Photo: X-Tomi Design
The compact family car segment might not seem like the most epic of showdowns in the automotive business, not when editors can write about "Ferrari vs Lamborghini" or "P1 vs 918". But actually, the compact segment battle is the only one that really counts right now, in Europe at least.
For a while, French carmaker Peugeot played second fiddle to its German rivals… until the 308 came along. It's based on a new platform, boasts standard LED taillights and fixes many of the problems its predecessors had. This compact is available in two body styles and has already won the Car of the Year Award.
Yet that's not enough, not in this segment. We're not talking about hot hatches – those are coming – but about a crossover estate, like the one recently launched by Volkswagen. At the Paris Motor Show, on Peugeot's home turf, the Germans unveiled the first Alltrack version of the Golf. It's tough and more spacious than an SUV, plus it has a twin brother in the form of the SEAT Leon X-Perience.
Peugeot desperately needs its own version in order to stay competitive and we're confident they know just how to make one. The 508 RXH has been around since 2012, in which time it's had plenty of media attention but not enough sales. A compact estate-turned-crossover would be much better. Bring on the 308 RXH!
Clever as the 308 RXH might look, there's one problem: the 308 has not been designed for all-wheel drive. As bad as that might seem, most crossover buyers don't want all-wheel drive. A recent study found that only about 4% of all SUV buyers need a hardcore 4x4.
As things stand, Peugeot has two solutions. They can either make the 308 RXH into a hybrid all-wheel drive car, like they did with the 508 or stick to FWD. Already they have an enhanced traction control system called Grip Control. With the help of some 17-inch wheels and Mud&Snow tires, it's already helping the 2008 supermini crossover deal with the rough stuff.
So how about it guys – would you buy a 308 RXH if it looked like this? Does it need all-wheel drive like the Golf Alltrack?
Yet that's not enough, not in this segment. We're not talking about hot hatches – those are coming – but about a crossover estate, like the one recently launched by Volkswagen. At the Paris Motor Show, on Peugeot's home turf, the Germans unveiled the first Alltrack version of the Golf. It's tough and more spacious than an SUV, plus it has a twin brother in the form of the SEAT Leon X-Perience.
Peugeot desperately needs its own version in order to stay competitive and we're confident they know just how to make one. The 508 RXH has been around since 2012, in which time it's had plenty of media attention but not enough sales. A compact estate-turned-crossover would be much better. Bring on the 308 RXH!
AWD or FWD?
This rendering was created by graphics manipulator X-Tomi, who took an ordinary 308 Estate and turned it into an Alltrack rival, the fictional 308 RXH. It boasts extra body cladding in black plastic and a chunkier look. The suspension is also raised to help it better deal with obstacles.Clever as the 308 RXH might look, there's one problem: the 308 has not been designed for all-wheel drive. As bad as that might seem, most crossover buyers don't want all-wheel drive. A recent study found that only about 4% of all SUV buyers need a hardcore 4x4.
As things stand, Peugeot has two solutions. They can either make the 308 RXH into a hybrid all-wheel drive car, like they did with the 508 or stick to FWD. Already they have an enhanced traction control system called Grip Control. With the help of some 17-inch wheels and Mud&Snow tires, it's already helping the 2008 supermini crossover deal with the rough stuff.
So how about it guys – would you buy a 308 RXH if it looked like this? Does it need all-wheel drive like the Golf Alltrack?
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