SELECTED Peugeot fleet customers are likely to see Coventry's crucial new supermini up to three months before it breaks cover as one of the stars of the Birmingham International Motor Show in October. Key buyers will be taken to an overseas location to sample the 206, the French company's UK-built contender in the keenly-competitive market for small cars.

'We could be showing the car as early as July. It is important that customers likely to place volume business with us get involved as early as possible,' said fleet and leasing director John Taylor. Research has suggested that fleet sales of the 206 stand to add another 1.5% to total annual UK registrations by the revitalised Midlands company.

As a follow-up to the early-bird reveals, other potential fleet buyers will be invited to venues in Britain where full-scale presentations will be mounted prior to drive-aways on three-month loans for appraisal.