Peugeot has revealed its striking new 308, showcasing an all new design for the firm’s popular hatchback.
The new Peugeot - which arrives as a rival for the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf - has been given a comprehensive makeover for 2021 and is the first vehicle to feature the brand’s newly-designed logo.
At the front of the vehicle sits a bold new grille framed by new ‘claw’ headlights. Similar in design to those of the flagship 508, they give the hatchback a sleek, dynamic appearance.
Thanks to an increase in wheelbase length - now 55mm longer than the previous 308 - the new car provides more interior space. A drop in ride height of 20mm gives the car a more hunkered-down appearance on the road, too.
Inside the cabin, you’ll find Peugeot’s latest i-Cockpit system which incorporates a 10-inch digital display instrument cluster sat in the place of the conventional dials. Alongside this is a second 10-inch central touchscreen which is now standard across the 308 range.
Thanks to a redesigned dashboard, front-seat passenger space is increased substantially over the older car, while cabin material quality has been improved across the board. However, boot space has dropped compared with the previous-generation 308 - down to 412 litres from 470 - though Peugeot says that rear-seat space is now more generous than before.
The new 308 incorporates a range of driver assistance systems too, including semi-automatic lane change assist and adaptive cruise control.
A range of plug-in hybrid powertrains have been introduced to the 308 for the first time, including outputs of 178bhp and 222bhp, bringing with them a 37-mile electric-only range. According to Peugeot, fully charging the 12.4kWh battery will take just two hours.
That said, more conventional options are being offered alongside these electrified powertrains. A 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel make up the combustion engine versions, with both using an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
It’s likely that the 308 will arrive with three different trim levels - Allure, GT and GT Premium - though further details around this are likely to be announced over the next few weeks.