Most other Filipinos, however, will not even know how to pronounce the name (say "Po-Joe"), let alone know what it’s all about. Until now.
AutoFrance Philippines, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Peugeot in the country, has taken on the sizable task of bringing the French car marque to these shores. Sizable because European car-loving Filipinos have never really embraced French cars the way they have German cars, considering the fact that Renault have been selling cars locally for three decades but have yet to be considered in the same seriousness as, say, Opel.
The cars have always been good — in a charmingly quirky French way — but the marketing have always left a lot to be desired.
Which brings us back to AutoFrance Philippines, which has a veritable wealth of gorgeous Peugeot models to seduce car-loving Filipinos with. But perhaps not wanting to spread itself too thin by bringing in too many models and not being able to focus on any one, the distributor has wisely started with easy-to-swallow (read: cheaper) models from its extensive range.
Fortunately, the lineup includes the internationally multi-awarded model that is also currently dominating the World Rally Championship, the 206. This model opens the range with a sticker price in the ballpark of P700,000.
For this price you get an extremely good-looking hatchback (in Europe, there are 3-door and 5-door variants, as well as a coupe-cabriolet and a station wagon version with gasoline and diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 70 to 138 hp) with a rally heritage rivaled only by the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evo series.
The 206 may be largely unheard of here but in Europe, it’s considered to be one of the benchmarks in its class. Its overall performance, fuel economy, styling, interior packaging and overall build quality are all very much at par with the world’s best.
The 206, which first debuted in 1998 and is sold in 121 countries (including Brazil and Iraq, two if its bigger export markets), is indeed one of the greatest successes Peugeot has ever had. Over 3 million have been sold, making it one of the best-selling cars in Europe (it is the best-selling imported small car in Germany). And the victories keep coming. In fact, for the third year in a row, it is about to be crowned once again "World Rally Champion". Its recent success in the Australia Rally is added to a list of 20 wins in three seasons, including eight double 1st and 2nd places for just this season alone.
The next step up the Peugeot ladder is the 307. The 307’s uniquely sized windshield, extensive overall glass area and distinctive styling are the highlights of its eye-catching exterior. The 307’s interior meanwhile holds a different story. Its optimum use of space makes the 307 the most generous car in its category. What’s more is that the 307 is fitted with the revolutionary MII (Multiplexing Integrated Intelligence) electronics technology for integrated comfort and safety. Other safety fittings on the 307 include ABS with Electronic BrakeForce Distribution; front, side and curtain airbags (six airbags in all) active front seatbacks, a TIPTRONIC-Porsche-like sequential automatic gearbox, retractable steering column, and pyrotechnic seatbelts with force limiters, among others.
The 307 is also an example of Peugeot’s commitment to the environment. New-generation polymers, alloys, and natural fabrics were used to make this car — making 90 percent of its total weight recyclable. The 307 is a leap forward in achieving Peugeot’s goal of making 100 percent recyclable cars in the near future.
Peugeot has indeed raised the technological ante a notch higher. A jury of 55 journalists from 21 European nations has named the 307, which has sold over a million units since its introduction in 2001, the European Car of the Year for 2002.
Of course, any car company is best served by having a specialty model to give the rest of the range a "halo effect". To this end, AutoFrance has proudly brought in the 206CC, the suffix "CC" standing for coupe and cabriolet, which are French for "hardtop" and "top-down". But before you wonder if there was a mistake with this seemingly conflicting nomenclature, bear in mind that the 206CC is both a coupé and a cabriolet.
Living up to the high levels of style that the French are so well-known for, the 206CC features a metal roof that electrically retracts to transform the coupé into a genuine cabriolet.
The concept of a retractable roof is not new to Peugeot. The 402 Eclipse Coupé first sported this feature when it was launched at the 1934 Paris Motor Show. Seeing that there was a market for this type of car, Peugeot went back to the drawing board and started conceptualizing the 206CC. Configured as a coupé, the 206CC’s rigid top is as sound proof and watertight as any sedan’s. By actuating a single control, the roof instantly folds into two parts — turning it into a gorgeous cabriolet. Its 2-fold roof leaves more storage capacity in the trunk than conventional convertibles.
Peugeot believes that safety is paramount, especially for a car of this class. The 206CC sports a reinforced chassis, ABS (linked with Electronic BrakeForce Distribution), dual airbags and a single shell structure that has a reinforced cabin area featuring front door impact absorber to limit substantial intrusion. Expect this "practical toy" to have a window sticker in the range of P1.6 million.
There you have it. A primer on French cars, courtesy of Peugeot and AutoFrance Inc. With any luck, more car lovers will be speaking French very soon. Au revoir!