Peugeot 206 gets re-born, twice!

It has been a tradition that really successful French cars don’t go out of production, they just get re-launched in another part of the world. But for a really great car like the Peugeot 206, this happens twice. Firstly, it has been re-launched as the Citroen C2 in China with its front and rear ends re-designed to fit the Citroen corporate identity. Citroen is quite big in China, and the C2 is the first compact model in its line-up there. In addition to the C2 (completely different from the C3-based C2 sold in Europe), Citroen has several other China-only models: the C-Triomphe (a C4 notchback), the Fukang (the ZX) and the Elysee (a ZX notchback). Peugeot also makes the 206 in China, but apparently the Citroen brand is stronger, and by re-modeling the 206, Citroen gets a ‘new’ hatchback model at minimal cost. Check Citroen’s China website for more details: http://www.citroen.com.cn/CCW/citroen/en/ The 206’s second re-birth is as the Naza 206 Bestari, which was expected at the Naza stand at the Motorshow but wasn’t present. The 206 Bestari is exported to Indonesia as a Peugeot, and benefits from being an ASEAN product, and is sold without hefty import duties. The understanding that the local Peugeot importer has is that Naza is allowed to sell the car under its own brand name only in Malaysia. In all other markets, including Singapore, it must be sold as a Peugeot by the relevant authorized importer. Perhaps this clause will no longer hold once the new 207 is launched, and the 206 is discontinued. The 206 is certainly an attractive little hatchback, and the TVC about how a picture of the 206 inspires an Indian to remodel his Hindustan Ambassador by getting an elephant to sit on it is a classic. If anyone knows how to get a hold of this video, please let us know. As for Citroen’s being re-born, the Proton Tiara from the mid-90s was a mildly face-lifted AX.