Peugeot 908 discussion

[alexkiller8]

Originally Posted by CTD

And still, it is dead, as it will never race competitively.

sure, i forgot that you have a crystal ball to read the future...
no matter how you see it. - End of discussion. [cit]

[joeb]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

End of discussion. [cit]

Please let this be true.

[gwyllion]

The naive dreamers that still think that Peugeot will return to LMP1 anytime soon, should read http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs...r-sales-tumble.

Erich Hauser, a London-based Credit Suisse analyst, said: "The first half was very, very bad, and I see no reason why the second half would be any better. The situation in Europe will only get worse as we go forward."

While direct government intervention would buy PSA more time, it would also make cutting jobs more difficult, Hauser added.

PSA is preparing a new round of cuts and a likely plant closures. The cuts are expected to include thousands of job losses and the possible closure of its Aulnay plant near Paris, in addition to measures announced earlier this year under a 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) savings program.

Varin is scheduled to brief staff representatives on the cuts at a works council meeting next week, ahead of the company's first-half results presentation on July 25.

[CTD]

Government influence on PSA getting heavier!
http://epn.dk/brancher/industri/bil/article4779592.ece
Translated to English:
http://translate.google.dk/translate...cle4779592.ece
In essence, Hollande wants to renegotiate the layoffs with PSA, in order to save the 8000 jobs.

[Tim the Grey]

So what does Msr.Hollande expect to do with the cars they produce? No-one's buying them... Europe has, I last heard, around FIVE large car plants with no market to sell to. SOMEONE is going to get closed, and Peugeot are a big candidate.
When it's this bad, you have to bite the bullet. And I have been in that position, as an employee. Hollande would seem to be a true socialist. His Reality Cheque just bounced!

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

So what does Msr.Hollande expect to do with the cars they produce? No-one's buying them... Europe has, I last heard, around FIVE large car plants with no market to sell to. SOMEONE is going to get closed, and Peugeot are a big candidate.
When it's this bad, you have to bite the bullet. And I have been in that position, as an employee. Hollande would seem to be a true socialist. His Reality Cheque just bounced!

Well, one have been closed/sold (The Mitsubishi plant in Netherlands).
And i suspect that the plant closure isn't because of the overcapacity, but more because it is inefficient compared to having the plant in eastern Europe.

Peugeot are suffering heavily because of the rise in quality from Hyundai and Kia, which are now providing a better build car, with a better guarantee to a lower price. It still missing the final technology and comfort compared to Peugeot, but thats will not last long.
So in order to compete with Hyundai/Kia, Peugeot needs to produce cheaper and better cars (see the 208, much better car than the 207, but same price), And one way to keep the price low, is lower manufacturing costs. (The 208 is produced in Slovakia only, instead of Spain, France, Indonesia and France)

When people start to buy cars again, they will need their current capacity

[Lorenzo S]

Originally Posted by CTD

Well, one have been closed/sold (The Mitsubishi plant in Netherlands)....

A bit OT all this, but the NedCar plant in the Netherlands has been bought by a coach maker (VDL) who is supposedly negotiating to build BMW-Minis in the Born factory in 2014. It is also a very small producer and can't really be compared to any of the large plants in the UK, Germany or France.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Lorenzo S

A bit OT all this, but the NedCar plant in the Netherlands has been bought by a coach maker (VDL) who is supposedly negotiating to build BMW-Minis in the Born factory in 2014. It is also a very small producer and can't really be compared to any of the large plants in the UK, Germany or France.

Well the economic climate around Peugeot isn't OT in my mind. It's whats base for a Peugeot Le Mans revive

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Lorenzo S

A bit OT all this, but the NedCar plant in the Netherlands has been bought by a coach maker (VDL) who is supposedly negotiating to build BMW-Minis in the Born factory in 2014. It is also a very small producer and can't really be compared to any of the large plants in the UK, Germany or France.

Correct, a deal has been made between VDL and BMW-Mini. Production starts in 2014, no lay-offs.

[walkercdd]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

So what does Msr.Hollande expect to do with the cars they produce? No-one's buying them... Europe has, I last heard, around FIVE large car plants with no market to sell to. SOMEONE is going to get closed, and Peugeot are a big candidate.
When it's this bad, you have to bite the bullet. And I have been in that position, as an employee. Hollande would seem to be a true socialist. His Reality Cheque just bounced!

And that's why manufacturers are less and less interested about racing in Europe, with everything from sportscars to touring cars to rallying being propped up by amateur drivers.

Theres a very real and immediate reason series are stretching out to compete in countries that are relatively new to motorsport, they desperatley need to sell more cars.

One interesting footnote is the UK is now net exporter of cars, the first tme for something like 30 years, and is winning lots of new manufactuering deals.

[Bubak]

Bruno Famin named Director of Peugeot Sport
http://en.lemanslive.com/Lemanslive/...-Peugeot-Sport

[Moneyseeker]

Personally I think they will come back, justified as a showcase for their hybrid technology. People don't go into showrooms to look round anymore.

The sales strategy for car brands is to take the road cars and brand to the people at live events where they can touch, feel, sit in and even drive the cars. Then use capture data and use e-brochures as an instant marketing tool. By the time the customer makes it to the dealer they will researched the market and product quite thoroughly and be ready to buy the car, leaving the dealer to hopefully not muck it up at the final hurdle.

Peugeot will meet more real potential customers at Le Mans and other events than they will through other marketing. IMO.

And that is aside from the reflected glory on the brand and being seen alongside Audi and Toyota.

[deggis]

Giant losses: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...f53414d67d4def

If they had not quit, the writing would be on the wall by now for sure.

[The Badger]

Such a shame Pug didnt hand over a couple of cars and all the spares to Henri to run , letting him come up with the wedge to run them .

[Coopz21 x]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Such a shame Pug didnt hand over a couple of cars and all the spares to Henri to run , letting him come up with the wedge to run them .

Never thought of that! That would have been so much better!

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Such a shame Pug didnt hand over a couple of cars and all the spares to Henri to run , letting him come up with the wedge to run them .

With all that's happening with Pescarolo, I'm not sure Henri would be in a position to take over what was left. I wish it did happen though!

[CTD]

Well, Peugeot have found a use for the 2012 power plant:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5...x-Concept.html

[rich07]

Nice to see the powerplant lives on.

Speaking of Peugeot I was reading interview with Nicholas Minassian in a recent issue of Motorsport magazine. Made some interesting points. Moreso about most drivers being on one year contracts which lead to drivers driving purely to keep their place in the team for next year which doesnt really help in endurance racing. He also said that there wasnt a lot of communication between Bruno Famin and Oliver Quesnel and that he couldnt get in contact with Famin when he needed to and that furthermore the two men would give out contradicting orders. I dont have the magazine on me so its a bit of a rough summary, Im guessing others here have read it.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by rich07

Nice to see the powerplant lives on.

Speaking of Peugeot I was reading interview with Nicholas Minassian in a recent issue of Motorsport magazine. Made some interesting points. Moreso about most drivers being on one year contracts which lead to drivers driving purely to keep their place in the team for next year which doesnt really help in endurance racing. He also said that there wasnt a lot of communication between Bruno Famin and Oliver Quesnel and that he couldnt get in contact with Famin when he needed to and that furthermore the two men would give out contradicting orders. I dont have the magazine on me so its a bit of a rough summary, Im guessing others here have read it.

Sounds about right.
Peugeot Sport haven't had a real team builder since Todt, which has compromised them. Oliver Quesnel is the closest they had, and that's likely because of what he experienced under Todt.

[chewymonster]

Originally Posted by CTD

Well, Peugeot have found a use for the 2012 power plant:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5...x-Concept.html

Looks like they forgot to take the restrictors off of it. Cool looking like other PSA concepts but utterly useless as production terms go. Sweet copper doors and fenders and recycled newspaper interior though.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/peu...r-concept-news

[gucom]

Nice looking thing. If only they could have continued the 908 program, then they could claim to have a road going Le Mans racer. Now they don't even mention it in the press material, just some general Peugeot Sport blabla...

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Bubak

Interesting tweet from Laurent Mercier, Endurance-Info:
https://twitter.com/LaurentMercier2/...28898049327104
" Peugeot Sport back in Motorsport soon ? More than a possibility."

btw Yeah they are back, Craig Breen finished 2nd place at FIA ERC Latvia rally. :-D

Peugeot never exited Motorsport, just Le Mans!
They also have the RCZ running in the 24h VLC at Nürburgring.
Peugeot have gone racing in more production based classes.

Peugeot back at Le Mans!?
Don't see it happen before they start to sell a LOT of cars over more than 1 segment (that is more than the 208)

Did Peugeot manage sell their Le Mans workshop!?

[pablocomics]

PSA has a big restructuration plan and it will end in 2015 (lot of pepople will loose their jobs). I don´t feel that Peugeot will have anything big before that date.

[Speed-King]

A P2 engine program, maybe?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

A P2 engine program, maybe?

With what engine? I'm not sure PSA have any production engine that is liable for the kind of power output needed for a P2 car.