Autocar confidential: Peugeot's city car goal, BMW's individuality focus and more
Peugeot aims to replace its 108
Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up a week in gossip from across the automotive industry
In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, Peugeot works to save the A-segment, we hear why individuality is important to BMW and more.
*Peugeot's city car safeguard*
Peugeot will work on making electric cars cheaper to preserve the city car segment and ultimately create a 108 replacement. Current city cars can’t meet stricter CO2 laws without costly electrification. “The A-segment will exist, but we will try our best to make EVs more affordable,” said boss Jean-Philippe Imparato.
*BMW's indy aim*
BMW aims to give each of its models a more individual look. “Customers don’t want to feel like they’re driving a scaled-down X5 when they drive an X3, and the 4 Series shouldn’t feel like a small 8 Series,” said design boss Domagoj Dukec. “Else the 4 would feel like it were for people who couldn’t afford an 8. We have customers who could afford a Rolls-Royce yet buy a 1 Series.”
*Afternoon delight*
4pm is the most popular time to buy a Tesla online in Europe, during a 3-6pm ‘rush hour’. Three-quarters of Teslas are sold online. The busiest day is Tuesday, just ahead of Wednesday. In the Netherlands and Germany, more than 50% of people buy without a test drive.
*Ami could come to the UK*
The quirky Citroen Ami two-seat electric car has been industrialised for left-hand-drive only, CEO Vincent Cobée has revealed, but it may still come to the UK. “There’s no reason why this structure couldn’t exist in right-hand-drive in rapid-development mode,” he said. “If the UK team believes there’s a business case, we will gladly consider it.”
*READ MORE*
*Citroen Ami is electric two-seater for £17 per month *
*2020 BMW 4 Series Coupe revealed with dramatic new look *
*BMW design chief: New 4 Series grille will be 'brand-shaper'*