Peugeot updates 308 range

PEUGEOT’S facelifted 308 small car has surfaced with subtle styling changes, boosted driver safety technologies and updated engines, but Australian specification details, timing and pricing has yet to be confirmed.

The facelifted French hatchback wears a new front fascia, with an updated front grille that incorporates Peugeot’s lion badge, LED headlights across the range and a restyled front bumper designed to aid engine cooling.

With just a single image released, changes to the rear exterior – if any – cannot be seen, but Peugeot says “the rear lamps show a proud three-claw light signature night and day”, implying the fresh 308 will retain the unique three-tiered tail-lights as before.

However, the biggest change to the new 308 will be under the skin, with Peugeot incorporating more active safety features such lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking.

Peugeot also says the new 308 “is the first PSA group model to get cruise control including a stop function (with automatic transmission) or a 30km/h function (with manual transmission)”.

Inside, an updated infotainment system is included with Apple CarPlay, Mirrorlink and Android Auto functionality, as well as 3D maps on satellite navigation with voice controls, an automatic parking feature and reversing camera.

While overseas markets will have access to six variants – Access, Active, Allure, GT Line, GT and GTi – in hatchback and wagon body styles, it is still unclear which grades will make their way into Australian showrooms.

Late last year, Peugeot trimmed down its current 308 range from 17 variants – with a mix of hatchback and wagon, as well as petrol and diesel engine options – to six, consisting of the Active, Allure petrol and diesel, oil-burning Allure Touring wagon, GT and GTi 270.

The new 308 range will be underpinned by a range of Euro 6-compliant petrol and diesel engines starting with a carryover 1.2-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine.

Although engine output was not revealed, the current three-pot produces 96kW/230Nm, but Peugeot says the “engine has undergone a major upgrade”.

308 GTs will continue to be powered by a 133kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four pot, but will now have two extra gears thanks to a new-generation EAT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox developed in conjunction with Aisin.

Finally, a new four-cylinder diesel engine will debut in the new 308 that will feature efficiency gains thanks to new emissions controls, a new combustion chamber design and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) pollution control system.

Peugeot has yet to disclose power and torque figures for its new oil-burner, or fuel economy and CO2 emissions for its new 308 range.

No mention was made of Peugeot’s 308 GTi performance flagship, but it is expected the French hot hatch will also receive the same updates as the rest of its small car siblings at a later date.

GoAuto has contacted Peugeot’s Australian distributor Sime Darby Motors Group to confirm Australian timing for the updated 308.