AIMS: Peugeot’s new 508, 308 to make Oz debut
BY MARTON PETTENDY | 28th Jun 2011
The French brand will also announce a “guaranteed service plan” at the show for its 308 and 508 ranges, which GoAuto understands will include free scheduled servicing for those model lines for the duration of their three-year warranty period.
Pricing for the classy all-diesel 508 sedan and wagon range will be announced at the show ahead of its official launch, with indicative pricing for the 308, which will arrive at the beginning of August.
Peugeot Australia events and promotions manager Kirin Tipping told GoAuto that pricing for the 308 hatch, wagon and coupe-convertible line-up is unlikely to change much but that the cars will be brought up-to-date with “a whole lot of new features” such as USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
Three “fresh off the boat” Australian-spec variants of the 508 line-up will be displayed, including 2.0-litre HDi sedan and wagon in luxury Allure specification.
A flagship GT 2.2-litre HDi sedan will also be on display, featuring an impressive new four-cylinder diesel engine that punches out 150kW and 450Nm – 10kW and 10Nm more than the 2.7-litre V6 diesel fitted to Ford’s Territory SUV.
Peugeot says the 508 – which debuted at the 2010 Paris show – has enjoyed success since its European launch earlier this year, with 5000 registered in the first quarter. More than 4000 orders were taken for the car in March and more than 8000 further sales have been notched up since the beginning of April.
Peugeot Australia general manager and director Ken Thomas said the brand was “anticipating a lot of interest,” and that it has “scheduled a number of special events around the motor show to ensure that both of these models are as well received here as they have been in Europe”.
The new 308, which debuted at Geneva in March, will be displayed in hatch, wagon and coupe-convertible body styles.
As GoAuto has reported, Peugeot has trimmed an average of 25kg from the kerb weight from the 308 models and fitted low-rolling-resistance tyres to some models, helping to optimise CO2 emissions performance.
All Peugeot passenger cars have been Euro 5 compliant since February this year. Ms Tipping said that Australian-delivered Expert and LWB Partner vans will meet the emissions standard by August.
