Le 21 novembre 2022
6 minutes read
24 February 1983: the Peugeot 205, the iconic little lioness, lets out its first roar and gets out its claws to leave its feline mark on the history of the automobile.
A symbol of modernity and a pioneer in the long line of successful PEUGEOT city cars, the 205 will forever remain the "sacred number" of the Lion brand. A look back at 40 years of style and legend.
At the end of the 1970s, Peugeot decided to launch a new model that did not exist on the car market and that was just waiting to take its place.
It was a new small car that would be much more than a city car, a multi-purpose car, at ease in the city as well as on the road, capable of transporting a small family, and all this while remaining affordable... in short, a car that was good for everything!
While most of the previous PEUGEOTs had been designed by Pininfarina, it was the project of the in-house stylists led by Gérard Welter that won the competition organised in-house, with a much more modern and fluid design.
Gérard Welter joined Peugeot in 1960 at the age of 17 and spent his entire career there. His most spectacular success was, by his own admission, the Peugeot 205, which marked a break with the past and was a great success that marked a real turning point in the Marque's history. Gérard Welter, car designer.
While most of the previous PEUGEOTs had been designed by Pininfarina, it was the project of the in-house stylists led by Gérard Welter that won the competition organised in-house, with a much more modern and fluid design.
Gérard Welter joined Peugeot in 1960 at the age of 17 and spent his entire career there. His most spectacular success was, by his own admission, the Peugeot 205, which marked a break with the past and was a great success that marked a real turning point in the Marque's history. Gérard Welter, car designer.
Peugeot 205 junior
The PEUGEOT 205 was the first small PEUGEOT to receive such a wide and varied range of engines - from 45 to 200 horsepower! - and an automatic gearbox, a rare option on the market at the time. From its launch in 1983, it was offered in three petrol versions. The diesel would make its appearance a few months later.
Peugeot 205 junior
The PEUGEOT 205 was the first small PEUGEOT to receive such a wide and varied range of engines - from 45 to 200 horsepower! - and an automatic gearbox, a rare option on the market at the time. From its launch in 1983, it was offered in three petrol versions. The diesel would make its appearance a few months later.
Sales and channel champion
In 1984, 1985 and 1990, the 205 was the best-selling car in France! Motor sport will be a powerful vehicle for promoting the PEUGEOT 205, and PEUGEOT. In 1984, under the impetus of Jean Todt, PEUGEOT entered the premier category of the World Rally Championship, the famous "Group B", with the impressive 205 Turbo 16.
Sales and channel champion
In 1984, 1985 and 1990, the 205 was the best-selling car in France! Motor sport will be a powerful vehicle for promoting the PEUGEOT 205, and PEUGEOT. In 1984, under the impetus of Jean Todt, PEUGEOT entered the premier category of the World Rally Championship, the famous "Group B", with the impressive 205 Turbo 16.
In 1985, the PSA group presented a prototype of an electric 205, the result of PSA's research centre on electric vehicles. Announced performances: 140 km of autonomy, in standby on a recharge / top speed: 100 km/h. The interior space of the electric 205 is exactly the same as that of the 205 with an internal combustion engine, as the powertrain and battery are housed entirely under the bonnet.
An electronic control system makes it possible to suppress the gearbox. By pressing the accelerator pedal, the engine speed is gradually increased. Lifting the foot from the accelerator pedal enables the engine to brake: the electric motor then works as a current generator, feeding its energy into the battery.