Is Peugeot PH launching all-new 2008 soon?

Last week, Peugeot Philippines officially announced its new management under the helm of Spanish distributor Astara. The French automaker is looking at opening 7 new locations, as well as introducing a refreshed lineup of vehicles.

In the future, Peugeot plans to launch more vehicles in the country. But instead of sourcing them all the way from Europe, the automaker will instead get its cars much closer to home, Malaysia. The refreshed Peugeot 5008 is the first example that comes from the new Stellantis plant located in Gurun, Kedah. As a result, it now retails for PHP 2.260 million, making it PHP 930,000 cheaper than before.

But what other Peugeot models could make their way to the Philippines? One model that will likely arrive in the country is the all-new 2008. Now on its second generation, the 2008 first made its regional debut in Thailand back in 2021. However, it’s now being produced and sold in Malaysia as the brand’s most affordable crossover.

Starting with its exterior, the 2008 gets a bolder-looking front end courtesy of a large grille, a sporty front bumper, vertical LED daytime running lights, and eye-catching LED headlights. It also features muscular wheel arches, stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, claw-like LED taillights that are similar to the 5008’s, and a tailgate spoiler.

Inside, it now adopts Peugeot’s new interior design language. The instrument panel is now a 10-inch digital display and is accompanied by a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. It supports Bluetooth, USB, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Other standard amenities inside the new 2008 include full-leather upholstery, a six-speaker sound system, automatic climate control, drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport), 60:40 split rear seats, and an engine start/stop button.

Under the hood, the Malaysian-spec 2008 is powered by only one engine; a 1.2-liter direct injection turbocharged three-cylinder. Despite its size, the engine actually makes a healthy 130 PS and 230 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

To keep the driver and passengers safe, the 2008 comes with an array of active driver aids. These include; blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assist, active lane-keeping assist, active safety brake, and driver attention warning.

Other standard safety features present on the 2008 are anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, traction control, reverse camera, and ISOFIX child seat anchors on the rear seats.

With Peugeot looking to produce more models at its new plant in Malaysia, we can expect the 2008 to make its way in the Philippines in the not-so-distant future. Hopefully, it will not be a long wait, ans the price will probably be just right.