PEUGEOT has won Europe’s most coveted automotive award, the “Car Of The Year” title for the sixth time, becoming only the third brand to do so. The prestigious trophy was presented to the all-new PEUGEOT 208 after being judged by an independent jury of 60 European automotive journalists.
Coventry, England, March 31, 2020: PEUGEOT has previously won the award five times across five different vehicles. These include the PEUGEOT 504 sedan (1969), 405 sedan (1988), 307 (2002) and 308 (2014) hatchbacks, and the 3008 SUV in 2017. The 3008 SUV was the first SUV to win the award since its creation in 1964.
The PEUGEOT brand’s record reflects the outstanding design, technical innovation and performance of its vehicles over the last 50 years.
The all-new PEUGEOT 208 has become the sixth PEUGEOT model to win Europe’s most prestigious automotive award. With a sharp design, engaging driving dynamics and clever use of technology, the all-new 208 was awarded the “Car Of The Year” title by more than 60 leading European automotive journalists.
With a choice of both efficient petrol and diesel engines, as well as a full electric variant, the all-new 208 forms a part of PEUGEOT’s new strategy of “unboring the future” by giving drivers the power of choice: “choose your PEUGEOT, choose your powertrain.”
The all-new PEUGEOT e-208 represents a new leap in the world of electric mobility. With a range of 217 miles (under WLTP testing), its 100 kW (136 bhp) electric motor with 260 Nm of torque (available from 0mph) enables it to go from 0-62mph in just 8.1 seconds. The all-new PEUGEOT e-208 also features three driving modes: Sport, Normal and Eco.
The all-new PEUGEOT 208 has already received 130,000 orders in Europe, including 15% for the electric e-208 since its launch in September 2019.
PEUGEOT 504: Where it all started
In 1969, the PEUGEOT 504 was the first ever PEUGEOT to win this award. The 504 followed in the technical footsteps of the PEUGEOT 404, and featured a four-wheel independent suspension system, a PEUGEOT first on a rear-wheel drive system.
Its unique aesthetics were the result of the close collaboration between PEUGEOT and Pininfarina. The Italian design house was responsible for the lateral lines and the famous rear end, and PEUGEOT for the front end, of which the Italian designer later said – after having given up showing his own project – that it “has the eyes of Sophia Loren!”
The PEUGEOT 504 was also crowned “Queen of the Track” thanks to its legendary sturdiness, and won many of the main African rallies including: the East African Safari, the Morocco Rally and the Bandama Rally.
The 504 was produced from 1968 to 2005, with 3,713,356 units sold. Of these 2,644,326 were sedans.
PEUGEOT 405: A near unanimous vote
Nearly two decades later, another sedan, the PEUGEOT 405, won ‘Car Of The Year’ in 1988. No less than 54 out of 57 judges gave it the highest score. With aesthetic features similar to the PEUGEOT 205, the 405 embodied both driving pleasure and comfort. It also incorporated new technologies, including ABS brakes and a 1.9 turbo diesel engine with 90hp.
The PEUGEOT 405 also featured an Mi16 variant, a real benchmark at the time, using the most efficient engine technology of the time, the 4-valve-per-cylinder system developed 160bhp.
It was at the wheel of a rally-raid coupé version of the 405, that Finnish rally legend Ari Vatanen won the 1989 and 1990 editions of the Paris-Dakar. The rally-raid coupé shared many of the components with the iconic 205 Turbo 16. Driving a 405 T16, Ari Vatanen also won the 1988 and 1989 editions of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the US. In doing so, Vatanen’s exploits were captured in the iconic “Climb Dance” film which has reached cult status among racing circles.
The 405 sold more than five million units worldwide.
PEUGEOT 307: The hatchback that rose to new heights
The PEUGEOT 307 achieved the perfect balance of performance, practicality and affordability in the new generation of compact family cars coming onto the market. It earned the “Car Of The Year” title in 2002, just 14 years after the PEUGEOT 405.
The PEUGEOT 307’s attractive and dynamic exterior design was inspired by that of the PEUGEOT 206, but came with a better drivers’ eye view, thanks to a larger windscreen. Its spacious, functional and versatile interior was inspired by the world of MPVs, while drivers and passengers praised its quiet cabin. The PEUGEOT 307 was equipped with the cleanest diesel engine of its time, the 2.0 HDi 110 hp with a diesel particulate filter.
The PEUGEOT 307 was also the first to feature a wide range of body styles: hatchback, SW (Station Wagon) and CC (Coupé-Cabriolet). The 307 also featured in the World Rally Championship between 2004 and 2005 as the 307 WRC.
More than 3.7 million PEUGEOT 307s were sold worldwide.
PEUGEOT 308: Elegant and dynamic design
For the 2014 winner, the PEUGEOT 308, designers and engineers came up with a modern hatchback with a racy design. Thanks to the new modular EMP2 platform, the latest PEUGEOT 308 has compact dimensions and a lighter mass (140kg or 308lbs compared to its predecessor) which helped it achieve class-leading handling and driving dynamics.
The 308 also features PEUGEOT’s innovative i-Cockpit®, and comes with a compact steering wheel, a head-up display, a high centre console and a large 9.7″ touchscreen. The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, inspired by the SR1 concept car, set a new standard in the automotive world, and is now a major distinguishing feature of all PEUGEOT vehicles.
More than 1.7 million units of the PEUGEOT 308 have been sold worldwide since its launch at the end of 2013.
PEUGEOT 3008 SUV: First SUV awarded to be “Car of the Year”
The PEUGEOT 3008 SUV became the first-ever SUV to win the “Car of the Year” title in 2017, and embodied PEUGEOT’s upmarket move as a brand. The 3008 SUV was noted for its sharp design, engaging driving dynamics and its comfortable and spacious cabin.
The 3008 SUV was also the launch pad for a new generation of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, known as “Amplify”, offering a more intuitive driving experience, in addition to being a gateway to advanced driver assistance functions and connectivity features.
Thanks to Advanced Grip Control®, three grip modes ensure the PEUGEOT 3008 SUV is both at home in urban areas as well as off the beaten path. In 2016, PEUGEOT Sport presented the 3008 DKR off-road racer, which won the iconic Dakar Rally in 2017, with an impressive 1-2-3 result.
More than 900,000 PEUGEOT 3008 SUVs have been sold worldwide since its launch in October 2016.
The COTY panel: an assembly of European experts
60 independent automotive journalists from 23 countries made up the COTY panel (Car Of The Year) this year. The number of representatives from a country depends on the size of its market and the prominence of its automotive industry. Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom have six members. The other countries with panels are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
The COTY panel awards a single winner each year. The winner denotes the most remarkable vehicle, whatever the segment, shape and price, sold in the 12 months preceding the awarding of the trophy. Technical innovation and value for money are the most closely analysed criteria. The COTY prize has existed since 1964: it is the oldest and most coveted trophy in the automotive world.
“Being in the top three of the most rewarded brands in the Car Of The Year awards with six titles is a source of tremendous pride. PEUGEOT has won three COTY awards in the past six years alone, which is a first for a single brand. We now have three PEUGEOTs designated “Car Of The Year” in the showrooms: the all-new 208, the 3008 SUV and the 308. The all-new PEUGEOT 208 won because it offers the power to choose between its electric and combustion engines at an affordable price. Its daring design and technology draw you in. The Car Of The Year award is a great tool for company cohesion and a reference for our customers.” said Jean-Philippe IMPARATO, PEUGEOT Brand CEO.
