Peugeot 5008 revealed

The new Peugeot 5008 MPV / People Carrier - to debut at Frankfurt

Apparently, this new Peugeot 5008 – a 7 seat MPV – is reminiscent of the TGV. I suppose.

Peugeot has released details of their new MPV – the Peugeout 5008 – ahead of the official unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. And yes, it does have a look of the TVG on the snout, and promises to be able to carry almost as much luggage as the nippy French train. A massive 2500 litres of space with all the back seats down, and a still capacious 823 litres in 5 seat mode.

It is remarkable how quickly high-end gadgets are now finding a place on more prosaic cars. Once upon a time you had to wait at least a decade after Mercedes showcased something new on its S Class before it trickled down in any form to cheaper cars. But this new 5008 features such high-tech gadgets as a heads-up display, ‘Snow Motion’ and distance control. Not only that, but rear seat passengers get mollycoddled by an integrated multi-media system and the 5008 gets two navigation systems.

Engine choices will be a pair of 1.6 litre petrols with either 120bhp or 156bhp. But it will be the diesel options that will be the big sellers – lots of pulling grunt for shifting kids and luggage and Granny and furniture and…

Coming in three flavours – 110bhp, 150bhp or 163bhp – these will be the engines that most buyers will opt for as they offer decent grunt, decent emissions and decent economy.

Based on the Peugeot 3008 underpinnings, the 5008 is somewhat bigger – almost 15′ long – and taller – 5′ 4″. With it, Peugeot are trying to recapture what it once had with the old Peugeot 504 estate – a car that was the default ‘People Carrier’ of its time. And, certainly in terms of size and equipment (and depending on price, which we don’t know yet), they have a chance. But only as long as it’s properly bolted together, which is not always a given with Peugeot.