THE PEOPLE'S MONARCH - Royal Brunei Airlines

ove Once the playground for Europe’s rich aristocrats and
the Portuguese royal family, Cascais (pronounced
Cash-kaISH) today courts the young and stylish
with its sophisticated vibe and relaxed atmosphere. Holidaymakers
are discovering the magic that has made Cascais known as the Coast
of Kings. They fall in love with the sinewy streets that snake their way
pass whitewashed villages, the dreamy dune landscape dotted with
seasonal foliage, and the dramatic, heart-stopping cliffs overlooking
the magnifi cent Atlantic Ocean. It is against this backdrop that
Peugeot unveils its new 208, the successor of the famous 207, designed
primarily to bring sexy back in its hatchback.
It’s not surprising to have Peugeot choose Cascais as the point of which
to test drive the new 208. A town with a rich and colourful history,
Cascais seems to mirror the evolution of the 208 and its glorious
heritage passed down from the 205 model. There was Cascais’ compact
size to refl ect the style of the 208, the palm-brushed beach and lazy
joie de vivre to celebrate the model’s new-found aesthetics, and the
town’s relaxed spirit that encapsulates the emotion of the driving
experience. Once the car was in front of us, stepping inside, it was
immediately clear that the team at Peugeot had put a lot of thought
into rekindling the romance between driving and driver.
The fi rst initial thought upon taking to the wheels was that driving
was certainly a pleasure. The luxurious comfort of space at the front
was undeniable, where driver also has seat height adjustment. Rear
passengers might fi nd the 5cm extra space up from 207’s model a bit
welcoming, but with the sloping roofl ine, adults are better off giving
up this space for kids. The story at the back was similar, with the boot
growing by 15 litres to 285 litres. The panoramic roof, ambient lighting
and tactile mix of metal and leather just add to the sophisticated fl air.
There’s also the tiny, go kart-style steering wheel to start conversation.
Some may fi nd it surprising, but this purpose-designed wheel was
to allow the instrument cluster to be in line with the natural fi eld of
vision. Peugeot believes this will entice 80
percent of the drivers to buy, saying the new
style design provides “ease of driving and
manoeuverabilty”.
Driving out of Cascais, the fi ve-speed manual
gearbox helps provide a punch to the 1.2L
engine. The 110kgs shaved off from the 207
for this new model made the 208 an easy
cruiser on Portugal’s highways. Once off road,
as the route took us through wild and craggy
mountains, winding roads, and highland
pastures, it was apparent that Peugeot’s
three cylinder engine was the right choice.
With 82bhp on hand, it gives 0-62mph in
12.2 seconds, 62.8mpg and 104g/km carbon
dioxide emissions. The 208 grips the road with
commendable dexterity and took to corners
with little or no body roll.
At the halfway point in Vila Verde dos
Francos, we changed vehicle to the 1.6l
VTi version. This time, the car attacked the
sinewy farm roads onwards to the twisty,
cobblestoned streets of Sintra with added
agility. Sintra, the UNESCO-proclaimed World
Heritage Site, is full of tight corners and spots,
which really put the 208’s tiny steering wheel
to the test. And it passed with fl ying colours.
The Peugeot 208 is the most stylish model
in the supermini class. It still comes with the
same trim varieties as other Peugeot models:
A fl oating grille, newly sculptured lights
and boomerang rear lamps. Eco-design is
another area in which the 208 had to prove
itself a pioneer. With the integration of 25
percent “green materials” out of the 170kg
of polymers (excluding rubber) present on the
vehicle (compared with 7 percent on the 207),
the 208 enters a new stage in terms of ecodesign.
In particular, it has an entirely recycled
rear bumper, which is a world fi rst for these
materials, until now used only for concealed
parts, as well as a radiator frame and fan
which are also entirely recycled.
Winding down the test drive back in
the fl atlands of Cascais, we rode to the
westernmost point of Portugal, the Cabo Da
Roca (Cape Roca). Against the backdrop of
the haunting lighthouse and end-of-the-world
cliffs, it was clear that with the 208, Peugeot
had successfully shaken off the ghost of its
predecessor to create a stylish, compact car
with innovative fl air perfect for city drivers.
JULY | AUGUST 2012 69