New Peugeot 301 headed for India

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second largest carmaker, is likely to launch its new Peugeot 301 in India. The company doesn’t mention India, but an official release suggests that the ‘family car’ has been developed to suit all types of operating conditions that include hot and climates and poor roads.

The new 301 will be available in both petrol and diesel versions with power ranging from 71 hp to 115 hp. There will be two petrol (1.2L, 1.6L) and one diesel (1.6L) engine options mated to manual or automatic transmission.

The 301 will be the second car in the Peugeot range, after the 208, to get the new range of 3-cylinder petrol engines (1.2 litre VTi).The car has an overall length of 4.44 metres, offering rear-seat roominess (2.65 metre wheelbase) and a boot size of 506 dm³. Safety features like ESP, ABS, up to 4 airbags, emergency brake assist, ISOFIX, will also be available. The new Peugeot 301, produced in Peugeot’s Vigo (Spain), will premiere in the World Press Days of the Paris Motor Show and will be sold from 1 November 2012 with Turkey being its first market. Autocar Professional was the first to report (in its 15 February 2011 issue, depicted below) about Peugeot’s plan of entering India with a mid-size saloon developed and first produced in its Vigo plant.

Peugeot had earlier said that its first car in India will be the fully imported premium model 508.