Since the introduction of the 307 two years ago, it has been extremely well received by the motoring public. Stylish, well equipped, well priced, and endorsed with the 2002 European Car of the Year award, the 307 set new benchmarks in its class.

The 307 Touring represents an exciting opportunity for the Peugeot brand. By extending the popular 307 range, its appeal within the Leisure segment of the market will increase, offering innovative features and technical advancements, sure to attract these consumers.

The launch strategy for the 307 Touring in Australia is very firmly linked with Automobiles Peugeot's world-wide sponsorship of Rugby World Cup 2003. Peugeot is extremely proud to be an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2003, and the Official Car of the Tournament. As such, you will be seeing Peugeot 307 'Touring' and Peugeot '607' models transporting players and officials right across the country.

The 307 Touring combines stunning good looks with the dynamics and pleasure of driving a hatch. With intelligent space planning, an exceptionally light and airy feel to the interior is achieved, and the car is packed with innovative features.

The addition of the styled roof bars as standard, and a completely new rear load space area, gives the 307 Touring enough cargo space to make it comparable to large sedans and large wagons, setting this vehicle apart from any competitor.

Offered with the choice of a 2-litre petrol or a 2-litre diesel engine, the 307 Touring is both well equipped and well priced. To name just a few standard features, both models benefit from; ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, 6 airbags, climate control, remote central locking, CD player, as well as electric windows and mirrors.

The petrol XSE Model additionally receives automatic windscreen wipers and headlights, an in-dash 5 stacker CD system, a leather steering wheel and gearshift knob, 16 inch alloys, body coloured rub strips and front fog lights.

At $31,690 for the XS HDi, and $33,490 for XSE, the Peugeot 307 Touring represents a true value for money proposition. It is on sale right now.

Peugeot unveils the innovative 307 Touring

Innovative, stylish, versatile and spacious... the Peugeot 307 Touring is not just a new car, but a new type of car. Combining elements of a traditional mid-sized wagons and a medium sized MPV, the distinctive and practical 307 TOURING reinforces Peugeot's reputation for flair and originality while maintaining the dynamic performance and superb driving characteristics for which Peugeot cars are renowned.

The 307 three- and five-door hatchbacks claimed the prestigious International Car of the Year award in 2002. The leisure-oriented 307 TOURING is quite clearly a close relative of those cars, but one with even greater versatility. It can accommodate over 200 litres of extra cargo, given the extra length of the vehicle.

Increased Flexibility

Visitors to the September 2001 Frankfurt Auto Show were given a sneak preview of the newcomer when Peugeot exhibited the 307 SW Concept. The production model sticks remarkably close to that stunning show car. It was designed from the outset to be an integral part of the 307 range – one of the reasons why its styling is so harmonious.

To gain the internal space and flexibility required for the TOURING, the hatchback's wheelbase has been extended by 100 mm to 2,710 mm, and the rear overhang stretched by 117 mm so that the TOURING measures 4,420 mm from bumper to bumper.

With a normal family of five aboard the Peugeot 307 TOURING can easily take a family's holiday luggage. For a car of it's size, the cargo area is truly cavernous. A low boot sill and grooved stainless-steel runners ease loading of heavy items. Integral, satin-chrome roof rails allow a further 100 kg of cycles, skis, surfboards or suitcases to be carried outside the car. The main luggage areas are supported by an ingenious selection of in-car storage spaces. The 307 hatchback's air-conditioned glovebox, central storage, under-seat drawers, large door bins and myriad storage spaces are retained.

Drives like a dream
Peugeot was determined to preserve the 307 hatchback's impressive driveability, soothing ride and positive handling in the TOURING. The suspension system of the two cars is largely the same, except for modifications to cope with the increased loads the TOURING is likely to carry. With this in mind, variable shock absorbers are fitted at the rear.

The braking system did not need modification. It includes anti-lock (ABS), electronic distribution of the stopping effort between the four wheels and Brake Assist, which guarantees maximum retardation once it detects the driver is in an emergency stop.

Two versions of the Touring will be offered. Firstly, an XSE Touring with a 2 litre, 100kW petrol engine and an XS HDi diesel model, with an output of 66kW and a useable torque figure of 205 Nm at 4000rpm.

All deliver lively performance not just in terms of headline figures but, more importantly, in the real-world conditions in which owners will use their cars and excellent economy. Fully equipped

The high equipment list and full safety specification of the 307 hatchback has been maintained in the TOURING. In addition the active safety features incorporated in the 307 TOURING's braking systems, it also has a full list of passive safety items. These include twin front and side airbags, curtain airbags running along either side of the cabin, load-limiting seatbelt pre-tensioners, front seats with Peugeot's spinal-care anti-whiplash system, and a retractable steering column that reduces the risk of chest and foot injury to the driver in an accident. There are also three-point seat belts all round.

Comfort and luxury equipment on both models will include automatic air conditioning, a CD player, remote central locking, electric front windows and door mirrors, driver and passenger seat-height adjustment and two-way movement of the steering column.

Priced at $31,690 for the XS HDi version, and $33,490 for the XSE version, the Peugeot 307 Touring represents excellent value for money

Room for everything

Distributed around the dash and central console is the same useful selection of in-car storage spaces as found in the hatchback, including an air-conditioned glovebox, central CD storage, under-seat drawers, large door bins and myriad spaces for tickets, loose change, drinks bottles and mobile phones.

From the central roof pillar backwards the 307 TOURING is all new. Peugeot has extended the hatchback's wheelbase by 100 mm to 2,710 mm, and stretched the rear overhang by 120 mm to give the TOURING its unique versatility and harmonious, stylish appearance

A low tailgate sill and wide opening make it easier for owners to load heavy items, and there is a dark plastic trim on the outside of the body-colour bumper and a stainless steel guard inside the boot to avoid paint scratches.

Up on the roof

Elegant, integral, styled roof bars ensure the 307 TOURING is only 60mm taller than the hatchback, yet they allow 100 kg of cycles, skis, surfboards or suitcases to be carried outside the car.

Deep seat pockets, large door bins, side nets in the boot, rigid storage in the back of the central seat, map pockets in the back of the front seats ensure the 307 TOURING can not only accommodate all the paraphernalia of family life, but also mould itself to the leisure-oriented lifestyle for which it was designed. There are also two 12-volt sockets so that drinks coolers or portable electronic games can be connected on the move.

The Peugeot 307 TOURING versatility does not compromise style

Right from the start of the 307 programme, Peugeot designers planned the stylish and innovative new 307 TOURING as an integral, leisure-oriented part of the range. Its fantastic versatility therefore involves no compromises in terms of style. The 307 TOURING is every bit as chic and stylish as the award-winning hatchback on which it is based.

By extending the 307 hatchback's wheelbase by 100 mm to 2,710 mm, and stretching the rear overhang by 120 mm so that the overall length grows to 4,420 mm, Peugeot has been able to preserve the harmonious proportions of the hatchback while offering a novel, versatile new rear-end treatment.

Leisure volume

The theme of the interior is 'leisure volume', spaciousness, airiness and visibility. The Peugeot 307 hatchbacks already enjoy the largest front screen of any car in their class, at 1.46 square metres. In the TOURING this is supplemented by three large windows along each side, and a deep rear screen

The front-end bodywork and architecture of the 307 TOURING are the same as the hatchback's as far back as the central roof pillar except for a slightly greater windscreen curvature. It includes an aluminium bonnet and plastic front wings, bumpers, grille and headlamp lenses to keep weight and repair costs down, and also the energy-absorbing deformable structures that make the 307 such an impressively safe car in a frontal accident.

Air conditioning standard

As befits a car with such a large glass area, air conditioning is also standard. In the SE this is a full digital climate control system. Separate outlets ensure the rear of the cabin and the glovebox also benefit from chilled air, and the system includes a pollen filter, and a charcoal trap to prevent traffic odours reaching the cabin.

Other creature comforts include a radio and compact disc player, with a multi-disc autochanger on XSE versions. Both trim levels come with six speakers, steering column controls and speed-related volume adjustment.

A height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel is fitted, and both front seats also have an easy-to-vary, ratchet-style height control.

Remote central locking is standard on both models.

With deep seat pockets, large door bins, side nets in the boot, map pockets in the back of the two front seats, the 307 TOURING moulds itself to the leisure-oriented lifestyle for which it was designed. There are also two 12-volt sockets so that drinks coolers or portable electronic games can be connected on the move.

Safety is a Peugeot Priority

Perhaps most impressive of all for a family-oriented car, though, is the superb level of safety afforded all occupants. It starts with the active safety features designed to help ensure a crash never happens in the first place.

The 307 TOURING's anti-lock brakes incorporate electronic brake force distribution (EBFD) to balance the stopping power between front and rear wheels, plus emergency brake assist which recognises when the driver is in an emergency and guarantees maximum retardation regardless of the force applied to the pedal. The hazard warning lights come on automatically in such circumstances.

Six airbags as standard

If an accident cannot be avoided there are six airbags forward and side airbags in the front plus side curtains which protect front and rear occupants in side impacts while the driver is further shielded by a retractable steering column and brake pedal that minimise the risk of chest and foot injury.

Active front-seat head restraints combat whiplash injuries, and there are three-point seat belts for every passenger. The two front and two outer rear belts have force limiters to guard against chest injury.

Anti-theft protection is just as strong, with a rolling-code immobiliser, a coded stereo system and a boot which locks automatically when traveling putting up a strong barrier to opportunist thieves, and a visible VIN (on the windscreen) helping the police to identify the car if it is left unguarded and taken.

The new Peugeot 307 TOURING offers maximum safety for the family

The 307 hatchback has established itself as a car with class-leading active and passive safety features. These have allowed it to gain a four-star rating in Euro-NCAP crash tests.

Naturally, as a car designed primarily with family use in mind and which may carry up to seven occupants on occasions, the new Peugeot 307 TOURING not only matches the hatchback's safety specification but also goes a step or two further.

The state-of-the-art braking system of the hatchback is fitted to the TOURING without modification. It includes anti-lock (ABS), electronic distribution of the stopping effort between the four wheels and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), which guarantees maximum retardation once it detects the driver is in an emergency stop.

Together these sophisticated electronic systems ensure fade-free stopping in the shortest possible distance in all weathers, while also allowing the driver to steer out of trouble and brake simultaneously. In an emergency stop the hazard warning lights come on automatically.

The structure of the 307 TOURING makes use of a number of components from the hatchback, and is identical from the front of the car to the pillar at the rear of the front doors. Under the entire length of the floor there is a network of longitudinal and cross members to preserve stiffness and contribute towards safety.

The body sides are boxed and then interconnected by the fascia, the front bulkhead between the engine bay and passenger cell, the screen surround and by a roof section immediately behind the large glazed area.

The front of the car is designed to withstand impacts of up to 9 mph with only minor, easily-repaired damage. In a more serious impact a frame which virtually surrounds the engine bay absorbs crash energy progressively, while a U-shaped impacter prevents the engine and gearbox, mounted on a separate subframe, from being forced backwards towards the passenger cell.

Inside the cockpit, the full list of passive safety items fitted to the 307 hatchback is carried over to the TOURING. These include:

• Twin adaptive front airbags.
• Twin side airbags
• Curtain airbags running along either side of the cabin to protect the heads of front and outer-centre passengers.
• Load-limiting seat belt pre-tensioners for the two front and two outer-centre passengers.
• Front seats with Peugeot's spinal-care anti-whiplash system.
• A steering column which retracts by up to 50mm in a frontal accident.
• Child-seat mounting points on the three rear seats.

New 307 TOURING lives up to Peugeot¹s reputation for dynamic brilliance

One of the first things the 307 TOURING project team agreed on was that there must be no dilution of the 307 hatchback's acclaimed driving characteristics and dynamic ability.

The lively engine response, choice of manual or automatic gearboxes, stable and rewarding handling and smooth ride that helped make the 307 hatchback the International Car of the Year for 2002 have been preserved, despite the increase in size and weight on the TOURING.

Engines and transmissions

Two engines from the 307 hatchbacks are available in the TOURING. They are:

• The EW10 J4 2.0-litre (1,997 cc) petrol engine. This develops 100kW at 6,000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm, giving the 307 TOURING a 10.5-second 0-100 km/h time and a 196 km/h maximum speed.
• The DW10 ATED 2.0-litre (1997 cc) HDi turbodiesel engine, which delivers 66kW at 4,000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. With this engine the 307 TOURING covers 0-100 km/h in 14.9 seconds and reaches a 174 km/h maximum speed

The petrol engine is a four-cylinder unit with an iron block and an aluminium head containing double overhead camshafts working four valves per cylinder. The intake manifold has been developed with good low-speed torque in mind, delivering nearly 90% of peak pull from as little as 1800 rpm. A motorized throttle valve unit, controlled by the engine control unit, helps driveability and lowers emissions.

The HDi turbodiesel features an iron block and light alloy cylinder head with two valves per cylinder and swirl-type air ducts. It is fed by a high-pressure common-rail injection system.

The DW10 ATED unit equipped with a Bosch injection system and electro-hydraulic control head uses pressures of 300-1,350 bar. This engine also differs from the other version in having an air-to-air heat exchanger and a turbocharger with a controlled discharge valve that enhances both low-speed responsiveness as well as top-end power. A double-damping flywheel smoothes low-speed vibrations.

All engines drive the front wheels of the 307 TOURING through Peugeot's five-speed manual BE4 gearbox, though the ratios vary from car to car. There is a cable-control shift mechanism and a dry single-plate clutch with self-adjusting hydraulic control to compensate for wear.

The XSE is also available with Peugeot's AL4 four-speed automatic gearbox featuring Porsche Tiptronic System sequential. This gearbox includes electronic control of shifts using 'fuzzy logic', which takes into account nine characteristics of driving style in deciding how to programme the shift patterns. For instance, it will not allow an upshift if the driver lifts off the accelerator suddenly in mid-corner, thus avoiding the risk of the car being destabilised.

Alongside the normal PRND selector gate is a second control on the left which allows the driver to change up or down the gears by rocking the lever forwards or backwards. In-built safety functions prevent the driver from over-revving the engine or inadvertently setting off in too high a gear. A Sport programme ensures the engine reaches higher revs before upshifting to give maximum acceleration, while the Snow programme prevents high revs which may cause the tyres to lose grip.

Suspension and steering

The inverted MacPherson strut front suspension and U-shaped torsion beam rear arrangement of the 307 hatchback are retained, though with minor modifications to take into account the 100 mm longer wheelbase of the TOURING and its greater gross weight.

The aim has been to maintain the high level of handling precision and comfort found in the 307 hatchback. All 307 TOURINGs have the same suspension set-up. The major changes from the hatchback are at the rear, where Peugeot has reduced the spring and shock absorber flexibility by 30% and fitted variable-rate shock absorbers which automatically compensate for the varying loads the TOURING is likely to carry.

At the front, the detached anti-roll bar has been increased in diameter by 1mm to 23mm compared with the hatchback. The rack and pinion steering of the 307 TOURING is identical to that of the hatchback and has variable electro-hydraulic power assistance. The hydraulic pressure applied to the rack is modulated according to vehicle speed and the speed of the input on the steering wheel.

Braking and stability systems

The braking system did not need modification. It includes anti-lock (ABS), electronic distribution of the stopping effort between the four wheels and Brake Assist, which guarantees maximum retardation once it detects the driver is in an emergency stop.