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Some believe that life is too short to engage in the unexceptional and Peugeot echoes this with its statement that "life is too short not to travel in style, even if you must travel en masse".

Enter the Tepee, not a camper's humble abode but a generously-equipped, eight-seater bus. Peugeot says the primary market is the hospitality industry but the vehicle will also appeal to those with large families who want a great blend of space, comfort, and safety.

The Tepee shares its basic chassis with the Expert van range, making it suite for spending many hours on the road each day, much of that time with a load of passengers and their luggage.

Car-like dynamics

It has car-like dynamics and an large cabin that can quickly set up to carry between two and eight occupants.

Structures behind the front bumper are durable but have also been designed for ease of repair. Under the bonnet is a common-rail, two-litre diesel engine that delivers 88kW at 4000 rpm and 300Nm at just 2000rpm. This high torque output at a low speed and a ML6C six-speed transmission give it a combination of lugging power and open road cruising ability.

Claimed fuel consumption is 7.5l/100km, dropping to 6.5 on the open road. Couple that with and 80-litre fuel tank and there's far less time wasted at the fuel pumps.

Comfort

A cabin designed for driver comfort was high on Peugeot?s design agenda. A height-adjustable seat with lumbar support, a steering column that adjusts in vertical and horizontal planes and cruise control at the press of a button all reduce the driver?s workload.

Passengers can set the climate controls to suit their individual needs and six separate vents ensure an even distribution of airflow. A sliding door on each side of the vehicle provides access to the second and third rows.

Cabin capacity

Because the Tepee was designed to be a first-class people carrier, there's plenty of space for luggage. There are 761 litres of storage space when loaded to window level and 1195 litres when loaded to the roofl liner. That's before a single seat has been removed.

Occupant safety is also a core part of the vehicle's design, Peugeot say. The engine compartment prevents the powertrain from intruding into the front of the passenger compartment in a collision, while retention pins fitted to front doors keep them firmly seated. Bars in the doors improve side impact and an aluminium impact beam with deformable crash boxes at the rear controls energy absorption in the luggage compartment to ensure passengers are not struck by their own goods.

Care for kids

The Tepee is a child-friendly vehicle and the second row has ISOFIX child seat tethers.

Peugeot says a major source of noise in a large single-box vehicle comes from the floor area and the vehicle has been given a special underbody treatment and acoustic insulators and extra sound proofing have been fitted in the engine compartment.

The only annoying noises are now likely to come from the kids in the back.

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