No word on pricing yet, but more details are expected to be released when the 308 makes it debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show
No word on pricing yet, but more details are expected to be released when the 308 makes it debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show
Set to be officially revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, first impressions are good. Peugeot claims the new 308 will offer significant improvements compared to the car it replaces in terms of design, efficiency, driving dynamics and quality. Time will tell if it can step up to the heights of class leading Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus - no easy task.
The new 308 certainly looks the part. Peugeot has gone for a more simplistic and classier feel, not a million miles away from the new Volkswagen Golf.
At 4.25 meters in length, the new Peugeot 308 is more compact but thanks to some clever engineering, interior space has actually been improved. Full LED headlamps and rear LED lights in the shape of the Peugeot lion’s claws complete the up market look.
Changes aren’t just cosmetic. The new 308 is the first car from Peugeot on the new EMP2 platform, developed by Peugeot’s parent group PSA and costing £532 million.
The new platform offers improved ride and handling but importantly a significant weight reduction – 140g to be precise. It might not sound much, but paired with new engines, drivers will inevitably spend less time at the pumps and avoid paying road tax if they opt for a more frugal engine thanks to improved C02 emissions across the range.
Inside, the improvements continue with high quality materials throughout and a more streamlined centre console due to a 9.7-inch touch screen interface, which removes the need for lots of physical buttons and switches. A head up display and compact steering wheel complete the look and are arranged “for an experience that is intuitive, relaxing the driver to focus entirely on the road ahead” claims Peugeot.
No word on pricing yet, but more details are expected to be released when the 308 makes it debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with cars going on sale in January 2014.
