Although it disappeared from the scene in Canada about 20 years ago, French automaker Peugeot has a presence in over 150 countries. It’s one of the oldest automobile manufacturers in the world, tracing its beginnings as a company back to the mid 1800s. It has been building automobiles since the early 1900s and bicycles for some 120 years. Over the years, Peugeot has also manufactured such things as corsets, washing machines, saw blades, and pepper and coffee mills.

It’s been making scooters since 1953, when it debuted its S55 model at the Paris Auto Salon. Strong sellers in Europe, Peugeot’s scooters are marketed worldwide under the Griffon and Automoto badges. These days, the company has an arrangement with Honda, which builds some of the engines and has a purported 25-percent stake in Peugeot Motocycles.

This summer, Canadian consumers once again saw the familiar prancing-lion logo—on a line of scooter models being brought into the country by Quebec-based Canada Motor Import Inc. With some 10 models ranging in size from 50cc to 500cc, Peugeot scooters will be sold in most areas of the country, with the exception of Saskatchewan, some of the Maritime provinces, and up north. In some cases, they will be available through established car dealerships.

Here’s a quick look at the upcoming Peugeot scooter lineup.

VS2 Retro Introduced in 1971, this is the classic pedal-powered moped, with a 49cc two-stroke engine, chain drive, bicycle-style seat, and five-litre fuel tank. It weighs just 42 kilograms and is aimed squarely at riders who value fuel economy above everything else. It is also, according to Peugeot, not for use on public roads.

Vivacity 50 The classic step-through city scooter. Also propelled by a 49cc two-stroke, with hydraulic brakes and seating for two. Offered in white, black, or red, this will likely be one of the company’s better-selling models.

TKR Furious Still with the air-cooled 49cc two-stroke engine, the Furious is a sport scooter, with exposed handlebars, an engine skid plate, and under-the-seat storage. Described as being just right for “surfing on asphalt”, the Furious has a “sport” exhaust system and “off-road” tires.

Speedfight Offered in two trim levels, the Speedfight (where do they get these names?) can be had as an Ultimate or RCup model. Both have disc brakes front and back and, with their funky paint jobs and eye-catching graphics, they’re fashion statements as much as A-to-B transport. Power for both is delivered via a mighty 49cc two-stroke with a carburetor and liquid cooling.

Satelis Moving up in displacement, the Satelis model will be offered in five variations, with three different engine sizes. From the top, the Premium 125 version has a 15-horsepower, fuel-injected, single-cylinder four-stroke engine with liquid cooling. Dry weight is some 160 kilograms. This is one of the breed of “stretched” scooters, along the lines of the Suzuki Burgman and the Honda Silver Wing. It can readily accommodate two people and has a small glove compartment and under-the-seat storage for two helmets. It will be offered in black, silver, or grey paint and will also be available as the upmarket Blacksat Executive, which sports an all-black paint job, five additional horsepower, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and, naturally, a higher price tag.

With a 250cc single and a 22 horsepower on tap, the Satelis 250 Premium will tip the scales at 160 kilograms and is another variation on the stretched-scooter platform. It has a seat height of 784 millimetres, disc brakes front and back, and a 14-litre fuel tank. Among other accoutrements, it will have a sunglass holder, a glove compartment, and central locking. A goodly sized windshield provides some relief from the elements, and an onboard computer helps you keep track of your mileage and fuel consumption.

For performance buffs, the Satelis 500 will provide 37 horsepower via a 492cc single-cylinder engine and will feature optional antilock brakes. Available as either a Premium or Executive model, the Satelis 500 will have a projected top speed of 160 kilometres per hour, and is the powerhouse of Peugeot’s lineup. It weighs in at 213 kilograms and has a decent-sized windscreen, as well as 14-inch wheels and tires. Among its various mod cons, you will find a cellphone charger, a glove box, and an engine immobilizer.

Prices for the new Peugeots range from just under $3,000 for the Vivacity 50 to almost $11,000 for a full-zoot Satelis 500 Premium with ABS. Depending on where you live, most models are available, but some aren’t just yet. See www.peugeotcanada.ca for more information, including how to locate a dealer.