As carmakers move away from producing large vehicles due to the constant increase of gasoline prices as well as the increasing demand for fuel efficient vehicles, French automaker Peugeot is doing the opposite. The carmaker recently introduced the Peugeot 4007 - the company's first sports utility vehicle. The SUV is an extension of the car company's aim to popularize the brand's style, dynamism, innovation, and quality.
The SUV, according to its manufacturer, is aimed to attract the attention of consumers who are looking for a vehicle having a distinction. The SUV may be the first from Peugeot but the carmaker knows what its doing by coming up with an SUV. Designed as a crossover, the vehicle will compete in the most competitive segment today in the global auto market.
The 4007 is equipped with a cutting-edge electronically controlled four-wheel drive system. This gives the 4007 not only car-like handling but the stability of one as well. It is powered by the latest generation of HDi engine technology. Being a crossover SUV, it is not a surprise that the Peugeot 4007 comes with a roomy interior which can comfortably seat seven passengers.
The 4007 is the fruition of the collaboration between the PSA Peugeot Citroen group and the Japanese Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. The result of the collaboration between the automakers is a vehicle with SUV-like characteristics like high diving position. The 4007 is also designed with distinctive appearance, something that Peugeot has been known for over the years.
The engine under the hood of the 4007 is a 2.2-liter HDi engine which was also used by the Peugeot 407. In the crossover SUV, the engine produces as much as 156 bhp at 4,000 revs per minute. The design of the engine though allows the engine to deliver 380 Newton meters of torque at 2,000 rpm. This power output of Peugeot's first SUV can be increased if aftermarket parts such as the are integrated into its system.
The engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission which facilitates the transfer of power from the engine to either two or four wheels of the vehicle. The precision engineered combination of the engine and the transmission results in a low carbon dioxide emission of the 4007. According to Peugeot, the 4007 produces less carbon dioxide gas than some family cars due to the engine technologies used in the design of the crossover's HDi engine.
Aside from being more environment friendly than most of its competitors and even smaller cars, the 4007 also boasts of exemplary fuel economy. According to the French automaker, the 4007 can cover 39.2 miles on a single gallon of fuel. This figure is for combined city and highway driving. Although it has an all-wheel drive configuration, the power is only routed to all the wheels only when necessary.
Its diesel engine is complemented by the carmaker's industry leading Diesel Particulate Filter System. This virtually eliminates particulate emission which has been one of the problems of diesel engines. All in all, the French carmaker's first foray in the crossover SUV segment is a good one. With its distinctive exterior, luxurious interior, good performance, low emission, and exemplary fuel economy, it will surely be a serious competitor in the already crowded crossover SUV segment.
