New-gen Peugeot 208 (Baleno and i20-rival) Spied In India

French auto manufacturer PSA will enter the Indian market with their Citroen brand this year. C5 Aircross premium SUV will be the first product offered by the carmaker. The car has been snapped a few times while getting tested on the Indian roads. Moreover, the C5 Aircross was showcased by the company last year as a part of their plan to officially return to India. Also, it's worth mentioning here that Groupe PSA will field its Citroen range of vehicles instead of launching the better recognized Peugeot brand. 

Also Read: Next-Gen Hyundai Elite i20 N (With 1.6-litre Turbo Petrol Engine) Officially Teased

Recently, a test mule of Peugeot 208 was spotted getting tested in India

Interestingly, however, a highly camouflaged test mule of Peugeot 208 has been spotted getting tested in India. While the 208 would make for a pretty well-sorted rival to the likes of Hyundai i20, Maruti Baleno and the recently launched Tata Altroz, it isn't likely to go on sale here anytime soon. Instead, from the looks of it, the test mule seen above is being used for testing components for the ‘Smart Car’ project that will involve the development of a trio of sub-compact models based onthe Common Modular Platform (CMP_. The three cars that will be spawned will include a B2-segment hatchback, C2-segment sedan and a C-SUV. 

While this isn't the first time that a 208 has been spotted testing, it's actually the first instance of the new-gen version being caught on the Indian roads. PSA has been busy expanding Citroen’s reach beyond European borders. From 2021 the Groupe PSA is planning to introduce a new productsin the market every year, and all of these will be tailor-made for Indian conditions.  

Also Read: 4 Citroen Vehicles To Be Launched In India By Groupe PSA By 2023

The previous-gen Peugeot also won 2020 car of the year award

Citroen is planning to enter popular segments, which consist of SUVs and premium hatchbacks. Initially, the carmaker is planning to establish itself as a premium carmaker like Kia and MG. Moreover, the company has also started setting up dealerships in India, with Citroen establishing its first dealership in Ahmedabad. In 2017, PSA and CK Birla group signed a contract to manufacture passenger cars and engines as a joint venture. For initial production stages, the French giant has invested more than 100 Euros.