Jul 13, 2021 at 12:24pm ET Peugeot announced that with the addition of two new plug-in hybrid versions of the Peugeot 308, the brand's lineup will be electrified by 70% by the end of this year. Peugeot defines electrification as the availability of at least one all-electric or plug-in hybrid version of a particular model. The goal for 2023 is 85% and for 2025 is 100%. In the case of commercial vehicles, it will be even sooner - 100% in 2021. Let's take a look at the lineup for 2021: The latest plug-in hybrid models are 308 saloon and SW estate versions: 308 PHEV and 308SW PHEV. They will be equipped with a kWh battery for 36-37 miles of WLTP all-electric range. The French manufacturer prepared two powertrain options: Peugeot 308 Hybrid 225 e-EAT8 up to 36 miles (58 km) of WLTP all-electric range kWh system output of up to 225 bhpa 180 bhp PureTech engine (132 kW) and an 81kW electric motor, coupled with the 8-speed e-EAT8 gearbox Peugeot 308 Hybrid 180 e-EAT8 up to 37 miles (60 km) of WLTP all-electric range kWh system output of up to 180 bhpa 150hp (110kW) PureTech engine and an 81kW electric motor, coupled with the 8-speed e-EAT8 gearbox The lineup so far includes only two all-electric passenger models - Peugeot e-208 and Peugeot e-2008, but Peugeot's BEV van lineup is pretty strong with three models. "The success of PEUGEOT’s new electric and plug-in hybrid range has allowed it to become the second best-selling generalist automotive brand in Europe in the first five months of 2021 and is already the third best-selling generalist brand in Europe for electrified vehicles this year. PEUGEOT’s e-208 and e-2008 models stand in second place in their respective Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) segments." Linda Jackson, CEO of PEUGEOT, said: “Electrification is at the heart of our "Power of Choice" strategy, which gives our customers the option to choose the powertrain that suits their needs, whether conventional or electrified. The excellent sales results of our electrified models show that in Europe, this strategy is bearing fruit. Internationally, even in markets where electrification is emerging, we will use our portfolio of electrified models to stand out as an inventive, premium generalist brand. Wherever we are, we want to be real drivers of progress." See alsoPeugeot will likely unveil the all-new 308 either next year or in 2022. (2014), which was recently updated for the 2021 model year. Of course, an updated 7-year old car (came out in September Jun 11, 2020 at 2:16am ET The current-generation Peugeot 308 has been around for approximately seven years, and while most of its rivals have been renewed, the French compact model soldiers on for the 2021MY with minor tweaks. This possibly last update before the generation switch brings a fresh coat of paint called Vertigo Blue and two new alloy wheel designs. Go for the high-end variant and there’s an optional Black Pack bringing an assortment of dark accents. The main attraction of the 2021 Peugeot 308 can be found inside the hood where the analog dials of the instrument cluster have been replaced by an all-digital setup. Measuring 10 inches, the i-Cockpit utilizes the same tech seen in the 208 and 2008 models and is complemented by a capacitive-touch infotainment system with a glossy finish. Waiting For Next Gen... The 308’s model year change is a good reminder the GTi is still around, complete with a turbocharged gasoline engine producing 263 horsepower and 340 Newton-meters (251 pound-feet) of torque. The four-pot is hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox and enables the hot hatchback to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in six seconds en route to an electronically governed 155 mph (250 km/h). Lesser versions rely on a turbocharged engine with three cylinders and either 110 or 130 horsepower. The former is offered only with a six-speed manual whereas the latter can be had with an eight-speed auto as well. Go for the diesel and you get to pick from 100 or 130 horses sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed auto for the beefier variant. Gallery: 2021 Peugeot 308 Regardless of trim level, all 2021 Peugeot 308s have dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, DAB digital radio, automatic windscreen wipers, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Even though the car is beginning to show its age in terms of design, it’s loaded with safety tech: adaptive cruise control, 180-degree camera, active lane departure warning, automatic high-beam switch, speed sign recognition, active blind spot, and driver attention alert. We’re hoping this is the last update the current 308 will receive as Peugeot needs to come out with an all-new model to fight the VW Group’s refreshed trio – Golf, Octavia, and Leon. Source: Peugeot The 1.6-litre PureTech 225 is the most powerful of the petrol engines with 221bhp, and is the fastest model in the 308 SW range with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds. It’s only available as a GT ► Great interior, clever infotainment system► Hybrid powertrains offer good performance► Driving position is rubbish if you’re tall Peugeot is going great guns at the minute. The company has shaken off the fusty image it curated at the turn of the 21st century. Now, it’s churning out interesting, quality vehicles that give leading family car brands like Volkswagen and Ford a run for their money. The 308 is Peugeot’s latest effort. It rivals the likes of the Hyundai i30, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3, as well as long-standing hatchback favourites such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. Its opponents are plentiful and talented – so does this new Pug offer anything to tempt buyers away from the established competition? On paper, it certainly seems so. Peugeot offers the 308 with a good range of engines, including an eager petrol, an economical diesel and two plug-in hybrid powertrains. There’s even a pure-electric model on the way in 2023. It also looks great, the interior is well-designed and Peugeot’s new 10-inch infotainment system is up there with the best in the business. However, after spending some time behind the wheel, we found a couple of foibles that could affect the car’s appeal for a lot of buyers. You can’t leave us hanging there. Spit it out Fine. I was planning on easing into the criticism gently, but I’ll get the worst of it out of the way now. The 308’s driving position is appalling if you’re any taller than five foot ten. The seat is mounted far too high and the steering wheel sits way too low. The wheel is also too small, which makes it difficult to see the gauge cluster. As I shall now explain. If you raise the steering wheel up to its highest setting so it’s a comfortable height for your shoulders, the upper rim completely obscures the dials and you can’t see how fast you’re going. Try explaining that one to plod after blazing through your local town at 50mph. This forces you to adopt a very unergonomic high seat, low wheel driving position, which throws up a whole different set of problems. If you brake while navigating a junction, for example, your hands clatter into your knees which stops you from getting around the bend. Infuriatingly, I couldn’t find a happy medium between the two extremes. Sounds like this is your fault for being a strange shape That’s entirely plausible. But there are plenty of folk shaped like me that will run into the same problem – so my biggest piece of advice is to negotiate a good test drive before you sign on the dotted line to make sure that the Peugeot 308’s cabin fits your body. The rest of the 308’s interior is great. Quality is excellent, with lots of soft-touch materials, sturdy switchgear and fancy fabric trim strips for the dash. The infotainment system is a corker, too. The screen is as crisp and fast as a modern smartphone, and there’s a strip of five customisable shortcut buttons mounted on a dedicated panel below to make it easier to navigate the unit’s plethora of functions. Peugeot calls them “i-Toggles” and they can be programmed to jump to almost any function on the touchscreen that your imagination can conjure. If you wanted to, you could have one that tunes the stereo to Finnish folk metal, one that whacks the air-con on full and another that programmes the sat-nav to your local livestock market. Clever stuff. But what’s it like to drive? Honestly? It’s a bit hit and miss. The suspension works perfectly fine when you’re cruising on a smooth A-road or a motorway. But, chuck the Peugeot 308 down a twisty back road, and chinks start to appear in its armour. For starters, it’s too stiff for its purpose. In my eyes, the Peugeot 308 isn’t a sporty car. You don’t get as much feedback as you do from a Ford Focus or Mazda 3 and, with that laid back driving position, it should have been pitched as a comfy cruiser rather than a B-road barnstormer. But it’s sprung like a hot hatchback. The dampers don’t have a lot of travel and they can’t react quickly to changes, which means the wheels crash into potholes hard rather than easing into them gently. The problem gets worse if you’re on a bumpy corner, where the stiff suspension will unsettle the car. It isn’t dangerous, but it doesn’t encourage you to drive spiritedly. Peugeot has also fitted the 308 with very quick steering in an effort to make the car feel agile. The effect is a combination of the low gearing on the rack and the tiny hexagonal steering wheel, which only requires a quarter turn to navigate most corners. The setup works very well on the petrol model because it’s the lightest model in the line-up. It only weighs 1,288kgs, so it turns in keenly. The plug-in hybrid models aren’t quite as sharp because of the added heft (300kgs in total) of the hybrid system. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot sharper than rivals such as the Volkswagen e-Hybrid and the Mercedes A 250 e – it’s just not quite as good as the pure-petrol version. But these are the sacrifices we make for low company tax rates, I suppose. There’s also a slightly counter-intuitive benefit to the PHEV system. It smooths out the ride a little and helps to keep the car settled over uneven surfaces. The lighter petrol model is constantly moving under you if you’re tackling a B-road with gusto. Tell us more about the 308’s engines. What’s to like? The three-cylinder petrol unit is easily the best unit in the current line-up. It’s a willing little unit, serving up 128bhp and 170lb/ft of torque, which is just enough to make the 308 feel nippy. It’s also very refined for a three-cylinder, and it even sounds good when you set loose your inner hooligan and mash the throttle through the firewall. The diesel is, well, a diesel. It’s a bit rattly at idle, although it smooths out nicely once you’re up to speed. Peugeot says it develops 129bhp and 221lb/ft of torque, but it never feels as fast as that torque figure would suggest. In-gear acceleration is lethargic, even if you put the engine in sport mode. The 308’s pair of plug-in hybrid powertrains are refined when driven sensibly, but they’re writing cheques they can’t cash in terms of efficiency. Both are based on a four-cylinder petrol engine and Peugeot claims they’ll achieve upwards of 200mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. Spoiler alert: they won’t. Drive with a light foot and you’ll average more than 50mpg – especially if you’ve got a full battery. The powertrain can tootle around on electric power alone for 35–40 miles, meaning you’d likely not need to burn a drop of fuel during your morning commute. However, if you run the battery flat you’ll struggle to achieve 30mpg, because the petrol engine needs to work hard to haul around the dead weight of the hybrid system. If you don’t plug them in, the hybrids will keep the engine turning to charge the battery. This burns more fuel and negatively impacts your mpg figure. To be fair to Peugeot, we did have that setting engaged when we tested the car, but that’s only because the previous journalist had left it with a flat battery. Make sure to plug them in, then. More importantly – are they quick? Sort of – but like everything with the Peugeot 308, there’s a caveat. You have a choice of two power outputs. The cheaper model produces 178bhp, while the more expensive variant develops 222bhp. The former is priced from £33,035 while the latter starts from £37,235, as it’s only available with Peugeot’s most expensive GT and GT Premium specifications. Both versions have the same 236lb/ft torque output, which means the pricier model hardly feels any faster than the cheaper one. The performance figures back up our observations, as the 222bhp PHEV is only one tenth of a second quicker from 0–62mph than the 178bhp model. Is that really worth the extra cash? Neither like being hurried, either. Plant the throttle hard to overtake, and there’s a noticeable delay while the eight-speed automatic gearbox figures out which cog it needs. Then there’s another pause before the electric motor kicks in. You wait a total of two seconds between pressing the throttle and accelerating, by which point your window of opportunity has passed. The remedy is to drop back and roll into the throttle gently. But wait. Just before you fill my inbox up with “I told you so” quips about the drawbacks of electrified petrol engines, consider that both 308 PHEVs have low Benefit-in-Kind rates of eight percent, which makes them a very tempting prospect for company car buyers. Road tax is low, too, as their official CO2 emissions figures range between 24 and 30g/km. What about boot space? It’s good news here, because the 308 is one of the more practical cars in its class. The petrol and diesel versions have 412 litres of boot space with the rear bench in place, but that figure drops to 361 litres with the plug-in hybrid powertrain. The battery lives under the boot floor which eats up space. Fold the bench flat, and the boot capacity of the non-electrically 308 swells to 1,323 litres. The PHEVs offer a maximum of 1,271 litres. That sounds like a big practicality penalty, but that’s before you consider that figure is still 34 litres more than you get in the pure combustion-engined Golf. If you need the extra space, you can always opt for the 308 SW estate. It offers 608 litres of space with the rear bench in place and 1,634 litres with the seats stowed. It also has a longer wheelbase than the hatchback, which liberates a little more leg room for those in the rear and benefits the car’s ride quality. Verdict I’m forced to be less objective than usual with the Peugeot 308, as its suitability to your lifestyle is ultimately determined by your body shape and preferred driving position. I’m tall, so I couldn’t entertain the shapes the seat and wheel were contorting me into – and I hated not being able to see the gauges when I made myself comfortable. A shorter driver will probably find it easier to live with. There are a lot of things the 308 does well. It has a huge boot, for example, and its build quality impresses. Peugeot’s new infotainment setup is also a huge step up over its previous systems and the i-Toggle widget bar makes it easy to operate all of the car’s cabin functions from the touchscreen. There’s a good range of engines, too. The petrol is definitely the sweet spot in the line-up, but the PHEVs make a compelling argument for the amount of performance they offer and their low BiK ratings. They’re not as efficient in the real world as Peugeot claims, but the same can be said of most PHEVs systems. We’re looking forward to driving the new electric model soon. With 250 miles of range and a 154bhp electric motor up front, it could leap frog the petrol as the pick of the range. 2022 Peugeot Le Mans Hypercar Has Twin-Turbo V6 With 670 Horsepower. The first actual product to wear the new logo will be the next-generation Peugeot 308. We saw the model testing on public roads
Peugeot has revealed UK pricing and specification details for the upcoming Peugeot 308 SW, the estate version of its reinvented family hatchback and the second model to wear the brand's new logo. The 308 SW is open for reservation now and commands a slight premium over its hatchback equivalent, starting from £25,200 for the basic Active Premium specification, rising to £40,000 at the top end for the plug-in hybrid variant in GT Premium trim. A leather multifunction steering wheel, 10in digital cockpit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, parking sensors, cruise control and several other assist systems are available on all models as standard, while Active Premium models, from £25,200, are equipped with 16in alloy wheels, black rear trim and automatic LED lights, with automatic windscreen wipers. The Allure spec gains 17in wheels, leather interior materials with mint green stitching, ambient lighting, sat nav, a reversing camera and automatic emergency braking from £27,050. Allure Premium gains further assist systems, wireless smartphone charging and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for an additional £900. Higher-spec GT models come in at £31,250, receiving 18in wheels, a dark chrome grille and a more aggressive exterior design with extended body sills, in addition to dual-tone roof rails. Matrix LED headlights are available at this level too, as is a 3D head-up display, a heated steering wheel and Peugeot’s pollution-reducing clean cabin technology. Top-rung GT Premium models start from £31,450 and add an upgraded drivers seat with massage functions and Peugeot’s Drive Assist Pack Plus, with semi-autonomous lane assist and 360-degree camera technology with semi-automatic parking assistance. Foot sensors have also been added to the tailgate. The new plug-in hybrid version of the 308 SW is available from Allure trim upwards, starting from £34,200. The estate is visually identical to the hatch version - which we've driven in prototype form - ahead of the B-pillars but set apart, both from its sibling and predecessor, by a bespoke rear-end design that aims to “draw the eye to the extra space” offered by its larger body. The rear LED light bar, for example, loses the hatchback’s black dividing strip to “increase the amount of perceived bodywork”, while the window line falls more sharply than the roofline towards the rear, which is said to give a dynamic silhouette. The 308 SW’s wheelbase has been extended by 55mm over the hatchback's, to 2732mm, which means rear-seat passengers get 129mm of leg room, while the rear overhang is 210mm longer than that of the smaller car, boosting maximum boot space from 412 litres to 608 litres - some 33 litres more than the Ford Focus Estate.
In this video, you can experience the brand new Peugeot 308. This model is painted in glossy white nacre metal, with lots of chrome details and badges. The i
Skip to ContentSkip to FooterWe try the all-new Peugeot 308 on British roads to see if it stands a chance in the competitive hatchback class10 May 2022VerdictPeugeot’s all-new 308 feels even more like a premium product, in keeping with the brand’s push upmarket. The French hatch has plenty in its armoury to trouble the likes of the VW Golf and Ford Focus, not to mention the many SUVs that have stolen sales over the past decade. But an awkward driving position and a lack of interior space slightly undermine the comfort, refinement and technology that the 308 humble family hatchback has fallen out of favour with buyers craving an SUV, but all the major brands still have something to offer in the segment – not least because hatchbacks still sell in reasonable numbers. Which is why Peugeot has introduced a new 308. We’re driving the PureTech here, which is likely to be the best-selling won’t dwell on the car’s looks for too long, although Peugeot has worked hard to give the 308 a distinctive style that makes some of its competitors look a tad dull. The firm’s trademark ‘fang’ daytime running lights sit astride pinched LED headlights that flow into the grille, and there are plenty of creases and slashes in the bodywork heading to the rear, which features ‘three-claw’ rear all looks very premium, and this feel continues inside, with our GT Premium-spec car boasting a classy mix of fabric, piano-black plastic and man-made reviews There are plenty of storage bins dotted around, too, although you’ll lose a tiny bit of room underneath the armrest in the hybrid models. Boot space also shrinks should you choose the hybrid, from a decent 412 litres to just 361 latest 308 is based on the same EMP2 platform as the previous-generation car, plus many other models in the Stellantis group. However, while the platform offers some flexibility in layout, rear legroom in the 308 is cramped if you’re sitting behind someone tall. Thick C-pillars make it feel a bit claustrophobic in the back, Premium models offer heated and electrically adjustable seats as standard. You also get Peugeot’s Drive Assist Pack Plus with lane positioning and adaptive cruise control, along with a 360-degree parking camera, lane assist and heated front seats with massaging a 10-inch digital dash and a touchscreen, below which are Peugeot’s ‘i-Toggles’ that act as shortcuts to certain menus. They’re big and easy to use on the move, but sometimes you can accidentally press them if you rest your hand to use the main all works relatively well, with decent graphics and responses, plus lots of features. But the i-Cockpit set-up means you have to sit quite high up so you can see the full driver’s display, otherwise some information will be completely blocked off by the flat-topped steering the move, the standard auto box delivers smooth shifts. The 128bhp PureTech petrol engine isn’t especially pokey meaning a 0-62mph time of seconds, so performance is best described as adequate, feeling lethargic at times. However it’s relatively quiet both around town and at motorway small steering wheel does give the 308 a sporty feel, but while the rack itself is quick and direct, there’s not a tremendous amount of has managed to mix sportiness with a comfortable ride, too. There’s plenty of grip and not much body roll, while even on the largest 18-inch wheels it glides relatively well over rough 308 range starts from £24,635, but you’ll want to move to at least Allure Premium, which starts at £27,385, to really make the most of the Peugeot’s classy interior. Granted, most will be looking for a finance deal, and the Peugeot 308 looks even better on this on an annual limit of 10,000 miles, an Allure Premium model will cost £285 per month over 48 months with a £5,000 deposit – a similarly specced Golf will cost £300. Step up to this high-spec GT Premium version, and you’ll be looking at £358, which still looks like reasonably good 308 PureTech 130 GT PremiumPrice:£31,520Engine: 3cyl turbo petrolPower/torque:128bhp/230NmTransmission:Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: secondsTop speed:130mphEconomy/CO2: sale:NowHave you considered?Skoda Fabia: long-term test reviewLong-term testsSkoda Fabia: long-term test reviewFirst report: We head back to the petrol pumps with our new family supermini10 Jul 2022New Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 2022 reviewRoad testsNew Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 2022 reviewThe Fabia Monte Carlo is best enjoyed for what it is, a comfortable, refined and capable family car, that rides and steers as well as the VW Group sta…30 Jun 2022Ford Fiesta reviewIn-depth reviewsFord Fiesta reviewThe Fiesta is good fun and remains a solid buy, despite increasingly strong competition 20 Jun 2022Most PopularNew SsangYong Torres unveiled on social mediaNewsNew SsangYong Torres unveiled on social mediaSsangYong’s new Torres will take on the electric SUV market in 202328 Jul 2022Fines not being enforced for drivers in red ‘X’ motorway lanesNewsFines not being enforced for drivers in red ‘X’ motorway lanesPolice forces are failing to enforce red ‘X’ offences on smart motorways as effectively as first hoped, a Government minister has revealed28 Jul 2022New Peugeot e-2008 2022 reviewRoad testsNew Peugeot e-2008 2022 reviewThe all-electric Peugeot e-2008 compact crossover gets extended range as part of updates for 202229 Jul 2022Skip to HeaderSkip to Content French firm will soon reveal 10-year-plan which could outline new premium model and flagship. New 2021 Peugeot 308 goes on sale, priced from £24,000; First drive: 2021 Peugeot 308 Hybrid 225- Ղ αմоձирсፄջэ енелеվጱξ
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In other words, the Peugeot 4008 is coming out this year and will likely inherit the PHEV setup from the electrified 308 and its sister model, the new Opel Astra. The EMP2-based coupe-SUV is
Taking a look at the first official peugeot photos & videos of the new Peugeot 308 2022. This is the all-new model and it looks amazing! SUBSCRIBE for more -
PSA’s strategy so far has been for EMP2 models to be offered with plug-in hybrid technology and for smaller CMP models to come with dedicated electric versions, both offered alongside existing petrol and diesel variants. The 308 is set to get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, mixing a petrol engine with an electric motor to drive the front wheels in a mainstream variant. However, it’s a proposed second plug-in hybrid model that will interest enthusiasts. This model, developed by the brand’s new PSE performance arm that has developed the Peugeot 508 PSE, would gain an additional electric motor on the rear axle – a set-up already used on the 3008 PHEV – to give the 308 four-wheel drive and create a new 300bhp-plus hot hatch version that would also receive a host of sporty chassis and styling upgrades to challenge the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R. The PSE badge is set to appear first on a range-topping performance version of the 508. Should the 508 PSE be a success, Imparato told Autocar the PSE formula could be applied “on the 3008 and other cars”, a comment that alludes to the desire to extend it to the 308. Success won't be judged on sales, either, but instead on the reputation and acclaim the PSE models receive. To that end, the PSE project is as much about “transforming electric cars” and the perception of them, because Imparato sees “a big opportunity for a line-up of sporty cars” in this mould. The GTi badge won't be used on the 308 or any other Peugeots apart from the 208. Even then, it might be limited to the UK only and be based on the electric version as part of the company’s plans to switch PSE's involvement in its models to electrified powertrains only. The next 308 range will again include five-door hatchback and estate versions, with still no return for the likes of the 308 CC coupé-convertible seen in previous generations, due to the lack of profitability with such cars. “I love these cars but today there are three other topics first,” said Imparato, naming 5G connectivity and autonomous vehicle development alongside electrified models. However, a crossover version of the 308 is a strong possibility for Peugeot. It has noted the success of the Mercedes-Benz GLA, effectively a raised version of the Mercedes-A-Class hatchback. In addition, fellow PSA brand DS is planning both hatchback and crossover versions of its new DS 4 A-Class/GLA rival, which is due later this year with a shared body-in-white. There’s enough of a gap between the 308 and larger 3008 SUV to make such a car a reality. Updated petrol and diesel engines will continue to be offered alongside the plug-in hybrids. Peugeot is still committed to diesel and is even offering it in its new 208 and 2008 models at a time when many rivals are abandoning the fuel at this end of the market.2023/2024 Peugeot 308 GT PREMIUM. 5 Seat 5 Door Hatch | 5 Seat 4 Door Wagon (SUV) Front Wheel Drive (FWD) 8 Speed Efficient Automatic. 3 cylinder 1.2L Turbo Petrol.
The third generation of the Peugeot 308 has been unveiled boasting a list of meaningful incremental upgrades along with a suite of luxury equipment. Peugeot has unveiled the 2022 308 small car which returns with a familiar formula and a new face but with a large emphasis placed on technology, safety and everyday comfort. The third-generation 308 won’t make it to Australia until early 2022 and will slot into the popular small car class here in Australia and take on rivals such as the Mazda 3 and Hyundai i30. Peugeot has released the third-generation 308 which will arrive in Australia in early 2022 How has Peugeot changed the design of the 2022 308? Peugeot has placed a strong emphasis on aerodynamics for the third generation with a softer nose shape giving way to a long bonnet and heavily tilted windscreen before the air finally flows off the roof which uses a spoiler to prevent disturbance. The overall height of the Peugeot has actually been dropped by 20mm while the wheelbase has been extended by 55mm, primarily to add more legroom for those in the backseat. The face of the 308 is now sharper and sunken down, with the main LED headlights attached formed in a hook shape with the daytime running lights. At the rear Peugeot has kept things fairly traditional, with large exhaust outlets in the rear bumper and LED tail lights said to represent the three claws of the Peugeot Lion. The overall height of the 308 has been dropped by 20mm to improve airflow Will the 2022 308 drive any better? The 308 sits on an evolved version of the EMP2 platform underpinning the second generation but with structure changes to make the Peugeot more dynamically capable and safer in a collision. And while the length has expanded by a significant 110mm, the 308 still remains agile around town with a turning circle of metres, which slightly beats out popular rivals such as the Toyota Corolla at metres. The engine lineup for the 308 largely remains unchanged for the new generation, with the availability of either petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines with all driving the front wheels. The 308 still sits on the same EMP2 platform as its predecessor but it has been upgraded The engine most likely to make it to Australia is the turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine available in tunes making 81kW of power and 210Nm of torque or 96kW/230Nm. A larger turbodiesel four-cylinder engine is also offered, developing 97kW/300Nm with both options paired to either the six-speed manual or eight-speed torque converter automatic. Peugeot currently offers two plug-in hybrid options known as the Hybrid 225 and Hybrid 180 which are paired exclusively to the automatic. The plug-in hybrid system found in the 3008 will also be coming to Australia The Hybrid 225 is found in the Peugeot 3008 small SUV and uses a 132kW petrol engine along with a 81kW electric engine that uses a battery to provide 59 kilometres on electric-only range, according to WLTP. The Hybrid 180 uses a less powerful 110kW petrol engine and the same 81kW electric motor but actually travels slightly further with 60 kilometres of electric-only range (WLTP). Historically Australia has missed out on these hybrid options but the brand has been introducing a slew of hybrids recently in the 3008 small SUV and 508 sedan. Peugeot has fitted a 10-inch instrument cluster and accompanying touchscreen What has changed on the inside of the 308? Peugeot has modernised the interior of the 308 with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster that has 3D graphics and sits further back into the dash than you might expect. It joins an additional 10-inch touchscreen in the centre which features an adjoining bottom screen made up of configurable screen-badged buttons known as ‘i-toggles’. This gives drivers the ability to program the apps and features they use the most along the bottom, instead of being stuck with whatever the manufacturer decides. The multimedia system now features wireless smartphone mirroring but Peugeot could not confirm if this included both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, two phones can now connect to the system using Bluetooth. Other niceties such as a wireless charger, USB C ports, an armrest and ambient light are features you may not find in every car in this segment. The touchscreen has an adjoining bottom screen made up of configurable screen-badged buttons known as ‘i-toggles’ Is the new 2022 Peugeot 308 a safer car? Along with improved occupant protection with an upgraded chassis, the Peugeot 308 has updated the existing driving aids to make commuting easier and safer. Adaptive cruise control now has a stop and go function for use in traffic with other features such as semi-automatic lane change that will suggest when to change lanes and the system now has better judgement of how fast to take an incoming turn. The Peugeot 308 features a 360-degree camera to make parking easier Other features such as automatic emergency braking can detect pedestrians and cyclists, driver monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera will make parking easier. And if the worst does happen, Peugeot has fitted an ‘E-call’ system that can alert authorities and provide them with your location, direction of travel and number. The exact specification of the Australia model will likely differ slightly but we’ll have more exact details and pricing as we get closer to the launch date in early 2022.