Peugeot 309

Peugeot 309
Overview
Manufacturer Peugeot
Production 1985—1993
Assembly Poissy, France
Valladolid, Spain
Ryton-on-Dunsmore, United Kingdom
Kalyan, India by Premier
Body and chassis
Class Small family car (C)
Body style 3/5-door hatchback
Layout FF layout
Related Peugeot 205
Powertrain
Transmission 4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic ZF 4HP14
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,470 mm (97 in)
Length 4,050 mm (159 in)
Width 1,630 mm (64 in)
Height 1,380 mm (54 in)
Chronology
Predecessor Chrysler-Talbot Horizon
Successor Peugeot 306

The Peugeot 309 was a small family car manufactured between 1985 and 1993 in England, Spain and France by PSA Peugeot Citroën. It was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona.[1] It was the replacement for the Talbot Horizon, which had started life as a Chrysler in Britain and a Simca in France, and was also being built in several guises for the American market.[2]

In 1985, the PSA Group decided to discontinue the Talbot brand, with the last Talbot passenger vehicle to be launched being the Samba of 1981, and to market the car as a Peugeot instead. The Talbot brand was phased out completely when Talbot Express production stopped in the early 1990s.

History

Peugeot 309 XS Injection rear

The 309 had been conceived as Projet C28 as a replacement for the Talbot Horizon, and as a result its development had been performed by the former Chrysler/Simca wing of PSA. Styling was the responsibility of the former Chrysler-Rootes design studios in Coventry, whilst much of the engineering was done at the Simca site at Poissy in France. The only stipulation from PSA management was that the new car had to use as much existing architecture as possible; hence the use of a stretched Peugeot 205 floorpan and door shells, whilst the Simca engines and transmissions from the Horizon were also carried over.

Production in France began at the former Simca plant in Poissy in late summer of 1985, with the first French customers getting their cars in October of that year; but it was decided that RHD models would be built at the Ryton plant near Coventry, England, which had previously been owned by the Rootes Group and then Chrysler Europe before Peugeot took it over in 1978.[3]

The first 309 for the British market rolled off the production line at Ryton in October 1985 and sales began early in 1986. The 309 was not intended to replace Peugeot's own 305 model, but the out-of-step model number (the next small family car after the 305 should have been named "306") was intended to distance it from the larger 305 in the marketplace and to reflect the car's Simca origins. With the Talbot brand being phased out on passenger cars, the 309 would succeed the Talbot Horizon. Peugeot had been considering a new Talbot Samba based on the forthcoming Citroën AX supermini, but the success of the Peugeot 205 meant that there was little need for a third supermini within the PSA combine and so the Samba was discontinued in 1986 with no replacement. The larger Alpine hatchback and Solara saloons were also axed in 1986, a year before Peugeot began production of the similar-sized 405, successor to the 305.

1982 Peugeot VERA Plus

The 309's design was presaged by the 1982 Peugeot VERA Plus (followed by the VERA Profil in 1985), which were aerodynamic studies developed by Peugeot at the time. The VERA Plus claimed a Cw of only 0.22.[4] Many of the aerodynamic features from the VERA studies found their way into later production Peugeots.

The 309's slightly awkward styling (especially when compared with the 205 and 405 of the same era) was due to the decision to re-use the door shells from the 205. The 309 was also supposed to be differentiated from Peugeot as a Talbot, and was designed "in-house". Other Peugeot cars were designed by the famed Italian design house Pininfarina, up until the introduction of the 206 in 1998. The notched-hatchback design bears an unintentional similarity to the Dodge Shadow and Plymouth Sundance, which were also developed, entirely separately and cut-down from a larger (Chrysler K-Car) platform rather than stretched from a smaller one, to replace the Horizon in North America.

The initial engine line-up in the United Kingdom market consisted of the chain-driven Simca-derived 1118 cc (E1A) and 1294 cc (G1A) overhead valve petrol units from the Horizon, and Peugeot-provided 1769/1905 cc diesel and 1580/1905 cc petrol belt-driven overhead camshaft XU units. Some markets also used the 1442 cc (Y2) and 1592 cc (J2) "Poissy engine", as seen previously in the Simca 1307 and Solara as well as the Horizon, instead of the 1580 cc OHC.

1988 Peugeot 309 GTi

The XU 1905 cc 130BHP engine was used in the very highly regarded high performance GTI version of the 309 in fuel injection form; this quickly established itself as the class leading hot hatch of its time, thanks to a better balanced chassis set-up than the, already excellent handling, Peugeot 205 GTI and very quick acceleration.

The 309 was also significant in that it was the first Peugeot car to be assembled in the former Rootes factory in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, which Peugeot had inherited with its buyout of Chrysler Europe in 1978. Largely due to its partially British origins, the 309 became a popular choice in the United Kingdom, and in 1987 it was joined on the production line by the larger 405. The 309's successor, the 306, was also built at Ryton, as was the 206, which was the last vehicle in production there when the plant closed in December 2006.

1989 Facelift (Phase 2)

Facelifted, 309 GR
Facelifted, 309 GR rear

The summer of 1989 saw the introduction of the Phase 2 Peugeot 309.[5]

It revised the design of the rear, lowering the boot lip, changing the rear lights to a more 'smoked style' and making slight alterations to the front radiator grille. Also, an updated interior was required to address severe criticisms leveled at the Phase 1's, Talbot designed multi-piece dashboard which was prone to developing squeaks and rattles. The GTi models received a colour coded one piece rear spoiler as opposed to the Phase 1's outdated rubber spoiler which, by then, harked back to early 1980s design.

Quite importantly a modified gearbox called 'BE3' was introduced, a revision of the original 'BE1' unit, placing reverse in the "down and to the right" position behind fifth gear, as opposed to the earlier "up and to the left" position next to first gear. Retrospectively, the 'BE3' gearboxes are slightly less prone to failure than their earlier counterparts.

This was also when Peugeot gradually phased in their all-new belt-driven TU-series overhead camshaft engines, in 1,124 cc and 1,360 cc forms, eventually replacing the trusty Simca units during 1992.

The GTi-16 model, featuring the XU9J4 engine from the 405 Mi-16, was also introduced at this time; however, these were only sold in mainland Europe. (See Trim Levels)

End of production

Towards the end of 1992, 309 production began to wind down in anticipation for the launch of the new Peugeot 306, returning Peugeot to their normal numbering scheme. However, upon release of the 306, initial public reaction in the United Kingdom was slightly slow.

Trim Levels

Peugeot 309 XR Front

Some notable limited edition models included:

The Zest/Zest D and the Trio/Trio D editions, with 1124/1360cc TU engines and 1905cc XUD engines, with unique seat fabric, green seatbelts and side decals down both flanks.

The Look, available in blue, white and very scarce black were fitted with unique seat fabric with a sunroof and coloured bumper inserts.

The Goodwood, UK only Limited Edition was a GTI with full black leather interior as standard, and no-cost optional wooden steering wheel, gearknob and CD-Autochanger. The model was only available in limited numbers for the UK market (only 398 vehicles were constructed) in metallic pinewood green with anthracite Speedline alloy wheels, with metal lip on outer rim and badging depicting the Goodwood racing circuit on the front wings, tailgate and steering wheel boss. When the Goodwood was launched, the high asking price resulted in some examples not finding homes until 1994, hence some being registered on an 'L' prefix registration.

References

  1. Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot. The exhibit label (2012) states candidly: «Prévu d’abord de succéder à la Talbot Horizon sous le nom de Talbot Arizona, on a choisi de l’appeler Peugeot 309. Choix motivé par des raisons de marketing, la marque Talbot affichait des résultats catastrophiques, et les Peugeot de génération 5 avait déjà une 305. »
  2. "Development of the Chrysler - Talbot - Simca Horizon". Rootes-chrysler.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  3. McNee, Stewart (1985-09-27). "The Lion Roars". Evening Times. Glasgow, Scotland (34,311): 45.
  4. Gloor, Roger (March 10, 1983). Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. "Automobilgeschichte: Stromlinie/ Histoire de l'automobile: Aérodynamique" [The History of the Car: Aerodynamics]. Automobil Revue '83 (in German and French). Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag, AG. 78: 94. ISBN 3-444-06065-3.
  5. Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. (8 March 1990). Automobil Revue 1990 (in German and French). 85. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. p. 490. ISBN 3-444-00495-8.
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