Peugeot recently announced its plans of entering India in a joint venture with the CK Birla group. While the carmaker is yet to finalise its market positioning and line-up for India, it’s safe to assume that its models here are likely to include an SUV and possibly even a compact car to keep its offerings mainstream.
Besides hitting all the popular vehicle segments, the engines that the company uses will also play a critical role in the chances of success for the company.
Luckily, Avtec – a subsidiary of Peugeot’s partner company, the C K Birla Group – already makes engines for PSA Powertrain since 2011. This should surely help the French company in readying engines for the cars it plans to sell in India.
The two engines that the company is likely to consider for India are a 176.4hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, and a 130hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol. The former is likely to suffice for a big car like an SUV, while the latter unit should be good for a smaller car, say the size of a Hyundai i20 or even a Honda City.