Peugeot, Citroen to push triples

Peugeot and Citroen Australia says its win in the 1.0-1.4-litre category of the 2015 International Engine of the Year awards has prompted it to extend its local offering of three-cylinder 1.2-litre PureTech engines.

The engine currently powers the Peugeot 308 small-car line-up, 52 per cent of which are sold with a 96kW turbocharged petrol version of the feisty triple, more than 100,000 units of which have now rolled off the production line at the Française de Mécanique plant in Douvrin, France.

Both turbo and non-turbo PureTech three-cylinder engines offer relatively high levels of performance, yet also cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by an average of 18 per cent over the 60kW 1.2-litre triple they replace.

The older three-pot is currently fitted at base level in the Citroen C3 and Peugeot 208 and 2008 line-ups, but motoring.com.au understands that will change, with all PSA models below the Citroen C5 and Peugeot 508 potentially set to offer the engine.

Citroen has already confirmed its facelifted C4 will be powered exclusively by the 308's 96kW/230Nm 1.2-litre turbo-triple (which will replace the current C4's 88kW petrol and 82kW diesel 1.6-litre engines) when it arrives here in August.

We expect a PureTech triple to also power the facelifted 208 that arrives here in October. The base 208 is currently powered by PSA's old 60kW 1.2 triple.

The same scenario is likely to take place with Citroen's next C3 and the replacement for Peugeot's 2008, which is currently also powered by the old 1.2 in entry-level form, while the mould-breaking new Citroen C4 Cactus is also likely to arrive with the new turbo-triple early next year.

The general manager for Peugeot, Citroen and DS vehicles in Australia, John Startari, said PureTech triple engines will also be rolled out across other model variants in the DS range in the future.

"The PureTech range of engines have become one of the staples of the new 308 range, with over half of all vehicles sold specified with this powerful, yet frugal, drivetrain," said Startari.

"Local response to the drivetrain has been extremely positive, with many customers not even realising the drivetrain is a three-cylinder. In fact, the turbocharged PureTech 1.2-litre is more powerful and economical than some of its key rivals."

"The positive feedback from customers and the industry gives us great faith in the rollout of this drivetrain to further products in the future," said Startari.

Globally, PureTech engines are fitted to the Peugeot 108, 208, 308, 2008, 3008 and 5008, as well as the Citroën C1, C3, C3 Picasso, C4, C4 Cactus and C4 Picasso, the DS 3 and DS 4, and also the Dongfeng Peugeot 308S and 408.