At the Peugeot Adventure Museum in Sochaux, France, a rare jewel was recently unveiled - the only Peugeot 208 Cabriolet prototype in existence. The development of this unique model, known as the "A97" project, began back in 2007, a few years before the debut of the original Peugeot 208 hatchback in 2012.
Departing from its 206 CC and 207 CC predecessors, which featured a hard folding roof, the Peugeot 208 Cabriolet aims to revive the classic soft-top configuration. Peugeot recognizes the advantages of this design in terms of production, profitability and weight reduction.
Although it shares much of its bodywork with the three-door hatchback variant, the Peugeot 208 Cabriolet prototype features a bespoke rear end that features a sculpted tailgate and revised rear bumper.
Initiated by three key figures in the PSA Group, including Jean-Pierre Pluet, Gilles Vidal and Xavier Peugeot, the project faced obstacles due to the restructuring of the company. Ultimately, in 2011, the PSA Group shelved the A97 project, preferring instead to focus on the DS3 Cabrio, which offered a more economical solution with fixed pillars and a smaller plat roof.
The decision to prioritize the DS3 Cabrio over the Peugeot 208 Cabriolet was dictated by the significant cost differences, with the former requiring significantly less R&D investment.