Peugeot 308

Peugeot 308
Overview
Manufacturer	Peugeot
Production	2007–present
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon 2-door coupé cabriolet
Layout	FF layout
Related	Peugeot 307 Peugeot 408 Peugeot 3008 Citroën C4 Citroën C4 Picasso
Powertrain
Engine	Prince engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,610 mm (102.8 in)
Length	4,276 mm (168.3 in)
Width	1,815 mm (71.5 in)
Height	1,498 mm (59.0 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Peugeot 307

The Peugeot 308 is a small family car produced by the French car manufacturer PSA. It was unveiled on June 5, 2007 and is the first car of the X08 generation of Peugeot models.

Loosely intended as the replacement for the Peugeot 307, the new vehicle was based upon the old 307’s chassis, but has new bodywork and is slightly longer and wider. Its coefficient of drag is 0.29, and it has a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The 308 builds on the strengths of the 307 whilst focusing on quality and safety, which are at significantly higher levels than the outgoing 307.

The Peugeot 308 holds the world record of the most fuel-efficient mainstream car currently on production, having averaged 3.13 litres per 100 kilometres (90 mpg_‑imp; 75 mpg_‑US) over a distance of 14,580 km (9,060 mi)..

Pre-launch

In the United Kingdom, a major market for Peugeot, television adverts aired with the slogan "the drive of your life". The development code for the car was "Project T7".

The pictures set for official unveiling were leaked on May 31, 2007, a week ahead of schedule. Sales began in September 2007.

Body styles

Peugeot presented a 2+2 coupé concept car development of the 308, the Peugeot 308 RC Z, at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. This coupé concept is 18 cm lower than the standard car. It has similar proportions to the Audi TT. The final production model as well as its name will be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, i.e. two years after the concept car was first presented to the public and will then go on sale in the spring of 2010.

A station wagon concept version of the 308, the Peugeot 308 SW Prologue, was also unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. In February 2008 the production version was announced, to go on sale in the UK in June that year. The finished product went on show at the 78th International Geneva Motor Show in March 2008. The 308 Touring is available now in a 5 or 7 seat version. First displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show in Australia.

A cabriolet with a retractable hardtop, the 308 CC, has been presented to replace the Peugeot 307 CC.

A new body style of the 308 is an SUV or a MPV named 3008 to fight the Renault Koleos, Renault Scenic, Citroën C4 Picasso, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Opel Antara and the Volkswagen Tiguan and Volkswagen Touran

• 
  308 3-door
• 
  308 5-door
• 
  308 SW
• 
  308 CC

Market positioning

In the UK, the basic 308 1.4 litre 3-door hatchback is expected to retail at around £12,000 — a similar price to the equivalent 307 that it replaces. It is similarly priced to the Volkswagen Golf, but more expensive than the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Vauxhall Astra.

Hybrid diesel-electric powertrain

Robert Bosch GmbH is supplying hybrid diesel-electric technology to Peugeot 308. A prototype 308 equipped with this technology was displayed in the Frankfurt car show '07.

External links

• Official Peugeot 308 page
• Xelopolis - discussion of the possible Peugeot 308 hatchback (with artist's renderings) and Peugeot 308 (CC) coupé convertible