R9945A Car test June 1999 TEST Peugeot 206 EXTRA Featuring 2.0 GTi 3-door proving a popular head-turner. On to these base What’s different? ingredients, the three-door-only GTi grafts a new Peugeot’s pint-sized performer sports a hot two-litre, 16-valve engine (which also debuts in the new 137bhp two-litre engine, uprated facelifted 406) and a new five-speed gearbox. The suspension and subtly flared front wings suspension is recalibrated, with uprated anti-roll bars at housing smart 15-inch alloys, in its bid to each end, and the power steering is lifted from the 306 inherit the legendary 205 GTi’s “Lion King” GTi. crown. Further enhancements to handle the heightened horsepower include disc brakes all round, standard-fit ABS and a set of smart 15-inch alloys wearing suitably squat rubberware. Subtly flared front wheelarches, a REPLACING THE IRREPLACEABLE IS larger lower air intake and shiny black door mirrors always a daunting assignment. Yet that’s the continue the sporty theme, rounded off by a discreet unenviable task the feline-fronted 206 finds itself facing tailgate spoiler, with an oval chrome tailpipe bringing up – to take up the cudgels where its long-serving 205 the rear. predecessor left off, as the quintessential sportily slanted The pacy Peugeot is presented in a quieter, less brash supermini, but presented in a modernised, more refined fashion this time around, though. Instead of its idiom. predecessor’s outlandish red carpets and trim, the And that’s only mainstream models. The task is all the 206GTi uses subtle touches of aluminium for the gear more arduous when the giant-killing 205GTi is the icon knob, pedals and facia detailing to signal its sporting it’s seeking to succeed. Frisky and fun with a capital F, intent, along with side-bolstered seats faced in a this is the car that has single-handedly done more to three-way mix of leather, Alcantara (mock suede) and define and refine the GTi hot-hatch than almost any other coarse-weave velvet, with matching Alcantara-trimmed offering, before or since. door panels and glovebox lid. The 206 is off to a flying start, though. It’s cute looks Further details to reinforce its sporty, upmarket and curvy but capacious supermini style is already ambience include a leather-skinned, three-spoke steering Continued on page 3 2 PERFORMANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES Assessed on their effectiveness and convenience Acceleration time in seconds (the more black blobs the better) mph 30 40 50 60 70 Seatbelts Door locking front rear THROUGH central locking? 4 THE 7.2 2.9 4.8 remote control? 4 GEARS 1.3 Head restraints auto window closure? front rear 8 8 IN 5TH deadlocks? 4 GEAR 12.2 16.7 4.1 8.1 Interior safety padding Luggage secure from interior/hidden IN 4TH driver's airbag? 4 from view GEAR 9.1 12.4 other airbags?(pass ’bag standard 3.2 6.1 side ’bags cost option) 4 side impact protection Alarm engine immobilised? 4 20 mph 30 40 50 60 70 Fuel anti-spillage 5TH/4TH 8.4/6.4 8.1/5.9 4 standard on test caro factory fitted option 8 not available SPEED RANGES Euro NCAP crash test results- not available 8.1/6.1 8.6/6.3 BRAKES 1 3 5 Maximum speeds Pedal feel Behaviour in an emergency Handbrake 33 84 128 REVS 1st 4th 5th Dry road stopping distance from 50mph (with standard ABS) PER 2nd 6500*6500 6270 MINUTE A good-to-average best stop is about 26m at 15-20kg pedal load) 3rd mph * for best acceleration 61 109 6kg _________________ 42m 24 10kg _________________ 31½m FUEL CONSUMPTION 14kg _________________ 26½m (ABS just working) Pedal load Fuel grade: unleaded Premium, 95 octane 20+kg _________________ 25m (1.03g best stop - ABS working fully) Type of use - air conditioning off* mpg In the city - heavy traffic 20 Distance 10m 20m 30m 40m 50m 60m In the country - quiet driving 55 Fade test: pedal load requried for a moderate (34m/.75g) stop: Typical mpg overall 35 9kg at start of test, 9kg at end of test (Ideal brakes show no change) Realistic tank range† 45 litres/350 miles MEASUREMENTS Three-door GTi *with air conditioning switched on, consumption will increase by 2–4% in Centimetres winter and 4–8% in summer FOR THE TECHNICAL 94-99 ENGINE CHASSIS ( without sunroof ) 93 Type front-mounted, transverse Suspension front: independent 15 83-108 T four cylinder with alloy block and by MacPherson damper/struts, 143 66 46 79 head; five main bearings coil springs and lower arms. Rear: independent trailing arms with 44 94 Size 85.0 x 88.0m = 1997cc T transverse torsion bars. Gas-filled 65 13 38 Power 137bhp at 6000rpm telescopic dampers and uprated (inner sill) (outer sill) anti-roll bars front and rear Torque 140 lb ft at 4100rpm 384 Valves twin belt-driven overhead Steering rack and pinion with camshafts actuating four valves T: typical back seat space behind medium-sized front occupants hydraulic power-assistance; 3.1 per cylinder turns between full locks. Turning Fuel/ignition electronic circles average 10.8m between multi-point sequential petrol kerbs, with 16.1m circle for one injection integrated with turn of the wheel distributorless (direct) ignition. 124 50-litre fuel tank, with low-level 123 Wheels 6J alloy (x4) with warning lamp 185/55R15 82V tyres (Pirelli 189* 166 107†-115 P6000 exclusive fitment); 121 TRANSMISSION “space-saver” spare wheel Type five-speed manual; 154 41-66 front-wheel drive. No automatic Brakes ventilated discs front, option solid discs rear, with vacuum Mph per 1000rpm 20.4 in 5th, servo. Electronic anti-lock control * 171 with mirrors folded 16.7 in 4th standard † CD autochanger 3 wheel (offering limited angle adjustment, though none remember their setting. The seat catches feel a bit frail, for reach), a sports instrument pack (including an oil though, and our test car seats’ annoying habit of sliding temperature dial), and standard-fit, full climate control back on their runners (especially on any slight upslope) air conditioning. The last was absent on our early, made getting to and from the back seat more awkward pilot-build test car, however. than it should be. Once there, space is passably It all looks very inviting, but the front seats could offer generous, given the GTi’s compact proportions, with a snugger location and support and they’re set rather high handy armrest and useful cubby storage moulded into for taller types, even on their lowest setting. The small, each side panel, together with hinged rear quarter high-set pedals can cause ankle strain, too, while the windows to aid ventilation throughput. steering wheel is also loftily set (despite the adjustment Split-folding back seats, a deep, flat load area and on offer), making it a stretch when you’re right for the minimal wheelarch intrusion make the most of the 206’s pedals. Collectively, these snags undermine what is modestly sized load area. Bare metal seatbacks strike a otherwise a well-executed and surprisingly spacious bit of a rude note compared with the sporty, upmarket cabin. aura throughout the rest of the cabin, however. It’s also a Designed for driveability rather than outright power, pity that the CD autochanger (a generous standard according to Peugeot, the new twin OHC 16-valve fitment) couldn’t have been tucked out of harm’s way engine serves up a healthy 137bhp at 6000rpm, together behind one of the side panels. with 140 lb ft of pulling power at 4100rpm. These Safety and security features aren’t skimped on, either. numbers paint only part of the picture, though. Almost As well as standard-fit ABS, front seatbelt tensioners 90 per cent of peak torque is available from as early as and “his-and-her” airbags, the GTi also comes with a full 2000rpm, which not only provides enjoyably complement of deadlocks, an in-key transponder exploitable mid-range urge (evidenced by the snappy immobiliser (in place of the fiddly numerical keypad and even in-gear acceleration times shown in the Peugeot has used until recently) and a full ultrasonic performance tables), but impressively tractable manners alarm. Despite these measures, the GTi attracts a at a trickling pace, too. steepish group 14 insurance rating. The revised steering and suspension transform the Fuel bills shouldn’t prove too hard to swallow, though; 206’s handling. The nicely weighted steering feels more the GTi returned a very respectable 35mpg overall in our responsive and “talkative” than lesser models’ dull, hands, ranging from the low twenties when the driving rather lifeless helm, while the revised suspension was fast and furious, up to the barely credible mid-fifties settings not only result in a much firmer (but still frugality we recorded on our rigorously self-disciplined pleasantly compliant) passage over lumpy sections, but gentle jaunt. also curb (though don’t entirely eliminate) the standard car’s body roll. Exclusive-fit Pirelli P6000 tyres provide VERDICT plenty of cornering purchase round the twisty bits, and With racy but rarely raucous performance, alert although the GTi has been set up to provide a trace of handling, a generous tally of equipment and keen (if tail-happiness at the limit, this is significantly gentler not giveaway) pricing, the GTi goes a fair way in and more predictable than in its predecessor. overcoming the failure of the more modestly The GTi offers a racy pace and significantly boosted powered 1.4LX 206 to surpass established rivals, as driver appeal over the cooking 206, but it can’t match the we reported on earlier.