Peugeot unveils the 2013 301 Sedan aimed at developing markets; India launch on the cards?

On whether the French automotive brand Peugeot-Citroen will set shop in India or not remains something that is clouded in uncertainty. However, the brand is now training its guns on the developing car markets of the world, of which India too is a part of. Earlier in the day, Peugeot unveiled the 301 sedan aimed squarely at developing markets. The brand also has revealed a new nomenclature that its future cars developed for emerging markets will come with. The 301 name that the new Peugeot sedan comes with is one such model.

2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan Front

From here on, the final digit in the three digit naming that Peugeot adopts for its car models will come with 1 as the last digit if the car is intended for emerging markets. Other cars that will be sold globally in both developed as well as developing markets will follow the conventional naming pattern with 8 being the final of the three digits. The 2013 Peugeot 301 sedan will be launched at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September and will go on sale in Turkey from November 2012. Peugeot has big plans for this car with launches scheduled in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, The Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan Rear Angle

Incidentally, Asia does not figure in the press material that Peugeot has put out on the 301 sedan and it remains to be seen whether this car will see an Indian launch in the future. Given that UK(A right hand drive market) will not get the 301 sedan, we’re wondering if the French automaker will develop a RHD version exclusively for the Indian market. Coming to the car itself, the sedan measures in at a length of 4.44 meters, which puts it bang in the Indian C-segment car space populated by the likes of the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna.

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan Side Profile

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan Rear Angle

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Dashboard

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Angle Shot

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan

: 2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan Front

Internationally, the 2013 Peugeot 301 sedan will be available with a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine. The 1.2 Liter, 3 pot, base VTi petrol develops 71 Bhp while the 1.6 Liter VTi develops 115 Bhp. The bigger petrol engine also gets a slush box as an option while the smaller petrol engine has to make do with a stick shifter. The 1.6 Liter HDi turbo diesel engine is good for 92 Bhp of peak power and is mated to a manual gearbox. The 2013 Peugeot 301 Sedan can be specified with a range of creature comforts and safety equipment like air conditioning, reverse parking assistance, ABS, ESP and Airbags, to name a few.