PEUGEOT 308 CC Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Peugeot improved the 308 CC for the last time in 2011 after just two years on the market, but it was a well-deserved one since it was improved in every way.

Sharing the same platform with its hatchback cousin was smart to cut the production costs for Peugeot when it introduced the 308 CC in 2009 and still have a compact cabriolet on the market. It featured the same engines and drivetrains, but it had to be reinforced to handle the open-top construction that affected the car's rigidity. In 2011, the French carmaker facelifted the entire 308 lineup, and that led to some improvement for the convertible version.

Thanks to its retractable hard-top system, the 308 CC was already a desirable car for all-weather situations. Its hat could disappear behind the rear seats in just 20 seconds and leave the occupants under the open sky. The new Xenon headlights made the night-driving easier, while the LED daytime running lights improved the car's appearance. A diffuser made the car look sporty in the rear, even though it was not a vehicle built for speed. Peugeot fitted the 308's taillights with LED technology as well.

Inside, Peugeot improved the materials and the fittings, answering some criticisms from its customers. The white dials and aluminum trim improved the image. For more comfort, Peugeot offered a system that blew warm air through the headrests to the back of the front occupants to keep them warm while driving in not so hot weather. There was, in theory, room for two adults in the back, but the legroom was limited.

It was time for the compact coupe-cabriolet 307 from Peugeot to retire and make room for the new generation, the 308 CC.

Peugeot was responsible for creating the hard-top retractable vehicles in 1934 when it unveiled the 401 Eclipse, followed by the 402 Eclipse in the following year. That happened decades before Ford created the Skyliner Retractable in 1957. Moreover, Peugeot also brought back the trend in 2000 when it launched the 206 CC, followed by the 207 CC and the larger 307 CC. But in late 2008, the French automaker made the expected move of introducing a retractable hard-top version for the regular, compact 308.

While the front of the vehicle was similar to the one offered by its siblings, everything changed from the A-pillars to the back. First and foremost, the windshield's pillars were thicker than on the rest of the range. Moving on, the short roof was followed by a sloped rear windscreen when the top was up or by air when it was down. And the driver could make that happen in 20 seconds. At the back, the trunk's shape sported the third brake lamp integrated into a neat lip spoiler. In addition, the taillights that featured two LED lines looked better than the rest of the 308 range.

Peugeot's promise was that four adults could sit in the car, and that was true. Yet, the legroom for the rear passengers was very limited, especially if the front occupants were taller. But on short, urban trips was fine. In addition, the dashboard looked better than the rest of the range since it was available in matching colors with the upholstery, even if that was red.

Under the hood, the 308 CC sported a range of inline-four turbocharged powerplants, either gasoline or diesel-powered. Still, only selected versions were gifted with an automatic transmission.