Bosses have yet to confirm...

Bosses have yet to confirm the name of the Mitsubishi Outlander-based four-wheel drive, but according to a spokesman for the French manufacturer it will get a double-zero tag, as predicted by Auto Express in Issue 872. He told us: "When we introduced this badge on the 1007, it was intended for specialist vehicles. This fits perfectly with that."

The 7007 designation is the most likely to appear on the car"s two-piece, horizontally split tailgate, although the company could potentially still opt for the 8008 badge. Whatever it"s called, the newcomer bears all the traditional Peugeot styling cues, with the trademark Lion logo dominating the nose, plus a pair of slanted headlamps.

A gaping grille completes the front end, while blistered wheelarches and a pair of roof bars help to give it a chunky stance. And those looks aren"t only for show - the 7007 features selectable four-wheel drive to ensure it can cope with the rough stuff. As on the Mitsubishi sister car, there will be three transmission settings, with a two-wheel-drive mode for on-road motoring. The switchable system will be controlled using a knob on the dash, giving access to a pair of all-wheel-drive set-ups to suit different types of terrain.

Inside, the Peugeot shares its seven-seater layout with the Outlander, using a clever folding third row of chairs. The company"s HDi diesel engines will feature under the bonnet, including the 2.7-litre V6 unit from the 407 Coupé. Petrol buyers are likely to have a choice of Mitsubishi-derived 2.0 and 2.4-litre direct-injection powerplants.

Customers face a wait before they can get behind the wheel of the 7007, however, because it isn"t due to appear in showrooms until next year, after the new Outlander. Prices are expected to start from around чЈ17,000.