THE French have always had a deep appreciation for petite things. You see it in their delicately dressed pastries and, in case you didn't know, they invented the miniskirt. It isn't just the diminutive size that makes these creations so memorable; they are also really, really fun. Yes, the parfaits are nice too.
The 107 is Peugeot's version of the Citroen C1 that was launched here earlier. Yes, the two are essentially the same car. The 107 comes off the same production line as the C1 along with a third variant called the Aygo, which wears a Toyota badge.
The French are truly in their element here. Like the C1, the 107 is an absolute barrel of fun.
The 1-litre engine has oodles of torque for zipping around town. Its '2-tronic' manual gearbox with robotised clutch takes away the chore of using your left foot in traffic without having to lose precious joules to the torque converter, as would be the case with a conventional automatic gearbox. This also allows those with Class 3A driving licence to have their fun.
The wheel-at-each-corner stance gives the car incredible agility. It can effortlessly make U-turns in places where other cars will need a three-point manoeuvre. Plus, its compact footprint tempts you to poke it into the most unlikely nooks. Not that anybody should, of course, but the pavement by the road seemed as likely a parking space as the multi-storey carpark.
It's not just the size that endears one to this car. There is a generous measure of style and cleverness thrown in as well. It has a surprisingly spacious cabin with a generous glass area creating a very comfortable ambience.
The interior is unpretentious, with everything serving a specific purpose. Well, except the panel that houses the air-con controls, that is. Instead of illuminating just the switches, the entire panel glows in an incredibly cool shade of orange. It's chic, or so they say.
The Japanese interest in the 107/Aygo/C1 is important. The French duo under the PSA Peugeot Citroen Group have obviously got the whole 'fun to drive' factor all sewn up. But the Toyota connection ensures that everything gets a healthy dollop of tactility and quality - things every motorist cares about.
The 107's styling is virtually the same as the Citroen, other than small detail differences like the tail-lamp clusters (all red instead of frosted white) and the slight kink on the headlamp. It does get extra points for style with the full glass rear hatch and how it 'hides' the rear doors with the coupe-style window line.
Toyota has no plans to make the Aygo available here, but what's there to differentiate the Peugeot 107 and the Citroen C1?
Little, in terms of price and fittings. Peugeot has thrown in features like leather upholstery and alloy wheels for another $600 and $700 respectively, but even without the cowhide and alloys, these cars are just too much fun to miss.
Price: $52,900 with COE Engine: 998cc 12-valve inline-3 Transmission: Five-speed manual with robotised clutch Power: 68bhp at 6,000rpm Torque: 93Nm at 3,600rpm 0-100kmh: 13.7 seconds Top speed: 157kmh Fuel consumption: 5.5 litres/100km (city) Agent: AutoFrance
