Peugeot also launches an updated Partner Tepee family vehicle.

• New Partner available to order from June
• PEUGEOT Partner Tepee refreshed with new design and latest Euro 6 engines
• Enhanced specification includes Touchscreen, reversing camera and ‘Active City Brake’ (available from November)

The PEUGEOT Partner Tepee has always been perfect for families – a leisure activity vehicle built around a spacious and versatile interior, practical value and the ability to get away from it all in comfort.

Now it’s even better than ever, with a fresh exterior design, the latest Euro 6 engines, a range of specification upgrades and desirable new features. Lower CO₂ emissions and improved fuel economy also mean even lower running costs.

Key to the PEUGEOT Partner Tepee’s appeal is its generous interior space and exceptional practicality. Multiple configurations mean people, cargo or both can be carried with ease. Children can be dropped off at school Monday to Friday then bikes can be shipped to the countryside at the weekend.

Just as it has been since launch in 2008, the Partner Tepee comes with either five or seven seats. There are three removable seats in row two (standard on Allure but optional on Active), plus the choice of two more in row three (available as an option on Active only). With a completely flat floor, this perfect family vehicle has a vast load volume of between 675 and 3,000 litres.

The most obvious change for 2015 is to the car’s front end, which benefits from a revised light and grille design. The result is more contemporary styling and a family face that’s fully integrated with the rest of the Peugeot range.

For cost-conscious motorists, the five-strong range of all-new petrol and diesel engines further boost the desirability of the Partner Tepee. Delivering between 75hp and 120hp, all are compliant with the latest Euro6 regulations.

With fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions that are, on average, 15 per cent lower than the units they replace, the UK full range is:

* 1.6-litre VTi 98hp, 5-speed manual, 148g/km

* 1.6-litre BlueHDi 75hp, 5-speed manual, 113g/km

* 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100hp S&S, 5-speed manual, 109g/km

* 1.6 litre BlueHDi 120hp S&S, 6-speed manual, 115g/km

* 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100hp S&S, 6-speed electronic transmission, 109g/km

The PEUGEOT Partner Tepee’s two trim levels, Active and Allure, continue to feature a high level of safety and driver assistance equipment. Now they have been updated with even more useful and efficient technologies.

These include a state-of-the-art infotainment system with seven-inch integrated colour Touchscreen. Standard on Allure and available as an option on Active, it includes: DAB radio, hard-drive music storage and hands-free telephone connectivity. Satellite Navigation can be specified as an optional extra.

‘Active City Brake’ is available on the Partner Tepee for the first time (from November). It’s an automatic urban braking technology which allows an accident to be avoided, or the severity of the impact reduced, if the driver fails to react at speeds below 20mph.

Also new is a reversing camera, which utilises the Touchscreen to show what’s behind the car. It allows the driver to see the edges of the vehicle and its trajectory through the use of superimposed coloured lines, reducing the risk of a low-speed shunt. Both Active City Brake and the reversing camera can be selected as an option on Allure models.

Additional interior practicality comes with the Zenith sunroof, an option on Allure trim which combines four tinted glass panels with 94-litres of overhead storage space.

Two new exterior colours –Cumulus Grey and Tornado Grey – have been added to the Partner Tepee’s palette. Bianca White, Black, Kyanos Blue, Aluminium Grey, Shark Grey and Hazelnut all remain. New eight-spoke ‘Managua’ 16-inch alloy wheels (standard on Allure) can be specified as an option on Active versions (not including ETG variants).

Inside the vehicle, the choice of colours and materials has been improved to give a smart new contemporary style to the cabin.  Cadaska Grey seat trim is added as an alternative to Cadaska Blue (on Active).

The new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee is available to order from 1^st June. Prices for Active models start at £14,785, while Allure trims cost from £18,595.

The New Peugeot Partner van goes on sale in the UK this month.

• The New PEUGEOT Partner Van goes on sale in June
• Exceptional practicality with floor space for two Euro pallets
• Increased specification including Touchscreen and TomTom GO 5000 semi-integrated navigation

After a successful public debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April, the New PEUGEOT Partner is now available to order.

Clearly demonstrating why it’s one of the UK’s most popular LCVs – 2.4million Partner Vans have been produced since its launch in 1996 with 10% of those being sold in the UK – this 4^th generation Partner showcases everything that’s important to Britain’s van drivers. 

Like every PEUGEOT, it comes with a desirable specification, exceptional versatility, proven durability, outstanding reliability, excellent driving dynamics and is great value.

For 2015 – which is PEUGEOT’s 120^th successful year in the sector in which 7million commercial vehicles have been sold – the Partner has been significantly revised. Enhancements include new Euro 6 engines, additional features and a smart new front-end design.

The upgrades will continue to drive demand for PEUGEOT LCVs; sales in the UK were up more than 50% last year, the largest market growth of any LCV manufacturer in which the Partner continues to dominate its sector. The total for the year reached 32,254 units, with PEUGEOT the fourth largest manufacturer – a jump of two places compared to 2013. Market share grew by more than 2%, from 7.7% in 2013 to 9.8% in 2014.

The most obvious enhancement to the New Partner van is its revised front-end design. It features a contemporary new nose and fresh headlamp styling, bringing it into line with the new PEUGEOT family face already seen on other recently launched vehicles.  Inside the modifications made the floor pan mean that even the L1 version has the capacity for 2 Euro pallets, class leading in its sector.

Keeping control of running costs is a key part of any LCV fleet, and the New Partner is a star performer. Amongst the proven, economical engines in the range, there are new VTi petrol and BlueHDi diesel units to choose from, which meet Euro 6 standards.

• 1.6-litre VTi 98 Petrol 5-speed manual Euro 6
• 1.6-litre HDi 75 5-speed manual
• 1.6-litre HDi 92 5-speed manual
• 1.6-litre HDi 92 ATV with Grip Control 5-speed manual
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 S&S 5-speed manual Euro 6
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 S&S 6-speed ETG Euro 6

Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions are on average 15% lower than the outgoing units. The 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 S&S version now has record low CO₂ emissions, from 108g/km, and comes with either a manual or electronic-controlled automatic gearbox.

Available in S, SE and Professional trims, new features have been added at every level. Cruise control and a speed limiter are now standard from SE, while front parking sensors and a reversing camera are now on the options list.

Professional vans now come with a TomTom GO 5000 sat-nav fitted as standard, a first in the sector (and also on Bipper and Expert vans). It clips magnetically to a charging dock mounted on the A-pillar, enabling the five-inch touch-screen to be within handy reach.

A first for the New Partner range is ‘Active City Brake’, available across the range from November this year. It is an automatic urban braking system which activates when a risk of collision is detected, up to speeds of 20mph. By helping to avoid accidents, or reduce the seriousness of an impact, it has a positive effect on the insurance group rating and running costs – another key factor for business users.

The New PEUGEOT Partner is available in Panel Van and Crew Van formats, priced from £13,215 and £15,285 respectively (prices excl. VAT).

One model expected to prove particularly popular with multi-drop businesses which operate mainly in urban areas is the Panel Van EV. It provides a zero-emissions driving range of up to 106 miles between charges, and comes with an eight-year / 60,000-mile battery warranty and priced at £21,300 (excl. VAT).

The PEUGEOT Partner has been a key part of Britain’s LCV landscape since 1996. Its practical one-box body style has shaped the segment, fulfilling an ‘everyday workhorse’ role for business users who demand outstanding efficiency and robustness.

Peugeot family to hold meeting to discuss the future of their shareholding now it has been reduced.

The Peugeot family plans to hold a meeting in June to work out its differences over the future of its 14.1 percent stake in PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Les Echos newspaper reported this week. The meeting would mark a year since the family relinquished control of the carmaker, opening up a rift between two senior family members, the newspaper said.

The French government and Dongfeng, PSA’s Chinese partner, now both hold matching 14.1 percent stakes after a deal that injected fresh capital into the business and which was opposed by senior family member Thierry Peugeot. He left the PSA board in July last year.

The report said Thierry Peugeot was also expected to step down from the board of the family holding company FFP at its shareholder meeting in May, but wants to keep a grip on the business, and has built another 0.3 percent stake in the company through a separate holding company, Sapar.

According to the report, some members of the Peugeot family fear that Robert Peugeot, the FFP's representative on the PSA board, wants to reduce the size of the family's holding. They want to see a resolution at the June meeting that would exclude such an option, even though Robert Peugeot said in March that no such move was planned.

The June meeting may also look at a contingency plan in case the government decides to reduce its stake, the newspaper reported.

The new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee has new look, Euro 6 engines and the latest equipment

• The new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee has new look, Euro 6 engines and the latest equipment
• Low CO₂ and improved economy increase the versatility of this multiuse vehicle
• New features include reversing camera, touchscreen and Active City Brake

In 1996 PEUGEOT created a new category of private cars: that of leisure activity vehicles. The spaciousness and practicality of this multi-use vehicle, the PEUGEOT Partner Tepee remains the benchmark. With 15.3% of sector sales in Europe in 2014, the Partner Tepee maintains its appeal.

Since its launch in 2008, the current generation has maintained its place on the podium, in a segment that is constantly expanding, now with four times more competitors and the arrival of a more compact category than initially offered. Sales outside Europe in this sector represent nearly 27% of the total for the Partner Tepee, a growth of 8% compared to 2009 (the first full year on sale).

In a world of leisure activity vehicles built around family and practical values, the new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee, while still providing the fundamental requirements, is positioned at the activity end of the spectrum. Its styling changes along with the latest generation of useful, efficient technology and latest engines give users greater freedom and optimisation.

Other than the restyled front end, the new Partner Tepee introduces two new colours: Moka Grey and Artense Grey, available alongside Bianca White, Ardent Red, Kyanos Blue, Aluminium Grey, Shark Grey and Nocciola. New 8-spoke Managua 16 ‘’ alloy wheels, available as an option, also accentuate the dynamic character of the new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee.

Inside the vehicle, the choice of colours and the rich materials used contribute towards the modernity of the cabin. A new Onega Grey ambience appears on the dashboard and on several interior features. Cadaska Roux seat trim is added as an alternative to Cadaska Bleu on trim level two and a new technical and high quality NeoSpa seat trim is used on trim level three and the Outdoor version.

Latest generation technologies

Already available with a wide range of equipment to ensure safety and driving assistance, the new Partner Tepee is updated with useful and efficient technologies.

The comfortable and ergonomic cabin in the new Partner Tepee is equipped with a new telematic system with a large, perfectly integrated 7’’ colour touch screen, in the middle of the dashboard where it is easy to reach and see.

Standard on trim level three and available as an option on trim level two, giving easy access to the vehicle’s various systems : trip computer, AM/FM radio or digital DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), Jukebox music files (integral hard disk) or portable devices, hands-free telephone and navigation. Navigation includes the display of speed limits and traffic information with mapping for Europe.

Greater driving assistance and safety systems

Active City Brake technology(automatic urban braking when there is a risk of collision, available as an option from trim level two) is a new system that allows an accident to be avoided or the severity of an impact to be reduced if the driver fails to react, in urban conditions at speeds below 20mph.

A short range laser sensor (Lidar: Light Detection and Ranging) fitted at the top of the windscreen detects vehicles travelling in the same direction or stationary. If necessary, it automatically triggers full power braking. In some cases this system will automatically bring the vehicle to a complete stop, so avoiding a potential collision with the vehicle ahead.

The reversing camera, available as an option from trim level two, uses the large colour display screen and simplifies everyday parking manoeuvres. It allows the driver to see the edges of the vehicle and its trajectory through the use of coloured lines, so making these manoeuvres easy and safe. In addition to the rear parking sensors already standard on trim level three, the new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee is now available with front parking sensors to make low speed manoeuvres safer.

Grip Control, a system that provides enhanced traction, remains a reference in the segment. Patented by the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, it extends the usability of the PEUGEOT Partner Tepee on roads or tracks on low grip surfaces, allowing the vehicle to continue to make progress in a situation where a normal two-wheel drive vehicles would struggle.

Grip Control is combined with a generous ground clearance of 15cm with Mud & Snow tyres. Versatile and flexible, it adapts to the conditions encountered by acting on the front driving wheels, while leaving the driver in control at all times. At any time the driver can choose to allow the system to use its intelligence in Standard mode, or select the desired mode using the dial on the dashboard centre panel: Snow, Off-road, Sand, ESP Off.

The level of equipment fitted as standard is also expanded on the new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee: speed limiter and cruise control, as well as air conditioning are now available from trim level two. The Outdoor version offers three separate and removable seats in row two and lateral airbags in row one.

A new range of even more efficient engines

The new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee has an entirely new and wide range of latest generation engines that meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. In total, seven VTi petrol and BlueHDi Diesel engines are available at launch, delivering 75 to 120hp.

They provide an answer for all types of use, while having fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions that are 15% lower on average than the engines they replace:

• 1.6-litre VTi 98hp, 5-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 148g/km, saving 7g;
• 1.6-litre VTi 120hp, 5-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 148g/km, saving 16g;
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 75hp, 5-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 113g/km, saving 22g;
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100hp, 5-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 113g/km, saving 22g;
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100hp S&S, 5-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 109g/km, saving 14g;
• 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100hp S&S ETG6, 6-speed electronic with CO₂ emissions from 109g/km, saving 6g;
• 1.6 litre BlueHDi 120hp S&S, 6-speed manual with CO₂ emissions from 113g/km, saving 16g.

BlueHDi engines offer optimum driving enjoyment due to improved torque and power, together with the adoption of a 6-speed manual gearbox on the BlueHDi 120 version. Furthermore, the 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 S&S version has record low CO₂ emissions in the segment, from 109g/km.

Always adaptable to the user’s needs and desires

When driving on their own, with the family or among friends, the new PEUGEOT Partner Tepee continues to offer great modularity and remarkable flexibility, adapting to every day needs, as well as for leisure, going away activities or for practical requirements.

Available in 5 or 7 separate seat versions, with 3 removable seats in row 2, as well as 2 more removable seats in row 3 in the case of the  7-seat version, the Partner Tepee presents a flat floor and a load volume of between 675 and 3000 litres - among the best in the category. Loading the boot is facilitated in all conditions due to its large tailgate.

The Partner Tepee offers a multitude of configurations so that both people and objects can be carried with ease. This is the freedom to be able to take their children and friends to school or to transport bicycles for a weekend away.

With the Zenith sunroof, this unique fitting in the leisure activity segment, the occupants already feel outdoors. Ingeniously, it combines:

• Great brightness with its four dark tinted glass panels;
• Improved temperature control for the rear passengers with 3 additional air vents;
• 94 litres of additional storage space in the roof. There is an overhead storage bin at the front, storage spaces either side of the centre roof console and at the rear a compartment accessible both from the cabin and the boot. This is in addition to the 90  litres of open and closed storage space already present around the cabin;
• Also, a modular exterior loading capacity due to its roof bars, which can be secured longitudinally or transversely as required.

Peugeot's Commercial Vehicle sales in 2014 improve by over 50% against 2013.

• Exceptional success from PEUGEOT’s LCV division – up 50%
• Market share rose more than 2% year on year
• More enhancements due in 2015 as PEUGEOT celebrates 120-years of commercial vehicle sales

The PEUGEOT range of versatile Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) delivered exceptional sales results for 2014. Demand increased by a massive 50% on 2013 – the largest growth of any LCV manufacturer – and has seen the French brand leapfrog from sixth to fourth position in the UK.

In total, an impressive 32,254 PEUGEOT LCVs were sold, up 50.5% on the year before, with showroom success that has also seen continued market share growth - from 7.7% in 2013 to 9.8% in 2014.

Gareth Pockett, PEUGEOT LCV Product Manager, commented: “It was a fantastic result for Peugeot and our extensive LCV business. We’ve improved our market share considerably and at the heart of this growth has been the durability and versatility of our vehicles.”

Making a major contribution to this was the PEUGEOT Boxer which benefited from a restyle and enhanced specification in 2014. UK sales of 8,956 units means demand was up by a substantial 89% and the Boxer was a top three performer in the K3 (3.26t-3.5t) and K4 (3.5t-5.0t) sectors. The largest of PEUGEOT’s commercial vehicles, the Boxer has always been a well-specified chassis/van.

The mid-life restyle permitted a reappraisal of the latest LCV customer expectations and the specification was tailored with their requirements in mind. As an example, Bluetooth connectivity is now standard across the Boxer range, while ‘Professional’ level vans come with a 5” colour touch-screen with integrated satellite navigation – an obvious benefit to any commercial business. This feature is almost unique in the LCV market place, and thanks to consultations with residual value experts, will contribute to lowering overall running costs.

Gareth continued: “With the inclusion of features like a steel bulkhead and security alarm, coupled with passenger car levels of comfort and styling, we have put the PEUGEOT Boxer on the wish list of many more CV users.”

PEUGEOT was also the number one brand in 2014 for new LCV sales for motorhome conversions, with the Boxer the primary vehicle of choice.

Another sales success in the PEUGEOT LCV range was the growing demand for the Expert, with sales of 3,572 units, up 85.5% over the previous year, but it was the Company’s most-popular LCV – the Partner van – that was the number one choice in the compact sector. In 2014 it attracted 16,633 business customers (up 46%), boosted mid-year by a much wider choice of options.

In the small van sector, the Bipper remains another popular choice for compact deliveries and PEUGEOT’s smallest light commercial vehicle won a further 3,093 new customers.

Gareth concluded: “Peugeot has been producing light commercial vehicles since 1895 and in our 120^th year we are looking to continue the progressive growth with success over many years. With a broad customer choice in the four-model LCV range, these PEUGEOT vehicles provide a durable, stylish and versatile service to our business customers.”

SAAB weather new bankruptcy with news that a two major manufacturers are in talks for assistance.

Saab's owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), says it is in discussions with potential partners as it seeks to restart car production and develop future models.

NEVS was forced to stop production at Saab's factory in Sweden in May due to a shortage of cash to pay suppliers. NEVS last week denied that Saab is facing insolvency after a supplier filed a bankruptcy petition.

"We need cooperation to secure a long-term financial structure and help us to solve our short-term financial challenges," a NEVS spokesman told Automotive News Europe.

The spokesman said NEVS is talking with potential investors but declined to name them. Getting new investment is a "prerequisite to forming a decision on how and when we can resume production," he said.

NEVS said Labo Test, one of Saab's suppliers, had petitioned a Swedish court to declare the automaker bankrupt over unpaid bills of 150,000 kronor (16,372 euros). According to NEVS, the petition has now been withdrawn.

"The company does not have enough liquid cash today to pay all outstanding debt, but NEVS' assets are larger than its debt. NEVS cannot say exactly when, but NEVS' suppliers will get paid," the company said in a statement.

The automaker’s debts amount to 3.6 million kronor (393,000 euros) with the Swedish Enforcement Authority, the Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 13, adding that the government agency has said another 91 claims, many of which are for several million kronor each, are waiting in the pipeline for NEVS to acknowledge.

China revival

NEVS, which is controlled by National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd., whose founder and principal owner is Chinese-Swedish businessman Kai Johan Jiang, bought Saab from Dutch niche sports-car maker Spyker in September 2012 with the aim of reviving the brand with an electric lineup aimed chiefly at the Chinese market.

Production of a gasoline-powered 9-3 model began a year later, but by May the company ran into financial difficulties and halted production, which stood at six cars a day.

Spyker bought Saab from General Motors in early 2010, but soon hit financing problems and spent months trying to put together deals with Chinese companies before Saab filed for bankruptcy in December 2011.