| Peugeot’s
future brightens with home-made 307 sedan
• Car tasked from Kaduna to Tigga
By Moses Akaigwe (igwemos@sunnewsonline)
Friday, August 8, 2008
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| Photo:
Sun News Publishing |
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The Peugeot brand is entering a new phase in its remarkable
trajectory in Nigeria, thanks to the equally successful 307
model. First unveiled in hatchback version in 2001, the car
has since undergone technical and aesthetic modifications,
which culminated in the new sedan being prepared for local
production from January, 2009.
It is this modified and modernized sedan version which in
2004 evolved from the first 307, that Peugeot Automobile Nigeria
Limited (PAN) is planning to unleash on the Nigerian market
in order to usher in what the management of the Kaduna plant
has described as a new dawn.
And, it is not for nothing that PAN is banking on the new
sleek-looking sedan to drive it back to the top of the market.
With the endowments it gained since 2004, the car now seems
to be poised on the fast lane of the competitive M1 segment
where it is up against other products like Honda Civic, Toyota
Corolla, Mitsubushi Lancer and even Kia Cerato.
Innovations
When the 307 sedan is formally launched in the next few weeks,
and commercial production commences much later in Kaduna,
the market will discover an innovatively styled car with a
radical change in architecture and proportions, including
a large windscreen, an increase in the vehicle’s height,
a shorter V-shaped bonnet, a bigger and wider grille for more
air intake, brighter and farther-reaching headlamps, as well
as fog lights integrated into the bumper (absent in the previous
307).
The transmission has manual and automatic types, while the
engine is either 1.6 litre or 2.0. And whether it is the 1.6litre
under the hood of the 307 SR (manual) or the version powering
the XS Pack (2.0litre), the engine has an efficient balance
of power and fuel economy.
From Kaduna to Tigga
Preparatory to the launch of the new 307 sedan, and commencement
of local production, PAN has lined up six units of the car
for 12 motoring journalists to put to test across more than
400 kilometres; from the auto maker’s Kakuri Industrial
Estate plant in Kaduna to Tigga Damn in Kano State.
The first thing this reporter fell in love with as he adjusted
himself behind the steering of the 2.0 litre XS Pack (automatic)
version in readiness for the flag-off (in company of Alhaji
Baba Yahaya Mohammed, out-going Public Relations Manager of
PAN, Teedy of Leadership and Mike Ochomma of BusinessDay),
was the instrument dials with white background. It is an outstanding
part of an array of ergonomically located instruments in the
driver’s cockpit.
The air-conditioner was turned on, and in a matter of seconds,
what the occupants had was a chilled environment, and with
the country rock music of Shania Twain now wafting through
the enclosed air, the ambience was perfect for a long-distance
test-drive of the 307 sedan.
Though, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) marshals
led the convoy to ensure the drivers stayed within the speed
limit of 130-kilometre per hour , occasional overshooting
of the mark was noticed. “The car was so smooth and
noiseless that I did not know I was already exceeding the
speed limit…until I saw the pointer moving towards 150,
and I had to slow down…,” confessed an excited
journalist who gave kudos to the suspension of the 307 which,
he said, gave a good account of itself when the car ran into
some pot-holes on the highway.
His testimony was not different from the experience of other
participants some of whom paid tribute to the 307’s
transmission, especially the smooth take-off of the manual
version, the stability of the vehicle even while negotiating
a cornering at an appreciably high speed.
414 kilometres on half tank
The distance between Kaduna and Tigga is about 200 kilometres.
This was evident on the instrument panel when, upon arrival
at Tigga Damn, the mileage was reading 207 on the XS automatic
yours sincerely drove to the rest spot where refreshment was
served. The drive back to Kaduna was as exciting, with many
of the journalists determined to bring the best performance
out of the cars by not handling it with kid gloves. By the
time the road test had ended at PAN’s premises, the
car yours sincerely drove was reading 214 kilometres, while
the fuel indicator of the 60 litre tank (automatic version)
was at half mark.
Reacting to the impressive performance by the new 307, the
Technical Instructor (Training and Recruitment) of PAN, Mr.
Emmanuel S. Imejebe, said it confirmed what he said earlier
in a pre-test drive presentation that the engines (1.6 litre
TU5 JP4 for the manual SR and EW10A for the automatic XS)
are products of modern technological innovations which target
excellent performance and fuel efficiency.
According to Imejebe who is a member of the Nigerian Society
of Engineers, if 307 saloon can make more than 400 kilometres
in half tank, “then it can go to Lagos from here(Kaduna)
which is about 800 kilometres, in one full tank”. This
is a good selling point for the 307 sedan at a time the authorities
are considering further raise in the prices of petroleum products.
Safety, Security
In 307 sedan, buyers will have the advantage of enjoying high
technological features, especially in the area of safety and
security, to a level comparable to what the flagship Peugeot
607 possesses. The long list includes ABS (anti-lock brake
system); EBA (Emergency Braking Assistance); EBD (Electronic
Brake Force Distribution); ESP (Dynamic Stability Control);
and ASR (Anti-Skip Regulation). The car boasts driver and
front passenger airbags.
There is also a security innovation which makes it possible
the car’s door to lock automatically in the event of
an impact, which another locks the boot when the vehicle is
in motion and the driver had forgotten to lock it.
Highpoints
One of the strong points of the car is the size of the boot
– 500 litres, which is considered a plus for an M1 offering.
Also remarkable are the sliding sunroof and the 17.5-litre
refrigerated glove compartment (which was useful in cooling
beverages and water during the long drive to Tigga and back.
Also worthy of note are the optional cruise control, automatic
flat blade wipers, “follow me home” lighting system
(that lingers a few more seconds after the light has been
turned off, to enable the driver get to a convenient spot
in the dark), power window, alloy rims, and a few others.
The future
The new 307 Sedan represents the future for PAN; at least,
this was voiced by the Managing Director of the recently reorganised
company, Dr Haroun Ibrahim Aliyu, during an interaction with
the journalists before the test-drive, and amplified by the
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Toyin Akigbogun,
who emphasized he Nigerianness of the Kaduna plant.
“Sooner or later, everything we will be doing here will
be fully 307 sedan. This company attaches a lot of importance
to it. For us, the 307 sedan represents a new beginning”,
Akingbogun told the journalists.
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