Peugeot’s crucial next-gen 308 has been snapped by the Carparazzi lenses, with the latest images revealing the vehicle minus the black camouflage at the front worn by earlier prototypes.
Expected to make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt motor show, the new 308 will be around 70kg lighter than the existing model, thanks to being underpinned by the new EMP2 platform.
Although the psychedelic camouflage conceals the car’s visual detailing, expect it to mirror the look of stylish recent offerings such as the new 208 and 2008 crossover.
These pics reveal the new 308 is slightly larger than the current car, but as mentioned above, the EMP2 platform (which debuts in the new Citroen C4 Picasso due later this year) will enable the entry-level 308 to tip the scales around 1280kg, more or less lineball with the VW Golf Mk7.
In addition, reduced frictional losses in the powertrain, along with measures such as stop-start and a new electric power steering system, will reportedly improve economy and emissions by a significant margin.
Although there is as yet no concrete information on the powertrain line-up, we expect the new 308 to be offered with a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with the GTI range-topper likely to pump out in excess of 150kW.
Diesel models will also feature a new Selective Catalytic Reduction exhaust, which uses AdBlue to reduce NOx emissions as well as saving around 3g/km of CO2.
Though seen here in five-door hatchback-guise, the second-generation 308 will later be offered in three-door, convertible and estate formats.
Euro-spec cars will be offered with a new touchscreen infotainment system – as per rivals like the Skoda Octavia and VW Golf – but Australian kit levels will only be known closer to the local launch.
We’ve already alluded to Peugeot’s new naming policy in earlier stories, but to quickly recap, low-cost models designed specifically for emerging markets (such as the new 301) will end with the digit “1”, while more high-spec vehicles aimed at Europe and Australia will wear the “8”suffix.
As has always been the case with Pugs, the first digit indicates the size and segment of the vehicle, while the middle digit remains “0”.
– with Carparazzi
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