First look: Peugeot to reveal 308 Touring in Oz

IN WHAT represents another major coup for Peugeot Automobiles Australia, the French brand's 308 Touring will make its global public debut at the Melbourne motor show next Friday, (February 29), before also appearing at the Geneva show a week later.

Peugeot, which also presented two world-first appearances with the 207 GTi and 207 CC at last year's Melbourne motor show, will introduce right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions at around the same time, so Australian sales will commence a few months after the vehicle goes on sale in Europe in June.

Like its 307 wagon predecessor, the 308 Touring features a standard panoramic glass roof, which is 27 per cent larger and extends beyond the heads of the second row passengers. The new model also has separate opening tailgate glass for easier loading of small items.

Importantly, however, the new 308 Touring will also be available with seven seats, with two occasional rear seats able to be fitted in the third row.

Left: 308 Touring and 308 GT hatch.

The wheelbase of the recently launched hatchback has been extended by 100mm for the wagon, and the rear overhang is increased by 124mm, but the rear suspension is unchanged.

Load capacity with the second row seats in place is 674 litres under the rear load cover. With the seats removed it can take 2149 litres up to the level of the roof. Peugeot will also reveal a new performance variant in Geneva called the 308 GT THP 175, so-named because its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine – the unit co-developed with BMW and fitted to the Australian-market XSE Turbo in 110kW form – produces 175 horsepower (130kW).

Torque is rated at 244Nm at only 1600rpm, but this rises to 264 when using the overboost function.

The 308 GT THP 175 (remember when cars had names?) is fitted with a new six-speed gearbox and the interior is decked out with aluminium gear knob and peddles, as well as a new sports steering wheel.

This new model accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds and will become the 308 range-topper in Europe from about April. Peugeot Australia is keen to bring the car here but could not provide timing or pricing information.