The Peugeot 2008 SUV has been sighted for the first time on Indian soil. It was spotted by our reader Gokul Raj on the outskirts of Chennai, quite close to the PSA plant that manufactures the upcoming Citroen C5 Aircross SUV.
- Peugeot 2008 is based on the PSA CMP1 platform
- SUV was sighted close to PSA plant near Chennai
- India-bound Citroen CC21 to have similar engine and platform as the 2008
Peugeot 2008: what is it?
Peugeot’s contender in the European midsize SUV segment, the 2008 measures 4.3m in length and has a 2.5m wheelbase, which puts it squarely against rivals like the Ford Puma, the European-spec Renault Captur and the Skoda Kamiq, to name a few. The model spotted in India made its world debut last year and is one of the newer models from the French brand globally.
Peugeot 2008: what is it doing in India?
As reported by us earlier, the Peugeot brand will not be coming to India. Peugeot’s sister-brand Citroen is all set to introduce its first model next month in the form of the C5 Aircross. While the Peugeot 2008 and the C5 Aircross may not have anything in common, it’s the second Citroen model, the CC21 compact crossover, that will have quite a few similarities with the 2008 SUV. The India-bound sub-four-meter CC21 will have its share of funky design bits, thanks to Citroen’s family design language, but under the skin, it will most likely get a version of the CMP modular platform that underpins the Peugeot 2008 SUV.
Apart from the platform, the engine and gearbox are similar as well, with the Peugeot 2008 getting a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol unit in three states of tune – 99hp, 128hp and 153hp. For India, the Citroen CC21 will also come with a version of the same 1.2-liter turbo-petrol mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. This unit powers a long list of other PSA models globally, including the Citroen Berlingo MPV that was sighted in India a few months ago. It also features a stop-start system in some versions.
The above simillarities suggest that the Peugeot 2008 could be a mere component testing mule for the upcoming Citroen products in India.
Citroen India SUV line-up in 2021 and beyond
Citroen India will start its innings with the locally assembled C5 Aircross SUV next month. Following it will be the heavily localised CC21 compact crossover that could see a world premier later this year, with a subsequent India launch. Both models will roll out from the CK Birla facility in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. The group already has a plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, which manufactures and supplies engines and transmissions for its global and domestic businesses.