Car maker Peugeot has announced that its portfolio would soon have a full-electric version of its new-generation 208 hatchback and some of its smaller cars would be made more upscale by the addition of newer technology and materials that one can usually find in the more costly high end cars made by the company such as the 508 and 5008.

The details and pictures of the 208 was released by Peugeot on Monday before the company formally launches the model at the Geneva auto show on March 5.

Compared to the previous generation of cars made by it, this new Peugeot 208 would have almost everything different and new except for the name. The PSA Group’s CMP architecture, which is a new platform, has been used to make the car. The model comes with more aggressive styling and new color, as well as trimmer options.

Both internal combustion and full-electric drivetrains can be included in the car because the CMP architecture has been optimized by it, PSA Group says.

Under Europe’s new WLTP homologation, the battery-powered 208 will have 340 km (211 miles) of range. That would be equivalent to 450 km under the old NEDC testing norms.

Since the company expects that most of the rides with the 208 would be short therefore full electrification instead of a hybrid powertrain would suit the car much better, Peugeot says. It also added that this car would also allow its owners to gain and guaranteed access to city centers in the future because such areas can be restricted by authorities and designated for entry of zero- or ultra-low-emissions vehicles only.

The similar-sized Renault Zoe electric hatchback would be the primary rival for the 208 electric variant in Europe. The Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul would be indirect rivals because they are crossovers.

Peugeot says that the weight of the electric 208 will be about 250 kg (551 pounds) more than the models that have internal combustion engines. This is because of the mounting of a 50-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery pack located which would be placed below the rear seats which would be the place where the gasoline tanks for gasoline or diesel models would be typically placed.

Continental would supply the 100 kilowatt (136 hp) electric motor, However the PSA Group is also developing its own motors in partnership with the Japanese supplier Nidec.

One small “e” badges and composite inserts on the wheels would identify the electric 208. The company said that there would also be a sports-oriented GT trim level with special seat stitching and fabrics.

Consumers interviewed through focus groups had opined that they did not believe that there was need for an electric vehicle to be much different from those that are fitted with an internal combustion version, said Yann Beurel, the design manager for the 208. He said: they told us, ‘We are not at the beginning of the electric vehicle era anymore”.

According to IHS Markit, the company has said that it has plans for manufacturing as many as 350,000 208 models for the world market by 2020. These would be manufactured at its factories in in Trnava, Slovakia and Kenitra.

(Adapted from Europe.AutoNews.com)