Peugeot 206

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Front view of a silver Peugeot 206
Peugeot 206
Manufacturer: Peugeot
Production: 1998-2012
Class: Supermini
Body styles: FF 3- and 5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
2-door coupé cabriolet
5-door station wagon
Predecessors: Peugeot 205
Successors: Peugeot 207
Competitors: Citroën C3
Fiat Punto
Ford Fiesta
Opel Corsa
Renault Clio
SEAT Ibiza
Volkswagen Polo
The rear of a silver 1999 Peugeot 206

The Peugeot 206 is a supermini manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot since 1998.

Contents

[edit] The project

During the early to mid-1990s Peugeot decided not to directly replace the iconic Peugeot 205, citing the reason that superminis were no longer profitable or worthwhile. Instead, Peugeot followed a unique strategy and decided that its new, much smaller, supermini, the Peugeot 106 launched in 1991, would take sales from the lower end of the 205 range while the lowlier models of the Peugeot 306 range, launched in 1993 to replace the Peugeot 309, would take sales from the top-end 205s. Between the 106 and 306 Peugeot hoped that the 205 would not need to be replaced, and could be phased out slowly, while customers who would normally plump for the 205 would continue to have a choice with either a smaller or larger car.

Unfortunately for Peugeot, this strategy did not work. With the 205 phased out, sales of rivals' superminis continued to sell well and even increased, and without a direct competitor to these rivals Peugeot was losing sales fast. A new supermini was required, and the 206 was launched in 1998 as a somewhat belated replacement for the 205.

Although the 206 moniker indicates a direct continuation from the 205, some critics state that the car should have instead been badged 207. This is because Peugeot launched its latest generation of cars in the early to mid 1990s, with the 106 of 1991, the 306 of 1993 and the 406 of 1995.

[edit] Design and engineering

With no larger in-house rival from Citroën to base its new supermini on (the Citroën Saxo shared its platform with the 106), Peugeot developed an all-new front drive platform for the 206.

[edit] Overview

The 206 was originally launched as a hatchback with 1.1 , 1.4  and 1.6 -litre petrol engines and a 1.9 litre diesel engine, a HDi version with common rail coming later. In 1999 a 2.0 litre GTI capable of 210 km/h, and in 2003 a tuned version of the GTI called the Peugeot 206 RC (GTI 180 in the UK), were added to the range. It did 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.4s and it reached a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) with 180 bhp (130 kW). In 2001, two more versions of the 206 were launched - the 206cc (Coupé Cabriolet) with a folding steel roof and the 206 SW station wagon. A 4-door sedan version was unveiled in late 2005, and it is available in the North African, Chinese, Russian, Iranian and Bulgarian markets.

The 206 is mainly manufactured in Peugeot's Poissy and Mulhouse factories although the car is also produced by Iran Khodro in Iran for that market, although Iran's model will reportedly be exported as well.[1] It was assembled in Chile for the Mexican and Colombian markets (French made 206s were cheaper than Chilean-built ones, in Chile). The Brazilian production in Porto Real, Rio de Janeiro, started in 2001, followed by the SW version in 2005. The Brazilian production features 1.0 L 16V, 1.4 litre 8V and 1.6 litre 16V engines, the last two of which are flexible fuel engines (petrol/ethanol). The Iran Khodro production line also produces a unique 206 SD model, also known as the 206 Aryan, which is a 4-door sedan.

The Peugeot 206 is also built at Ryton in Coventry, England, however, with the introduction of the '207' to the range Peugeot decided to pull the plug on the Ryton factory which is due to close in the middle of 2007 making it another blow to the British motor industry after MG Rover collapsed. The 206 will continue to be manufactured in France.

The Peugeot 206 proved to be a sales success all over Europe. It was the best-selling car in Europe from 2001 to 2003. The 1.4 litre XR was the best-selling model.

The Peugeot 206 is also being produced in Buenos Aires, Argentina since 1999. The models being manufactured are XR, XRD, XS, XT and XTD. The diesel powered versions use the aspirated DW engine.

In May 2006, the Malaysian car manufacturer Naza launched a locally assembled version of the 206 with the name of "206 Bestari". From Jan 2006, Peugeot 206 is being produced in China. In September 2006 Citroën China showed of slightly modified Peugeot 206 called Citroën C2 (this car has nothing in common with the European Citroën C2).

[edit] Safety

The 206 received applauses on its high safety ratings - 4 out of 5 stars by the Euro NCAP.

[edit] Engines

  • 1.1 L (1124 cc) TU1 I4, 60 PS (59 hp/44 kW)
  • 1.4 L (1360 cc) TU3 I4, 75 PS (74 hp/55 kW)
  • 1.4 L (1360 cc) ET3 16v I4, 88 PS (87 hp/65 kW)
  • 1.6 L (1587 cc) TU5 8v I4, 90 PS (90 hp/80 kW)
  • 1.6 L (1587 cc) TU5JP4 16v I4, 109 PS (108 hp/80 kW)
  • 2.0 L (1997 cc) EW10 16v I4, 136 PS (134 hp/100 kW)
  • 2.0 L (1997 cc) EW10J4S 16v I4, 177 PS (180 hp/130 kW)
  • 1.4 L (1398 cc) DV4 HDi Diesel I4, 68 PS (67 hp/50 kW)
  • 1.9 L (1868 cc) DW8 Diesel I4, 71 PS (70 hp/52 kW)
  • 1.6 L (1560 cc) DV6 HDi HDi 16v I4, 109 PS (108 hp/80 kW)
  • 2.0 L (1997 cc) DW10 HDi I4, 90 PS (89 hp/66 kW)

[edit] 206 Escapade

Peugeot sells a soft-roader version of the Peugeot 206 in Brazil, called the Peugeot 206 Escapade. It's basically a Peugeot 206 SW station wagon with a rugged SUV-like bodykit.

[edit] Citroën version

Citroën C2 "China"
Citroën C2 "China"

In 2006, the 206 will be sold by PSA, for the Chinese market only, under the Citroën brand, with a modified front and rear body; this is similar to the way the Citroën LN was derived from the 104. The car will be sold as the Citroën C2, although it has no common features with the Citroën C2.[2]

[edit] Malaysian versions

In Malaysia, the Peugeot 206 is also marketed under the Naza name. It is sold as the Naza 206 Bestari, and is available in three- and five-door hatchback versions with 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines.

[edit] 206 in rallying

Juuso Pykälistö driving a Peugeot 206 WRC at the 2003 Swedish Rally.
Juuso Pykälistö driving a Peugeot 206 WRC at the 2003 Swedish Rally.

In 1999, Peugeot Sport unveiled the 206 WRC, and it competed for the first time in that year's World Rally Championship. The car was soon a success, and won the drivers' championship in 2000 in the hands of Marcus Grönholm. In 2002, Grönholm again won the WRC title in his 206 WRC. His dominance that year was compared to Michael Schumacher's dominance of Formula 1. In addition to the drivers' championships in 2000 and 2002, Peugeot also won the Manufacturers' title three years in a row between 2000 and 2002. However, by 2003 the 206 WRC was beginning to show its age and was less effective against the competition, notably the newer Citroën Xsara WRC and the Subaru Impreza WRC, so it was retired from competition at the end of the season, to be replaced with the 307 WRC based on a 307cc.

[edit] "The Sculptor"

A popular television commercial for the 206, known as "The Sculptor", involved a young Indian man deliberately damaging a Hindustan Ambassador (including having an elephant sit on it) and then spending the night welding it. The following day, the car emerges as an exact replica of the 206's shape - except with many dents and discolorations. The man then takes his 206 replica driving with friends, with many interested onlookers. The track playing is "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Raja Mushtaq, later remixed as "Husan", by Bhangra Knights.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peugeot 206 SD to be exported to 30 countries. Iranmania. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
  2. ^ C2 China. Citroën official web site. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Peugeot, a marque of PSA Peugeot Citroën, road vehicle timeline, 1980s-present  v • d • e 
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
City car 104 106 107
Supermini 205 206 207
Small family car 305 309 306 307 308
Large family car 405 406 407
Executive car 505
604 605 607
Leisure activity vehicle Partner
Mini MPV 1007
Large MPV 806 807
Crossover 4007
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