First look: Peugeot lets people into its Teepee
BY JAMES STANFORD | 15th Sep 2008
Peugeot Automobiles Australia has just begun selling the Partner van, as well as the larger Expert van, and a spokesperson told GoAuto this week that the company would give consideration to the new passenger variant. An Expert Teepee is also available overseas.
“We are not thinking of taking these cars at the moment, but now that we have started to bring in the commercial vans they are based on we will have a look at them,” he said.
Peugeot Australia previously decided against bringing the passenger car-based 807 people-mover here. It reached a similar conclusion with previous versions of its van-based European MPVs.
Like the trade van, the new Partner Teepee is based on the 308 small car. Peugeot is promoting the space efficiency of the people-mover, claiming it can carry surfboards up to three metres long in a special internal roof rack. The Partner Teepee can carry five people, while the Expert Teepee can carry up to nine.
In Europe, engines for the Partner Teepee include two 1.6-litre petrol engines and four 1.6 diesels. Expert Teepee engine options include a 2.0-litre petrol, a 1.6-litre diesel and two 2.0-litre diesels.
In Europe, Peugeot has also introduced a facelifted version of its 407 range, which is due to arrive in Australia early next year. No mechanical changes have been made and mild revisions have been made inside and out. These include a “more distinctive” front end, courtesy of a new air intake, and a rear bumper with a “diffuser-style” number-plate surround.
The arrival of the facelift in Europe also saw a rejig of the specification, although it is not yet clear whether there will be any chances to Australian cars.