Toyota and Europe's PSA Announce Three New Co-Developed Cars

Toyota Aygo, Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107 Get Small Even for Europe

French conglomerate PSA (comprising Peugeot and Citroën) and Japanese giant Toyota have just announced a new lineup of

French conglomerate PSA and Japanese giant Toyota have just announced a new jointly built lineup of three compact cars. (Photo: PSA)

three compact cars, set to make their debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

The long-awaited Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 'city cars' are tiny, economical, low-horsepower runabouts, designed for European markets. The cars will occupy the entry-level position for their respective companies.

The three models, despite coming from manufacturers of completely different origin, share identical structures, suspensions, and drivetrain components. Contrary to rumours that PSA would carry over its well-established compact car platform on which the current Citroën C2, C3, Peugeot 206 and Peugeot 1007 are based, the newly announced vehicles

Despite coming from different manufacturers, the three cars share identical structures, suspensions, and drivetrain components. (Photo: PSA)

ride on their own purpose-built platforms which were developed specifically for the project.

Initially, buyers of the Aygo, 107 and C1 will have a choice of two engines, both of which sport the latest in low-emissions technology. An advanced and efficient 68-horsepower 1.0L VVT-i gasoline motor of Toyota design is standard fare, while a 70-horsepower 1.4L common-rail turbodiesel powerplant developed by PSA will be optional. As the demand for these cars picks up, different engines will most likely be offered, but additions of displacement and power aren't expected before mid-2006.