Last month, we pitted the Peugeot 308 against the highly talented Ford Focus in an eagerly anticipated comparison test. On the strength of its performance, build quality, and high equipment levels, the 308 Turbo emerged as a convincing winner. That the 308 won was no insult to the hugely impressive Focus, undone for the most part by its gearbox, but shows what fantastic preposition the 308 is.

Recently, the 308 once again emerged triumphant in a contest against its rivals, and this time it’s not just the Focus. The 308 fended off challenges from the Mitsubishi Lancer GT, Mazda3 Sport, Hyundai i30, Nissan Sylphy Tuned by Impul, Fiat Bravo GT, and Honda Civic to take home the Midsize Sedan/Hatchback category award in the recent Autocar Asean Car of the Year Awards 2009.

The 308 – Autocar Asean’s Midsize Sedan/Hatchback of the Year 2009

An unnamed representative of the judging panel remarked,  “Choosing the Peugeot 308 as the winner was a surprisingly easy decision. Combining value with practicality, a lengthy spec sheet and great dynamics, it deservedly won over some very talented cars.”

For the awards, the cars were evaluated on the grounds of styling, utility, safety, features, build quality, brand image, ride, handling, economy, performance and value for money.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, also from Peugeot, Nasim Sdn Bhd has informed us that all buyers of the Peugeot 407 who register their cars between 1 Nov 2009 and 31 Dec 2009 will enjoy a very attractive 1.75% loan interest rate, down from 3.4-3.5%. What’s the fine print? This deal is exclusive with EON Bank, and the cars must be registered before 31 Dec 2009. (ed: A brilliant way of clearing year end stocks!)

The 407 – Now available with 1.75% interest rate.

KON

Two trim levels offered

RM128,888 for standard trim 

RM136,888 for premium trim

 Nasim Sdn Bhd is ratcheting up their Peugeot programme with the introduction of a fresh faced 407 executive sedan.

Not contented with pricing the car to hit the Japanese broadside, they are now offering improved specifications to make the deal even more enticing.

Upgrades, depending on your preferred trim level, include multimedia satellite navigation system, piano black trim for the centre console, and leather seats. The satnav no longer perches uncomfortably on top of the dashboard, it is now integrated into the central display, giving the whole dahsboard a cleaner more updated look

The new front grille and bumper combo also features a front proximity sensor while the boot gets a more pronounced spoiler.

The new rear lights lamp cluster are surrounded by a new bumper valance combination mould and they have been redesigned to make the 407 look wider and more planted from the back.

 PRESS RELEASE

New Peugeot 407 introduced

KUALA LUMPUR – The new Peugeot 407 has been introduced into the Malaysian automotive market by Nasim Sdn Bhd (NSB), the official franchise holder of Peugeot automobiles in Malaysia on Saturday, 14 February 2009 at Peugeot Blue Box Glenmarie in Shah Alam, Selangor. The car was launched by En SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Nasim Sdn Bhd.

The Peugeot 407 was the first locally assembled, Peugeot badged model that was handled by NSB after officially taking over the Peugeot franchise in early 2008.

The new Peugeot 407 comes in two versions; the classic and premium versions. Differences between the two versions are the Multimedia and Navigation Screen and leather upholstery which comes with the Premium version. Upgrades over the previous version of the 407 include front parking sensors, new piano black finish for the central console, new sporty front grille and also redesigned rear boot lid with a  more acutely angled ducktail spoiler for greater high speed stability, lights and rear bumper which now incorporates a rear valance to create a wider look at the rear. The rear number plates have also been repositioned lower. In addition, the multi info display that was previously positioned on the top of the dashboard in its own housing has been incorporated into the Multimedia and Navigation Screen for a cleaner look. The proven 2.0L EW10A engine that develops 140hp at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm remains in the new 407.

En SM Nasarudin said that the two versions of the 407 cater to slightly different buyer profiles and these cars reflect the growing taste of Malaysian buyers for European automobiles. He adds that the cars have been very well specified and are being positioned as premium offerings within their respective segments. The 407 had also been a success for NSB as they have already achieved their 2008 sales target for the model and have exhausted all stock of their 2008 models.

NSB also informs that the prices of the cars are now RM128,888 for the standard and RM136,888 for the premium. Both prices indicated are On-The-Road (OTR). The new 407 which scored a full five stars in the EuroNCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) safety crash tests complements the recently launched Peugeot 308 VTi and 308 Turbo in NSB’s locally assembled Peugeot line-up. Apart from locally assembled models NSB also imports the 308 GT and 207 CC. For more information, customers may call the toll free Peugeot Careline at 1-800-88-6292.

Naza launches CKD Peugeot 308 and goes broadside against Honda Jazz

Peugeot 308 1.6 VTi - RM96,500 (OTR)

Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo – RM111,000 (OTR)

It is a continental car and it even has a French badge, a combination that would have made the Peugeot 308 a tough sell in Malaysia but Nasim Sdn Bhd, Naza Group’s subsidiary which imports the brand is making an offer that many will not be able to resist.

Let’s face it, the Peugeot 308 is a far more stylish car than any Japanese or Korean family hatchback and it is a proper B C1-segment car and not some cramped Sub-B model that masquerades as a B-player.

For your money you will get Peugeot’s fantastic and supple ride comfort, typical French flair when it comes to road handling and, of course, the good looks comes free.

Specifications

Before the launch, the media were invited to their Glenmarie flagship Blue Box and everyone from Executive Chairman, S.M. Nasaruddin to  General Manager Samson Anand George and even marketing man Derick were asking journalists where the 308 should be positioned in terms of price.

Almost to a man, everyone said it would go head on with the Honda Jazz in people’s mind and this is a rather odd answer because the 308 is significantly larger than the Jazz but that is probably the reality and the Nasim boys did not disagree.

The Jazz is an award winner itself and certainly no slouch when it comes to features and technologies and it has the Honda goodwill backing up any purchase decision and this is something that they cultivated for decades through careful implementation of a strong customer relationship management programme that includes respected after sales service and resilient residuals in the used car market.

Peugeot on the other hand is seen as a semi-aspirational brand in the sense that the lower segment of the market aspires towards Peugeot because of it’s continental roots and the glamour of it’s motorsports involvment but past importers and distributors have failed to do justice to the brand, hence the soft residuals.

Nasim has been doing a lot of work improving the after sales support and owners are now better taken care of but that is not going to be enough. What Peugeot needs is a full frontal price assault to put cars on the road because nothing will inspire market confidence like a strong presence on the road. Nasim knows this because they are part of Naza and Naza always goes for volume to instill customer confidence and they have the financial muscle to do that.

By pegging the 308 VTI lower than the Jazz, it will make many who have put their deposit for the Japanese hatchback think twice, maybe some will even ask for a refund and move to Peugeot.

It is a strategy that will cause ripples in the market. Peugeot is not a marque that is regarded as problematic in Europe, the bad rep it gets here is mostly down to the local partners and now that they have Nasim, which has the necessary level of committment, financial strength and market knowledge to mount an assault on the Malaysian automotive scene. I believe that we will see a lot more of these French cars.

Better still I hope this will trigger a slight downward push on prices, nto just to counter the Peugeot assault but also faltering market confidence as a result of the global economic uncertainty.

It is about time Japanese importers and distributors start sharing with the market the financial rewards of the Japan-Malaysia FTA. Come on now, we know you have room to discount…

Below is the full Press Release from Nasim, all specs and details are here:

Nasim Sdn Bhd launches the new Peugeot 308

The award winning Peugeot 308 has been launched into the Malaysian automotive market by Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official franchise holder of Peugeot automobiles in Malaysia on Thursday, 29 January 2009 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The new Peugeot 308 was launched by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

The new 308 which was the winner of the “Golden Lenkrad” award in 2007 in Germany in its category and also recently the AMI NZ Autocar Car of the Year 2008 in its category is set to offer Malaysian car buyers more choice apart from the current offerings available in the market. Members of the public who are interested to view the car can do so at all Nasim branches and authorised dealers from 3.08pm onwards on the same day.

The new Peugeot 308 which had received positive remarks on its exterior design from Paul Owen, Editor of Autocar Magazine New Zealand, motoring journalist and chief judge for AMI NZ Autocar Car of the Year 2008 award and Mr. Dave Moore, the Editor of the Press, Christchurch, New Zealand said “Here’s substance and style unmatched by its rivals in the compact class” and “A five-star Euro NCAP crash rating, and standard stability control make the 308 a safe family offering” respectively.

The new 308 which is locally assembled at the Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant in Gurun, Kedah will be available in 5 door form and come with the new EP6 series of 1.6 litre engines. The EP6 engines have won the International Engine of the Year Award twice, in 2007 and 2008 and are a result of a collaboration between Automobiles Peugeot and BMW.

Malaysians will be offered 2 variants of the new Peugeot 308; the Peugeot 308 VTi and the Peugeot 308 Turbo. Both are available with only automatic transmissions with System Tiptronic Porsche; a feature that allows drivers to select manual gear selection or fully automatic. En SM Nasarudin said that these two models reflect the growing taste of Malaysian buyers for European automobiles. He adds that the cars have been very well specified and are being positioned as premium offerings within their respective segments. “The performance of the 308 Turbo is already as good as some 2.0 litre competitors and in some cases even better. The 308 offers a combination of strong engine performance, with top-notch creature comforts, space and safety for both the VTi and Turbo and these alone, are strong points for anyone considering the new 308. Our theme ‘Naturally Efficient’ for the launch shows just how far the automobile has progressed and in the 308’s case, it represents efficiency in all areas; performance, spaciousness, fuel economy, safety and also towards the environment.” He added that customers should get into the car and feel the difference when compared to the car’s competitors.

The Peugeot 308 VTi and Peugeot 308 Turbo models are Nasim’s spearhead into the hotly contested C-segment and Nasim is confident of achieving strong sales performance while carving out its own niche as mentioned by En SM Nasarudin. This was due to the strong combination of the features offered, the individualistic Peugeot styling that allows it to stand out from the crowd, the already legendary Peugeot ride, handling and reliability and being the only European representative in its price range. With the Peugeot 407 as a testimony to the marque’s acceptance into Malaysian mainstream automotive market, Nasim Sdn Bhd is confident of the 308 repeating the success. En SM Nasarudin adds Nasim Sdn Bhd will continue to introduce new and exciting Peugeot models into the Malaysian market that are very competitive in their price and size segments as part of Nasim’s strategy for Peugeot in Malaysia.

During the launch, Yayasan Naza had also donated the sum of RM500,000 to the “Amanah Kemanusiaan Rakyat Palestin” fund to assist them with the rebuilding of their country and to alleviate their suffering caused by war. The cheque was received by YB Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Those of you who participated in the Peugeot 407 ‘Test Drive Me’ campaign a couple of weeks back might have received a letter from Nasim which reached my mailbox today. The letter, with a printed signature of the General Manager thanked (of course) my participation of the event and hoped that the 407 met my expectations on what a ‘Prestigious and Luxurious automobile constitutes with its complement of luxurious fittings.’

The rest of the letter is pretty much standard sales and marketing talk as well. Also included in the packaged mailed to me was a little booklet pitting the 407 against a couple of ‘anonymous’ competitors from the D-segment code-named TC and HA. The little booklet, titled Let’s talk cars – The real facts…, contains a list of features that comes with the 407 and compares it against the TC (in its 2.0E and 2.0G guise) and the HA 2.0VTi. Any idea who these competitors are?

Most of the comparisons were valid, though some were irrelevant as well. Of course, it goes without saying chinks of the 407’s armour against these ‘mysterious’ competitors were not mentioned in great detail. I was impressed that the 407 had 2 side airbags, 2 curtain airbags & 1 knee bag in addition to the usual twin airbags, while its competitors only make do with the twins. The 407 is also certified with a 5-star rating by EuroNCAP while the new TC and HA have both yet to be tested by EuroNCAP – so, if TC and HA also scores 5-stars, then what?

Another trump of the 407 over the TC and HA is the impressive 7″ LCD with touch screen. While the 407’s screen includes control of the GPS, trip computer, ICE system and air-con, the TC’s display only shows the trip computer and exterior temperature. The HA does not even have one. The 407 also has rear seats with ISOFIX child seat mounts and 60:40 split folding seat backs, features that both competitors also do without.

The 407 also has the following features which the 2 competitors don’t: headlamp washers, cruise control, leather seats, and the list goes on, and at a glance, it looks like a comprehensive victory for the 407, but is it? I mean, are 17″ rims really that much of an advantage over the competitor’s 16 inchers? The booklet even goes on to compare the windshield wiping patterns, shape of the wiper blades, the ICE and a few other stuff that seems rather irrelevant.

It highlights the fact that the 407 has more torque than the competition (200Nm vs 190Nm (TC) and 179Nm(HA)) but only makes a small note that the TC & HA has 7 and 9 hp more than the 407 respectively. It highlights how the 407’s auto gearbox was software engineered by Porsche and features manual control. Let me tell you something, I used to go all giddy with these semi-auto boxes, but after a while, the novelty runs out. Except for a brief mention at the specs-sheet behind, there was no indication that the 407’s auto also happened to be a 4-speeder rather than the current industry standard of 5.

The little booklet was an entertaining read, and a cheeky dig at the aforementioned competitors. However, if those two cars are what I think they are (I can only guess, they’re being so ‘mysterious’ about it), I think they don’t belong in the same league as the 407. An interesting match-up would see the 407 pitted against the new Mazda6 2.0. Now, that’s a comparison I’d like to see.

407 goes against a couple of ‘mysterious’ competitors

It was a busy weekend in the car industry, with the NZWheels Autohaus relaunch, the Mazda RX-8 facelift launch, the Volvo roadshow in Sunway Pyramid and also the Peugeot 407 test drive campaign organised over the weekend at Peugeot’s Glenmarie and Bangsar Blue Boxes. Yours truly concluded his long weekend with a spin in the newly introduced CKD Peugeot 407 at the Glenmarie Blue Box.

Arriving at the Blue Box

It wasn’t really in my personal agenda, as I had already tested the 407 twice when it was still under the C&C umbrella, but was prompted to do so anyway. Indeed, my test drive of the CBU 407 was sufficiently long ago that I don’t quite recall how it feels like compared to the CKD version I test drove today. When I arrived at the Blue Box at 4pm, there was only a moderate crowd present and I needed not wait for a test drive, although I opted to linger around for a while.

The 407′s appearance (interior and exterior) remains unchanged, which is no bad thing, considering there’s nothing wrong with the way it looks. The interior is well put together, and customers can opt for leather seats and an excellent built-in sat-nav system.  Unfortunately, closer inspection does reveal a couple of glaring imperfections, most of all in versions equipped with the sat-nav, the multifunction display housing mounted on top of the dashboard was poorly moulded, revealing jagged edges that have no place in a car like this.

The test cars await prospective buyers

The standard interior

Poor molding of plastic pieces – not acceptable

However, if you can live with the jagged edges, then you would be wise to spend the RM8k uprating your car to include the sat-nav, which comes with a touch-screen interface that seems not too dissimilar from Apple-based systems. I was given a brief demo by the salesperson, and features include a system that stores notes ‘handwritten’ to the screen, interface between the ICE and video output devices, besides the GPS. A very impressive system, trust me.

An extra RM8k gives you the built-in sat-nav and leather seats.

The car looks the part, but does it drive the part? I can only say, I guess so, because like most public test drives, the route was just a simple spin round the block that usually tells you nothing of the car’s true abilities. On a straight road, flooring the accelerator produces brisk, though not jaw-breaking acceleration. However, I felt the car is a tad on the underpowered side, as the car struggled up a 25 degree slope with the transmission held in 2nd gear. On flat roads however, the engine was sufficiently responsive to cater to town driving needs and long distance relaxed cruising.

Two-litre 140bhp motor struggles to pull 407 up steeper slopes, despite uprated output.

Despite being equipped with Tiptronic-style manual shifting, the 4-speed automatic gearbox felt like a dated unit. It shifted gears smoothly enough, but 4-speeders belong to the lower end of the market these days, and the push-up, pull-down action to change gears manually is hardly the most intuitive setup for spirited driving. Having said that, I did not have the chance to test the gearbox in its ‘Sports and ‘Winter’ modes, perhaps it has a few surprises in there!

Ride and handling characteristics are pretty much what you would expect from a continental car, with excellent balance between comfort and tautness. You can push the car hard at corners, yet you don’t have to worry about being shaken by the next pothole. However, I felt the steering was overly light, robbing it of the much acclaimed ‘feel’ among motoring enthusiasts.

At RM126k – RM134k, the CKD 407 strikes deep into Honda and Toyota territory. While it is unlikely to rob the Camry and Accord of any significant sales, it does present buyers at this price bracket more interesting options. Being a Peugeot, it will still be bogged down by concerns of second-hand prices and maintenance costs. However, for those who are willing to forego those considerations, they are in for a treat.

Verdict:

(+): Ageing design still looks up-to-date, fantastic value for money (your friends are likely to perceive your car as being a good RM40-50k more expensive than it really is), brilliant touch-screen sat-nav. Most importantly, sets you apart from the crowd.

(-): Slightly underpowered (more powerful engine options please…), only 4-speeds, built quality can still be improved. 

More photos from the event:

 
Another 407 on display outside the showroom… and what’s that besides…?

The 308 GT.. coming to a showroom in due course.

The 308’s interior, with six speeds and three pedals.

Some other releases prior to the launch by Shamsul Yunos:-
Peugeot 407 – new specifications and pre-launch bookings.

Or talk about it in Peugeot Forum here.

Peugeot 308 GT comes loaded with style and character

Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official importer and distributor of Peugeot cars in Malaysia has brought the 308GT here so and this car packs a lot of cool stuff.

My favourite is the panoramic roof, which makes you feel like you are in a cabriolet, except that you can keep your hair.

The stylised F1- nose badge is one of those design features that you either like or not so much.

The GT comes with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and when the turbines are spooling at full song, it can whip up 175bhp and 240 Newton metres of torque. Top  speed is 225km.h and 0-100 acceleration time is 8.3 seconds.

We have not tried the car so we can’t tell you what the real world consumption figures are like but if you keep a considerate foot on the pedal, the claimed combined-cycle consumption figure of 7.6-litres/100km is probably not too far from real world numbers

The cars they brought all wear 18-inch alloys and are fitted with a six-speed manual ‘box.

Estimated selling price is RM159,999. Estimated because they probably have not received confirmation from customs on the exact amount of duties payable on the car.

Go visit a Nasim dealer if you are keen

 Press Release

The Arrival of Peugeot 308 GT

KUALA LUMPUR – The sexy, sleek and modish 3-door Peugeot 308 GT has finally marked its arrival in Malaysia. Nasim Sdn. Bhd. (NSB) is introducing its second brand new Peugeot after the sophisticated 407 sedan, which was launched in July 2008 to all Peugeot enthusiasts in Malaysia.

From its exterior, the front facade is definitely hard to miss, especially with the larger image of the iconic Peugeot lion sitting higher on the bonnet. The newly swept back automatic Xenon headlights signify the prominence of the sporty image the Peugeot 308 GT is trying to highlight. Overall, it provides a more promising and safer drive during the night. The full moonroof endows the driver and passengers a more panoramic view on the world outside during the drive. Its interior then highlights on its large hatch that holds more room for the convenience of potential owners. The large leather seats with seatbelts are created to ensure comfort and safety during long and demanding journeys. The interior of the Peugeot 308 GT with its build up of 6 airbags carry world class safety for families with kids. Most importantly, this model has already achieved the impressive Euro NCAP safety ratings of 5 star.

Nevertheless, this 1.6 Turbo (likewise the Mini Cooper S) produces 175bhp at 6000rpm and a welcoming 240Nm of torque is achievable at 1600rpm through its 16 valve turbo high pressure (THP) engine. The 308 GT that only just arrived in Malaysia is shod with 18 inches alloys and carries a 6-speed manual that will allow a maximum speed of 225kmh and acceleration in 8.3 seconds from 0-100kmh. Having said that the THP engine is also economical and its fuel consumption is approximately 7.6 liters/100km in a combined cycle.

This newly arrived Peugeot 308 GT that is targeted to the sporting Peugeot enthusiasts is available at an estimated selling price of just RM 159,999 (OTR). The car is now available for viewing in all NSB showrooms and authorized NSB dealers. For further information, please contact the Peugeot Careline at 1-800-88-6292.