Peugeot Cars

Peugeot is a popular car maker in France, and it is part of PSA Peugeot Citroen, which is Europe's second largest car maker. The Peugeot family business was founded back in 1810, and its lion logo was trademarked in 1858. Peugeot traces its roots back to the making of pepper and coffee mills and bicycles in the 19th century, in Sochaux, France. The family-owned company did not start making automobiles until 1889, when they developed four cars. They grew over the next decade, and by 1900, they were making 300 cars per year.

The first Peugeot models were very uncomfortable to drive, due to the fact that their wheels were made of wood or metal. Peugeot was the first car maker that decided to start using rubber tires for an easier, more comfortable drive. Thirty years after its inception, Peugeot was flourishing, and in the early 1920s, they designed the Peugeot 201. That car had the distinction of being the most cost-effective production car for sale at that time, and it was the 201 that helped Peugeot weather the Great Depression.

When WWII ended, Peugeot was making 14,000 cars per year, and producing the 202 model. Around 1950, the model was re-released as the 203, and it had hydraulic brakes, rack and pinion steering and a suspension. The great sales of the 203 model encouraged further refinements, and the same car, with minor tweaks from model year to model year, was sold throughout the sixties. Fast forward to the 1980s, and Peugeot began selling the 205, cementing its place among the world's top car makers.

In 1993, Peugeot debuted the 306, a small but very popular family car that remained in production until 2001 when it was replaced by the 307. However, the 306 kept going until 2002, in various estate and cabriolet incarnations. Peugeot has had immense success in international rally racing, especially in the World Rally Championship where four-wheel-drive, turbocharged versions of the 205 and 206 are raced.

During the 90s, the Peugeot 406 participated in touring championships around the globe, enjoying great success in Australia, Germany and France. However, due to lower horsepower and suspension issues, it did not compete well against Nissans and Hondas.

Peugeot competed in the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 905 model during the 90s, and won 8 out of 14 races in 1991-1992, as well as 1992's team/driver titles. The maker won Le Mans in 1992 and 1993, taking a hiatus before returning in 2007 with the diesel 908 HDi FAP.

More recently, Peugeot has built a hybrid diesel/electric 307 that can top 80 mph, which means greater fuel efficiency; but the car never made it past the concept stage. The Peugeot firm is currently working on its hybrid technology, which promises great future growth for the French car maker.