Peugeot 4008 Compact SUV arrives early

Peugeot 4008 arrives early

We weren’t expecting the Peugeot 4008 yet – built with the help of the Mitsubishi ASX – but it’s revealed ahead of a launch at Geneva 2012.

We knew that PSA were going to take the underpinnings of the Mitsubishi ASX and make them their own. This morning we had the Citroen C4 Aircross and now we get its cousin – the Peugeot 4008.

The Peugeot 4008 looks like a very good take on the ASX, with Peugeot’s latest design language in abundance – the new gob is a big improvement – and the promise of some decent compact SUV goodness from the French.

Peugeot admit that despite perceived antipathy to the rise and rise of the SUV – compact and full size – the market has grown strongly since 2005, with countries like Russia seeing a 20 per cent market shares for 4×4 and even Europe having close to ten per cent.

So it’s a good time to be offering a compact SUV, and a compact SUV bolted together with the help of Mitsubishi’s expertise in the field should be a winner.

Goodies on offer include a huge panoramic roof – fast becoming the norm on Peugeots – and lots of practical and ambiance-enhancing LEDs. There’s keyless, touch screen SatNav, 18″ alloys and a reversing camera – all the accoutrements for a little urban warrior.

The underpinnings are actually based on the 4007 – another Mitsubishi-based offering – but gets shortened by dint of shorter front and rear overhangs. Which means a decent cabin space with the benefit of a good size wheelbase.

Engines on offer will include a couple of petrols – a 1.6i and a 2.0i – but Europe will get the diesel options – a 1.6 HDi FAP and a 1.8 HDi FAP.

As you would expect, Peugeot intend to offer a choice of 2WD and 4WD versions, with the option to stick the 4WD versions in 2WD mode when you’re pootling around town to save fuel and wear and tear.

Although if the 4008 is anything like the 4007 you’ll end up leaving it in 4WD on the more powerful versions to stop the steering wheel reacting to the torque.

The arrival of the Peugeot 4008 is quite a way off – Geneva 2012 – so details are not huge.

Put it looks very promising.