Photo: Peugeot
Peugeot has revealed the 308 sedan it has developed for the Chinese market today at the Beijing Auto Show. We are pleased to report that it's not an old car made to look new, but an entirely fresh 4-door fitted with all the premium features of its European hatchback counterparts and based on the EMP2 platform.
Back at home, the French Lion's compact car has won many awards, including Car of the Year. But the sedan doesn't copy anything directly, which is a good thing.
From the front, the 30 has distinctive fog lights we haven't seen from Peugeot before. While the overall design is as subtle as a Skoda, a deep chin spoiler suggests sportiness is also present.
The rear of the car is different. Each taillight unit is made up of three C-shaped red light strips. Like an old American saloon, the 308 has one large transparent piece that goes across the width of the car and also engulfs the rear badge.
The interior is similar to that of the European 308, but features a different instrument binnacle and a wider dashboard screen. Peugeot clearly knows Chinese car buyers want a subtle look that doesn't draw too much attention since the cabin is black as night.
Three engines will eventually be available: a basic 1.6-liter VTI naturally aspirated 4-banger, followed by a more powerful and expensive 1.2-liter turbo with only three cylinders and a 1.6-liter THP turbocharged four-cylinder. The gearbox options will consist of the standard 6-speed manual and an automatic with the same number of cogs.
Peugeot isn’t saying a word about the possibility of selling the 308 4-door in other markets, so most likely it will remain a China-only affair. It's a shame, considering that the Jetta remains one of the most popular Volkswagens with the Europeans, despite its age. The only compact sedan offered by Peugeot there is the 301. But it's based on the 208 chassis and thus features rudimentary suspension technology and inferior material quality.
From the front, the 30 has distinctive fog lights we haven't seen from Peugeot before. While the overall design is as subtle as a Skoda, a deep chin spoiler suggests sportiness is also present.
The rear of the car is different. Each taillight unit is made up of three C-shaped red light strips. Like an old American saloon, the 308 has one large transparent piece that goes across the width of the car and also engulfs the rear badge.
The interior is similar to that of the European 308, but features a different instrument binnacle and a wider dashboard screen. Peugeot clearly knows Chinese car buyers want a subtle look that doesn't draw too much attention since the cabin is black as night.
Three engines will eventually be available: a basic 1.6-liter VTI naturally aspirated 4-banger, followed by a more powerful and expensive 1.2-liter turbo with only three cylinders and a 1.6-liter THP turbocharged four-cylinder. The gearbox options will consist of the standard 6-speed manual and an automatic with the same number of cogs.
Peugeot isn’t saying a word about the possibility of selling the 308 4-door in other markets, so most likely it will remain a China-only affair. It's a shame, considering that the Jetta remains one of the most popular Volkswagens with the Europeans, despite its age. The only compact sedan offered by Peugeot there is the 301. But it's based on the 208 chassis and thus features rudimentary suspension technology and inferior material quality.
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