Vive la supermini

PITSTOP

Presenting the Peugeot 1007 and Renault Modus. Looks like the French have rediscovered small cars

B-segment cars are actually big, comprising 35 per cent of the European car market today "� and expected to grow by 17 per cent over the next 10 years. No wonder Peugeot and Renault have introduced new superminis.

The Peugeot 1007's exterior lines have been penned by Pininfarina, while Peugeot Style designed the interiors. It borrows the new, aggressive Peugeot front-end look from the 407. The 1007 gets electric sliding doors on either side, so it can be parked even in narrow places. It can seat four and boasts flexible interiors.

Three engine options are on offer: a 1400cc 75 bhp petrol, a 1600cc 110 bhp petrol and a 1400cc 70 bhp HDi diesel unit. The gasoline engines will debut with a new gearbox called 2-Tronic "� fully automatic or manual sequential gear changes are possible.

If you remember, we had shown you the Renault Modus in our Geneva Motor Show report. Now, Renault has confirmed that it's getting into production. The Modus is the first Renault developed from Renault-Nissan's Platform B and will be manufactured at Valladolid, Spain.

Though Renault already has the Clio in the supermini segment, they hope to woo buyers who want a functional, practical small car vis-à-vis the more sport-oriented Clio. The Modus will only come in a five-door version and, as expected, promises great space and versatility inside what's essentially a small package.

The Modus will have three 16-valve petrol options "� 75 bhp 1200cc, 98 bhp 1400cc and a 1600cc 113 bhp unit. Two diesels will also be on offer, 65 bhp and 80 bhp versions of their 1500cc dCi engine.

Calling Russian Arnies

General Motors and Avtotor are going to start producing the Hummer H2 in Russia. In the first full year of production, over 200 Hummers will be churned out from the Kaliningrad plant and they are destined only for the Russian market.

The H2 comes with a 321 bhp 6000cc V8 mated to a four-speed automatic tranny. The mean machines will be sold and serviced through five Hummer dealers in the country.