Málaga, Spain: The sun turns the Spanish countryside into brown dust, and in the reservoir the foundation of a dam emerges from what has almost become a mud puddle.
There are many opinions about the reasons such as the presence of cars on the road, but the fact that rain shines with its absence in this part of the world is indisputable.
Peugeot wants to attract more people to the world of charging cables with an updated version of the E-2008 GT. The new electric motor now produces 115 kilowatts, equivalent to 156 horsepower, which according to the manufacturer is 20 horsepower more than the previous version. The torque reaches 260 Newton metres.
Battery capacity has also been increased, from 50 to 54 kWh, with a net 51 kWh that can be used to drive the electric motor. With the built-in 11 kW charger, charging from zero to 100 percent should take 5 hours and 15 minutes.
More than 400 km
Here, the Peugeot E-2008 GT achieved the first speed bump in this test, because the highest charging power on the fast charger is 100 kilowatts. But charging from 20 to 80 percent shouldn’t take more than about half an hour, and if you wait until the battery is fully charged, the range should now be up to 406 kilometers according to WLTP.
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This is a significant increase from the previous model’s WLTP of 345 km.
Some speed bumps
Speed bumps number two and three, which may cause some readers not to care to continue with the most positive part of the test, which is that the Peugeot E-2008 GT only has front-wheel drive, even though it is built like an SUV and has a maximum trailer weight of zero.
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It is possible to load 70 kilos on the roof, but you have to find space for the rest in the trunk. It basically holds 545 liters floor to ceiling, or 1,467 liters if you lay the rear passengers flat. If you instead left them in their original form, there would be plenty of room for two adults in the back row.
Yellow-green sewing thread
Just like its predecessor, the Peugeot E-2008 GT is extended over the Stellantis SUV bed, making it easier, among other things, for those with little weight and stiff joints to enter. An electrically adjustable driver’s seat covered in leather and Alcantara, decorated with contrast stitching in a kind of neon yellow and green, awaits you.
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The same sewing thread was used to sew the dashboard and steering wheel together. It may seem a bit unusual at first, but with the carbon-like structure it helps give the feeling that the interior has been designed with the clear aim of looking sporty. Which is welcome, after driving a number of competitors from China, where the driving environment sometimes resembles the control panel of a washing machine.
Widgets
The instruments on the Peugeot E-2008 GT have been given what the manufacturer calls a 3D effect. In practice, the screen is divided into two parts, one of which is placed further back than the other. The purpose should be to highlight the most important information, leaving what is not essential to driving the vehicle in the background.
It works surprisingly well, and spares the driver from having to constantly search through masses of information to figure out how fast the car should go or which exit to take. The main screen on the dashboard is 10 inches, and is now filled with ‘widgets’.
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There are square digital shortcuts to the car’s various functions, and you can move and organize them as you please. Returning to the home screen is done by planting three fingers on the screen, like an indifferent bowler, and then you can swipe this way and that.
Sneaky in the baskets
In the tray above the row of keys, you can charge your mobile phone wirelessly, and the Peugeot E-2008 GT connects to Apple phones, as well as Android devices, without having to run cables through the cockpit.
As with the Peugeot, the steering wheel is very small in circumference, and designed at just the right thickness to make it easy to grip.
The steering is extremely precise without feeling strained, inviting you to let the red Peugeot confidently make its way up the Spanish mountains from one bend to the next. There is no point in rushing to fight at traffic lights, as running from 0 to 100 km/h takes 9 seconds.
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But on a country road, it’s fast enough to overtake slower trucks, and going fast enough to cause a small jolt when an emergency vehicle from the local fire service suddenly appears in the mirror.
French waiter
One of the best things about the Peugeot E-2008 GT is the suspension, which contributes greatly to the good ride comfort, as well as the car feeling sporty without being too harsh or sharp. Peugeot has cracked the code that makes the car behave like an elegant French waiter.
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Country roads with cross-knuckles and uneven asphalt are presented in a continuous flow to the 18-inch wheels, while at the same time unwanted vibrations and shocks are removed so effectively that you hardly notice them. Noise isolation also gets an added bonus at the margin, along with the seats which gave the right support in the right places after a long day on the road.
LED for lion
On the outside, the Peugeot E-2008 GT has received a complete visual overhaul, including a new fascia where three strips of LEDs on each side will remind you of the lion depicted on the logo.
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The taillights have also become more prominent, and with the black-painted roof, the car looks good in several colors such as “Red Elixir,” “Selenium Gray,” and the new “White Okinette” with touches of blue-gray shades. According to the importer, pricing starts at NOK 388,900, and they expect the car to arrive in the country in September.
Key information: Peugeot E-2008 GT
engine: Electrical engine
Drivetrain: Front wheel drive system
hp/kW/Nm: 156 / 115 / 260 Nm
0-100 km/h: 9.0 seconds
maximum speed: 150 km/h
Range (WLTP): 406 km (WLTP)
Battery capacity (gross/net): 54 kWh gross / 51 kWh net
Maximum charging power: 100 kW / 11 kW (built-in)
net weight: 1,548 kg
length, width, height: 4,300/1,987/1,550
consumption: 13.3 kW/100 km
Box: 545 / 1,467
supporter, encourager, supporter: no
the prices: This model: NOK 388,900. With equipment:
400,000 NOK
Plus:
- A powerful and stylish electric car at a good price
- Very good driving characteristics
- Nice interior design and good driving environment
minus:
- Not all-wheel drive
- Not fun
- The charging power could be higher
design: Durable design, stands out with good looks.
Driving environment: You will have a good time here
Driving characteristics: Sporty and comfortable in an excellent combination
Offers: Holds up well for regular use here at home
place: Plenty of space for people front and back plus luggage for everyone
Value for your money: Only the top GT model comes to Norway with ‘all’ equipment.
a result: 8/10
Conclusion: A very nice acquaintance, will hit the market nicely.
This article was first published in Finansavisen engine.
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