km/h).

It returns 32.5 mpg UK city, 52.3 mpg UK highway and a combined fuel economy of 42.8mpg UK which is equal to 6.6 lt/100km and 35.6mpg US.

Both trim levels come equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels with energy saver tires, rear parking aid, cruise control, radio / CD player with MP3, leather steering wheel, front fog lights, electric windows, air-conditioning, automatic electric parking brake with hill assist, ESP, six airbags, ABS with EBFD, and remote central locking as standard.

The Exclusive version adds several goodies to the standard specification including a panoramic glass roof, automatic headlights and wipers, head up display, distance alert, rear side window sun blinds, tire pressure sensors, alarm, chrome front & rear bumpers and side rubbing strips, and dual zone digital air-conditioning.

Peugeot Tries to Challenge Golf GTI with New 308 GTi 200HP

The GTI badge isn't dead for Peugeot after all. Despite previous reports from certain media outlets in the UK, the French firm has just launched a new 308 GTi sport hatchback model for the European market.

Available exclusively as a 5-door model (at least for the time being), the new 308 GTi gets the same 1.6-liter THP engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger found on other PSA Peugeot and Citroen and MINI products, including Peugeot's own RCZ sports coupe.

It produces an output of 200-horsepower available from 5,500 to 6,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 275 Nm or 202.8 lb-ft between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Peugeot says that the 308 GTi accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 7.7 seconds, while it completes the 1,000m sprint in 27.8 seconds and returns an average fuel consumption of 6.9 lt/100km or 34.1mpg US with 159 g/km of CO2.

The car's chassis has also been adapted to match the characteristics of the engine featuring a new suspension and steering wheel system setup, a 10mm lower ride height and 340 mm diameter brake discs at the front and 290 mm at the rear. The 308 GTi rides on 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/40 R18 sport tires.

The styling upgrades over the standard 308 are rather subtle and include a bright black carbon-style insert under the front bumper, a lower front panel derived from the 308 CC, roof spoiler, a rear diffuser finished in Perla Nera black, GTI badges and twin chrome exhaust pipes.

Distinctive interior features include sports seats at the front, aluminum foot rest and gear knob, leather sport steering wheel with a flattened bottom and thumb rests, and piano black fascia trim.

In France, the 308 GTi will be launched on the10th June, with prices starting from €26,900.

BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen Sign Agreement to Develop New 4-Cylinder Gasoline Engine

The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed a new agreement that will see the two companies developing the next generation of their jointly designed 4-cylinder petrol engine that will meet EU 6 requirements. The agreement was signed by Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën, in Paris on Tuesday.

The current generation of the four-cylinder engine is being used in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged forms on a bevy of MINI, Peugeot and Citroën brand models.

"We have always been very successful in our cooperation with our partners, and that is particularly true with regard to PSA. We are delighted to continue our engine cooperation and look into options for further collaboration," said BMW Group's Reithofer.

On the behalf of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the group's Chairman of the Managing Board Varin said: "This new agreement with BMW is confirming the success of the cooperation between our two companies which has produced 1.3 million engines since 2006. I am confident that the next generation of jointly developed engines will reach the same success as the current generation."

The two firms added that they also agreed to examine other possible areas for cooperation at systems and component level, with the aim of leveraging synergies in the development, production and procurement of selected parts.

What if Citroen Made a C3 Crosser out of the Mitsubishi ASX?

Given the close relationship between the Peugeot Citroen PSA group and Mitsubishi that has already given birth to the Outlander-based Citroen C Crosser and Peugeot 4007 SUVs, we wouldn't be surprised if Theophilus Chin's photoshop proposal for a Citroen C3 Crosser model based on Mitsubishi's 'baby' crossover model, the all-new ASX, becomes a reality in a couple of years.

'ASX' is the name that Mitsubishi chose for the European version of the JDM RVR that will have its world premiere at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Via: Theophilus Chin