L
Luke Wilkinson
Guest
Peugeot is gearing up to launch the third-generation 308 hatchback, which has been spied again ahead of its world debut later this month.
The previous model made a splash when it was launched back in 2014, scooping up the European Car of the Year award and kicking off a second golden era for the French brand. When it hits UK roads next year, the new 308 will play a key role in maintaining Peugeot’s winning streak, as it goes up against the Ford Focus and the latest Volkswagen Golf.
These latest spy shots give us a slightly better indication of how the new car will look. Up front, there’ll be a fresh set of LED headlights and a new radiator grille, which carries the redesigned Peugeot badge - the 308 will be the first car with the new look logo.
The rear of the car will take its leave from the 208, sharing the same angular lines and a similar tailgate spoiler.
In 2020, then Group PSA’s head of electric vehicles, Anne-Lise Richard, revealed the several options on the table for Peugeot in regards to the 308’s platform of choice and in turn, its powertrains.
“The 308 can be produced on both platforms – e-CMP and EMP2,” she said. “So clearly we could have both PHEV and EV. I think there is room for both technologies for the customers.”
Richard’s reference to two different platforms (the CMP layout for superminis and the larger EMP2 architecture used by the current Peugeot 308) doesn’t mean that the new car will be built across two different sets of underpinnings. Instead, it’s indicative of the technology that PSA has at its fingertips. The e-CMP platform is used on the new Citroen C4, whereas the new DS 4 will use the Group’s updated EMP2 underpinnings.
it’s more likely that the next 308 will use EMP2 rather than CMP. The smaller CMP platform is only suitable for petrol, diesel and EV powertrains, while the EMP2 platform is more suitable for cars like the 308, enabling petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power.
A fully electric car based on EMP2 has yet to be launched, but Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall have all revealed medium-sized electric vans using an adapted version of the platform.
Peugeot 308 - exclusive image Larson
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 - exclusive image Larson
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied - interior
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
For performance enthusiasts, Peugeot recently launched the 355bhp 508 Sport Engineered saloon. As it’s also based on EMP2, it’s 1.6-litre petrol-electric powertrain could drop straight into the new 308 if a hot version of the new hatch is desired.
Irrespective of this, the hatchback is almost certain to be available with a less potent, more economical version of the same 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid system, with 222bhp and more than 30 miles of electric range. The system is already found in the Peugeot 3008 SUV.
A familiar line-up of three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from the PureTech family of engines will cater to the needs of non-electrified 308 buyers, but the new 308 could be an important Peugeot in regards to 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, too. From 2022, Automatic versions are likely to gain a new electrified dual-clutch transmission developed by Punch Powertrain.
Now read our review of the Peugeot 3008 SUV. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Continue reading...
The previous model made a splash when it was launched back in 2014, scooping up the European Car of the Year award and kicking off a second golden era for the French brand. When it hits UK roads next year, the new 308 will play a key role in maintaining Peugeot’s winning streak, as it goes up against the Ford Focus and the latest Volkswagen Golf.
- SEE MORE Best hatchbacks to buy 2021
These latest spy shots give us a slightly better indication of how the new car will look. Up front, there’ll be a fresh set of LED headlights and a new radiator grille, which carries the redesigned Peugeot badge - the 308 will be the first car with the new look logo.
The rear of the car will take its leave from the 208, sharing the same angular lines and a similar tailgate spoiler.
In 2020, then Group PSA’s head of electric vehicles, Anne-Lise Richard, revealed the several options on the table for Peugeot in regards to the 308’s platform of choice and in turn, its powertrains.
“The 308 can be produced on both platforms – e-CMP and EMP2,” she said. “So clearly we could have both PHEV and EV. I think there is room for both technologies for the customers.”
Richard’s reference to two different platforms (the CMP layout for superminis and the larger EMP2 architecture used by the current Peugeot 308) doesn’t mean that the new car will be built across two different sets of underpinnings. Instead, it’s indicative of the technology that PSA has at its fingertips. The e-CMP platform is used on the new Citroen C4, whereas the new DS 4 will use the Group’s updated EMP2 underpinnings.
it’s more likely that the next 308 will use EMP2 rather than CMP. The smaller CMP platform is only suitable for petrol, diesel and EV powertrains, while the EMP2 platform is more suitable for cars like the 308, enabling petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power.
A fully electric car based on EMP2 has yet to be launched, but Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall have all revealed medium-sized electric vans using an adapted version of the platform.
Peugeot 308 - exclusive image Larson
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 - exclusive image Larson
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied - interior
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
Peugeot 308 2021 spied
For performance enthusiasts, Peugeot recently launched the 355bhp 508 Sport Engineered saloon. As it’s also based on EMP2, it’s 1.6-litre petrol-electric powertrain could drop straight into the new 308 if a hot version of the new hatch is desired.
Irrespective of this, the hatchback is almost certain to be available with a less potent, more economical version of the same 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid system, with 222bhp and more than 30 miles of electric range. The system is already found in the Peugeot 3008 SUV.
A familiar line-up of three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from the PureTech family of engines will cater to the needs of non-electrified 308 buyers, but the new 308 could be an important Peugeot in regards to 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, too. From 2022, Automatic versions are likely to gain a new electrified dual-clutch transmission developed by Punch Powertrain.
Now read our review of the Peugeot 3008 SUV. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Continue reading...