PEUGEOT 408 test drive since 2010 sedan
Adapted! The first test of the "Russian" Peugeot 408
What do you associate the concept of a car for Russia with? We bend your fingers: a large trunk, a high clearance, frost resistance, maintainability, cheapness. Like it or not, it turns out a portrait of Renault Logan. And what to pay attention to the buyer who wants something more, but do they allow funds? With the answer to this question to the Russian market, PEUGEOT 408 is released, ready to fight with bestsellers such as Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Skoda Octavia. Let's figure out what is Russian in a French novelty. And is it new at all?
We will be honest, Peugeot 408 model new only for the Russian market. The Chinese and Latin American for a couple of years have been chasing such at home. And the Europeans did not hear Hatch and the Universal 308 about such a machine and heard them. Despite the fact that the car was no longer new, the release of the sedan 408 to the Russian automobile arena was carefully prepared by Peugeot specialists. Moreover, not only marketers, but also engineers. The machine was adapted for our conditions, and such an adaptation was not limited to installing the plastic protection of the engine, as often happens. The French approached the matter with all seriousness.
But to begin with, a little about how Peugeot generally got a cross between 308 and 407. Yes, this car can be compared with the 407 model, because it turned out ... longer! Moreover, 408, despite the fact that it is based on 308, it turned out to be larger than the 407 sedan in all dimensions, including trunk volume. Initially, the 408 model was developed for the Chinese market, where long sedans are very fond of. This model came to the place in South America: only it was served there not under a sweet and sour sauce, as they love in China, but adding a little Latin American chili. The fact is that the drivers of the Middle Kingdom do not pay attention to anything other than comfort, and the mochachos are more temperamental and demanding on the chassis.
But what do we need? I was very lucky on a test drive, and I drove half the route in Gaetan Demulen, who is largely responsible for how all Peugeot models go. Gaitan said that in the process of preparing the car, his team spent a lot of time on business trips to Russia, watched the local roads and customs of drivers. As a result, when setting up the chassis, it was decided to apply a compromise between the Chinese and Latin American versions: the car should have remained comfortable, but at the same time maintain good handling.
The Test drive route, which ran along the Moscow Region highway and broken (that is, completely typical of most regions) roads of the Kaluga region, easily answered the question of what the French happened. Four hundred eighth really swallows endless potholes of once asphalt paths, which are an endless series of potholes and road patch, when driving along which the glove compartment turns into a blender for small things, and the CDs completely forgets everything that is written on it. Shock absorbers and springs work out without breakdowns even angry joints and deep pits, the main thing is that the beautiful optional 17-inch discs remain intact.
To my question about the design of the body, Gaitan Demulen admits: we ourselves would like PEUGEOT 408 to look more modern, in the style of the current 308 model, but this turned out to be unprofitable for a number of technological reasons
At the same time, the wards of Gaetan managed to achieve tolerable controllability: the car does not look at the awn at all. The suspension is energy -intensive, but at the same time hard enough. This affects comfort in two ways: on the one hand, swing on bumps and rolls decreases, but on the other, there is no feeling of soaring over the road that is given truly oriented to the comfort of the chassis. But for controllability, such a setting is definitely in plus the rotation on the steering wheel is not ideal, but sufficient, and the rolls and grades are within those limits that they will not annoy even an active driver.
The metallic protection of the crankcase is installed on the sedan for all markets, so here the French did not have to invent anything specifically for us
To achieve such behavior, engineers installed adapted shock absorbers (by the way, Peugeot's own production is the only mass manufacturer in the world that installs their shock absorbers on cars), springs with an additional turn and enhanced reptile stabilizers. The clearance eventually increased compared to the Chinese model by 10 mm and is now 178 mm for cars with 17-inch wheels and 175 mm for modifications with R16 discs. By the way, despite the long base, the geometric parameters of cross -country ability with such road clearance look impressive. And this was proved by rides on the crossed area of \u200b\u200b408 scraops for slopes no worse than an undetrodous parking member!
Suspension is the main thing that engineers worked on in the process of adapting the machine to our market
All other sensations from driving a car fit into one word: normal. The brakes are excellent, with very convenient dosing and feedback to control the slowdown will be easy and pleasant to the driver with any preparation. A top -end turbo engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower is combined only with a six -speed automatic, and this forces it to perceive it as a slightly less powerful unit. On overtaking, the limit of the thrust of this engine is quickly felt by the motor itself is quite nimble, but also 408 not a fluff (1419 kg), and even with a automatic machine adding thoughtfulness. There will be other motors (all with a volume of 1.6 liters): 110-horsepower in combination with mechanics on five gears and 120-horsepower in combination with mechanics or automatic, as well as ... diesel!
Yes, 408 will be offered with a diesel engine. In this class in Russia, the popularity of heavy fuel engines is somewhere around the zero mark (their share in the market is 1%), and in Peugeot this is perfectly understood. But such a situation is partly a consequence of a closed circle: if such modifications are not offered, then they will not be bought. Therefore, the French company decided to turn off the trend and offers a 1.6 HDI turbodiesel engine with a capacity of 112 forces. But with a modest horse return, this engine has more traction than a 254 Nm gasoline turbo engine! Fuel efficiency in this case is exactly 5 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to test it, but we are looking forward to the full autumn presentation of this engine.
With interest, I sat down on the back sofa. I open the door and this is a limousine! Say thanks to the Chinese for their love for long -playing cars. It is for the sake of PEUGEOT 408 that the PEUGEOT 408 database is more than 308: 2710 mm versus 2608. Therefore, sitting from behind is very spacious with a growth of 176 cm, I fit there, almost throwing my leg on the leg. In width (1464 mm in front and 1470 mm from behind) and height (869 mm from the rear sofa pillow to the ceiling), the interior is also good: it will be quite tolerable to go even five. As for comfort, then there is only one issue of sound insulation to Peugeot 408. And even then the point is that from such a large car you subconsciously expect the comfort of the car by the class above. But this is just a golf class with a base price of 549 thousand rubles!
The luggage of the trunk is 560 liters! According to this parameter 408, the record holder in its class along with Octavia. And another 33 liters of useful volume are scattered across the cabin in the form of various messes and niches
What else did the team of French experts adapted? For the winter launch, more powerful battery and generator were installed, the effectiveness of the front seats heated (as well as transferred control twists from the chairs to a more convenient place to the central tunnel), improved air supply to the legs of the rear passengers and added heated windshield in the lower part, and Also heated by the battering nozzles. Also in the rear bumper there was a convenient recess to open the frozen lid of the trunk. Another important point in the optimized pharmaceutical washing algorithm: it is activated every seventh glass washer or 40 km of the path, which will happen earlier. And the tank itself for washing significantly increased in volume. Finally, the body was additionally protected from corrosion, and also adjusted the settings of the engine and machine guns.
PEUGEOT 408 is already produced in Russia, we just recently visited the start of the conveyor of the full cycle of the PSMM RUS plant in Kaluga. The level of localization of details for this model at the moment is 30%: these are body panels from Moscow (AAT) and Kaluga (Gestamp), glass and Borskaya lighting technology from Nizhny Novgorod, armchairs, front panel, central console, internal upholstery and finishes, rugs , noise insulation, fuel tank, exhaust system, bamers and other parts from Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod enterprises, wiring from Tatarstan, wheels of the Eurodisk from St. Petersburg, Moscow Michelin tires and other components from the plants located in Russia. When adapting the machine to our market, the French also took into account the capabilities of local suppliers of parts.
Sales of models will start from September 1
In Russia, by buyers of the 408, brand representatives see men in middle and adulthood with a family and using a sedan as a single car. Three configurations are provided. The price of the basic Access begins at 549 thousand and includes the ABS, electric package and a couple of airbags. True, air conditioning for surcharge.
Having chosen the average performance of Active for the minimum 604 thousand, the buyer receives additionally a radio, heating seats, fog and a number of other little things. As an option, among other things, you can order a two-zone climate control and even navigation with rear parking sensors. The top execution of Allure costs 689 thousand and is packed to the maximum: there are lateral airbags, leather steering wheel, climate control, Bluetooth-link and other pleasant things. At his discretion, the buyer can only add navigation and 17-inch wheels for an additional fee. The minimum price of a sedan with an automatic machine is 644 thousand.
Diesel Peugeot 408 costs at least 637 thousand rubles. for Access and maximum 734 for Allure
Competitors offer the following. The most affordable is Ford Focus for the minimum 542 thousand. This is 7000 rubles cheaper than Peugeot 408, but such Focus will be equipped with a power of only 85 horsepower. If the machine is required, then Peugeot is more profitable than all 102-horsepower Skoda Octavia with two pedals costs 654 thousand rubles. And when you need diesel, the choice is practically absent: an alternative is only Ford Focus with a 2-liter engine with a capacity of 140 forces, and such a machine costs 893,500 rubles.
Text: Dmitry Laskov
Photo: Peugeot
A source: Auto.mail.ru
