Autoblog UK

The new compact 5008 MPV is Peugeot's fourth new offering this year. They're really putting their foot down at Peugeot. Despite the credit crunch, new registrations are up for the French manufacturer with the lion on the bonnet. Their success is down to an extensive small-car line-up and a large range of low-emission vehicles, plus their efforts at breaking into new segments of the market, as with the new Peugeot 5008. Pleasing, flexible and offering good value for money, the car takes consumers by surprise. Fans of the marque have had to wait a long time for such an MPV. All good things are worth waiting for... so the saying goes. How true when referring to the 5008.

Mitsubishi launched their i-MiEV e-car in Japan during the summer 2009. An agreement was signed this autumn with the French PSA Group to build two sister models based on the i-MiEV for the European market. Peugeot's iOn will get its chance towards the end of 2010. Citroën has dubbed its version the C-Zero.

Some details about the C-Zero have now been released. Designed primarily for urban use and purely electric driven, it doesn't use petrol nor emit CO2. The vehicle simply glides quietly along the road. Citroën's e-car has a state-of-the-art, lithium-ion battery pack stowed amidships providing juice for a 64bhp synchronous motor. The C-Zero has a range of around 80 miles (130km) on a fully charged battery.

We've seen a few weird specimens emerge from the French automobile industry over the years – they just like to stand out from the rest of the European herd, we guess. But being different is after all part of the business of building concept cars. In the BB1, Peugeot have come up with a visually challenging idea for the Frankfurter Motor Show. It is a prototype measuring just 2.5 metres in length powered by electricity and seating four. So what's the BB1 supposed to be? An urban motor of the future that has had some bruising encounters with the robust style of the Parisian driving? Even after the initial shock, the vehicle still looks like it's been squashed. So has this concept got a future? We could imagine it in the context of a Michel Vaillant comic or maybe in Disney's 'Cars 3'.

It doesn't always have to be the horrendously expensive, high-powered supercars that create a stir. Besides, who can afford such a car? But now, Peugeot have launched the RCZ, a stylish model that takes your breath away and combines sports car and sanity in one vehicle. That applies not just to the fuel economy figures but to the purchase price as well: 26,450 euros, around £24,000, will buy a thrifty 156bhp petrol engine in an exciting package. This is fun that you can afford. They're a daring lot, the French. What about the opposition? Only Audi's TT can compete with it. Better keep quiet about the price, though.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeot will be presenting their vision of a sporty coupé. The 308 RC Z is claimed to deliver 218 horsepower while weighing in at a mere 1,200 kilos. It is the creation of 33-year-old German designer Boris Reinmöller who took a bit of Audi TT plus a bit of Nissan 350 Z and mixed them together in a unique blend. The 19-inch wheels, broad front wheel arches and plump posterior make a perfect cocktail. This diminutive French coupé also manages a respectable top speed of 145mph (235km/h).

Top 10 preview IAA Frankfurt: Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A5 Sportback, BMW X1, Ferrari 458 Italia, IndiKar, Lexus LF-A, Mercedes SLS AMG, Opel Ampera

Although they were naturally nerve-wracking for everyone at Team Peugeot, the final three hours of the 2009 Le Mans Hours passed off with a hitch for the French squad, and the two frontrunning Peugeot 908s went on to collect an emphatic one-two finish. The winning machine (N°9, Gené/Wurz/Brabham) finished seven laps clear of the best-placed non-Peugeot runner at the flag (Audi N°1), with the N°8 sister car (Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais) following it across the line to claim second spot. The N°7 car (Minassian/Lamy/Klien) completed the distance in sixth spot despite a spate of problems in the early hours of the morning.

As every year, the end of the race was marked by a number of accidents, and the N°5 Porsche's off prompted the safety car to be sent out one last time at 1.46pm. The N°7 and N°9 Peugeots profited from the neutralisation to pit for fuel. The safety car peeled off at 2.20pm and the three Peugeots made one last stop before the chequered flag. Sébastien Bourdais slowed on purpose to enable the three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs to cross the line in formation. One-Two-Victory for Peugeot!



Eleven starts, eleven times in succession on the winner's podium: Audi continued its impressive series of podium results in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After taking three consecutive victories Audi had to settle for third position on this occasion in probably the world's toughest endurance race.

"Obviously we are a little disappointed about the result", said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Peugeot produced a fantastic performance and certainly deserved the victory. We will analyze the problems we had to ensure we come back stronger next year." The race to Le Mans 2010 has just begun.

Partisanship is a strong force at Le Mans and with just one hour gone there has already been plenty of opportunity for the fans to cheer or groan - and the teams as well.

Once Ferrari boss Luca de Montezemolo had waved the flag to get the race started, the Peugeot factory trio led by Franck Montagny got the local and vocal support on their feet - if they weren't already - as they swept past the lead Audi of Allan McNish to establish a French 1-2-3 within the opening two laps.

Audi's problems worsened a lap later when Alexandre Premat hit the barrier after making an error at Indianapolis in the #3 car. Damage was minor though and he returned to the track soon after nursing the car back to the pits.

But it was Peugeot who suffered the greatest embarrassment when Pedro Lamy was struck by the Pescaolo-run Peugeot of Jean-Christophe Boullion during the first round of pitstops. If Premat's error had drawn a load cheer from the crowd, the debacle in the pitlane was met with a disbelieving silence.

Lamy's frustration endured a full long lap though as his rear left tyre began smoking before he reached the Dunlop Bridge and was shredding the bodywork by the time he reached the Mulsanne Straight. The drama has well and truly begun.

When I ask a typical reader what a racing car should look like, he generally lists such features as wide tyres, a gigantic rear spoiler and a pointy nosecone. All of these have disappeared from Formula One. The mighty rear wings have been clipped, the tyres may have lost their ultra-cautious grooves but are still ludicrously narrow and the likes of Renault look as if they get punched in the nose every day.

Yet when I take a walk along the pit lane at the Le Mans 24-hour classic, I see pure thoroughbred racing cars in front of all the garages - you can even excuse the Peugeot prototype with its roof. "After Formula One, LMP1 is the fastest series in motorsport," we are assured by former winner Marco Werner. Retired F1 driver Olivier Panis is well qualified to make the comparison. In an interview with autoblog, he said: "The car is more direct and heavier, but in terms of downforce, it is quite similar to an F1 machine. It's a fun event." And maybe that's the one thing that has been missing from Formula One with all its recent political machinations - the fun element.