PSA, Toyota JV Spawns a New City Car Model Range

April 1, 2014

John Kendall

New Toyota Aygo shares its basic design and engine with the new Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1.

A successful joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota brought one of the most successful city car model ranges to Europe in 2005. The 2014 Geneva Motor Show saw the launch of the replacement models named Citroën C1, Peugeot 108, and Toyota Aygo.

As before, Toyota supplies the gasoline engine and PSA the vehicle structure. In addition, Peugeot and Citroën variants are available with a PSA-sourced gasoline engine. Like the preceding range, there is a choice of three- and five-door models, but the new models gain the option of a full-length canvas roof.

“The concept is shared,” Ivo Groen, Project Design Director for both PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota told Automotive Engineering. “But between the PSA models and the Toyota, the [roof] opening of the PSA models is bigger. From the B-post on, the Toyota has much more taper. The Peugeot and Citroën are more spacious cars in the second row,” he claimed.

“The idea was to make it as ‘premium’ as possible,” he continued. “How can we make a small, affordable car look premium? The answer is to design every part of it as well as possible.”

The car is just 24 mm (0.9 in) longer than the outgoing Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo, and, according to Groen, this has all been added to the front overhang. The wheel-base remains the same as the previous model at 2340 mm (92.1 in), while the overall length grows to 3470 mm (136.6 in). At 1620 mm (63.8 in) wide, the car is 10 mm (0.4 in) narrower than the outgoing model and about the same height at 1470 mm (57.9 in).

Like the outgoing car, the car is fitted with a glass tailgate, but whereas the hinges were exposed on the earlier model, they are covered with a small spoiler. “If it were just for styling reasons, we could not have got common agreement (from PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota). But the fact that it improves the aerodynamics, because the Cx value has been radically improved, then the common view says we must do it,” said Groen. “It costs a little bit more money, it looks better, and gives us the efficiency we need in the aerodynamics.” The drag coefficient of the new models has been reduced from Cd 0.30 to 0.29.

Like many other new models at Geneva, smartphone connectivity is incorporated in the new models, which are equipped with a 7-in touchscreen in the center stack as standard on specific models. Equipped with MirrorLink and AppInCar, the system can be connected to any Google Android, BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows, or Apple iOS device, replicating the functions on the car’s touchscreen.

The 1.0-L three-cylinder Toyota engine has been revised. It now operates with a higher, 11.5:1 compression ratio and includes a revised combustion chamber design aimed at improved efficiency. A new low-friction timing chain helps to reduce frictional losses. Weight has been reduced by introducing a new cylinder head with a built-in exhaust manifold.

Power output has been increased to 68 hp (51 kW) at 6000 rpm and torque output is 95 N·m (70 lb·ft) at 4300 rpm. Fuel consumption has been reduced from 4.4 L/100 km to 4.1 L/100 km, with carbon dioxide emissions, measured on the EU combined cycle, reduced to 95 g/km.

A five-speed manual or automated transmission will be avail- able. The automated transmission raises carbon dioxide emissions to 97 g/km.

Peugeot and Citroën models are also available with a PSA-built, 1.2-L, three-cylinder gasoline engine producing 82 hp (61 kW). This engine has claimed EU combined-cycle fuel consumption of 4.3 L/100 km with corresponding carbon dioxide emissions of 99 g/km.