kmchow, BMP are to relax the minimum length requirement by 50mm, so as to allow a whole new breed of car into the fray. There are planty of cars just inside the current 4.2m length regs. Peugeot will likely use the five-door 307 hatch, which is the 306 replacement due next year.
Using hatches is nothing new of course. Do you remember the 'discussion' Peter Mallett and I had over the 'DGH' phenomenon? The 'Dirty Great Hole' as found at the rear of any hatch worth it's salt.
I maintained that Ford had reverted to the four-door saloon, in a bid to alleviate and 'flex' in the less-torsionally rigid hatch bodyshell.
Peter was adamant that it was all down to aero gains, butwe never really sorted it out. We both conceded a little ground, but I sense a return to the good old days of heart-felt debate!
Whaddya reckon, Pete?