New Volkswagen EOS Devon
Volkswagen introduced its first coupe in 2006 since the last Carrado in 1995; the Volkswagen EOS is a 4 seater hard top convertible, much like the Megane CC or the Vauxhall Astra Twin Top. They all have hard tops which retract to turn a sporty coupe into a sophisticated convertible but the EOS has a sliding glass sunroof in the roof, setting it apart from the rest. The Volkswagen Cabrio of the past was basically a convertible Golf, with the EOS it is a standalone model with all new body panels. It does however share the same platform as the Passat and the wheel base matches the Gold and Jetta. The EOS comes with a good choice of engines, including the 1.4 TSI BlueMotion, which is very economical yet nippy. The 2.0 Petrol Turbo is fast, fun and a joy to drive, the 2.0litre turbo diesel is as equally as fun but slightly more economical. Volkswagen have done well to ensure the EOS does not squirm or shake on any type of surface, as most convertibles have a tendency to do. This makes driving the EOS around very comfortable even in the models that come with the stiffer, sportier suspension.
In the UK Peugeot will market the facelifted 2011 308 with four model trims: Access, SR, Active and Allure; the top models in the UK are the THP 200 hatchback and CC. Prices start at 拢15,245 when it lands in dealers in May 2011, and standard equipment across the board includes stability control, remote locking, six airbags and a plethora of electro-handling nannies. Although critics in the UK have never warmed to the 308, it remains a big selling vehicle line for Peugeot. It has flogged more than 900,000 308s worldwide since launch in September 2007. Of those, 84,000 were in the UK. Peugeot is 200 years old this month, so what better way to celebrate than launching a 200 horsepower warmed-up hatch. The new 308 GT THP 200 five-door pictured costs 拢21,995. Not quite as much sparkle as the RCZ, but that's why it's not badged GTI, in the UK at least.
What's the new 308 GT THP 200 powered by? The 308 GT THP 200 runs the same 1.6-litre turocharged petrol engine as the RCZ, giving out 197bhp and 159 g/km of C02. Peugeot hasn't given any performance details yet but the RCZ with the same engine and gearbox hits 60mph in 7.6 seconds. Peugoet is sensitive to its hot hatch history books, and has ducked out of badging this go-faster 308 a GTI. That missing 'i' tells you plenty about this car's intent. Are there any visual differences between the GT THP 200 and the normal five-door? Yep. A few subtle differences such as a rear spolier, a lower front panel stolen from the 308CC, a rear diffuser housed in the lower bumper and finally twin chrome rear pipes and of course the '200' badges. I don't like five-doors! Will there be a three-door version too? Afraid not, it's this or nothing. Still, if you want the looks, then we'd steer you towards the super-slinky RCZ.
Peugeot - the pioneer of folding hard tops - today unveils the new 308 CC. It's not a radical coupe cabriolet, but it's a gentle evolution of the 307 CC blueprint: a four-seater family hatch turned convertible. Gobbling boot space as it goes? Naturally, the boot shrinks when the roof is lowered, dipping from 465 litres to 266 when it's stowed. But then every folding hard-top car suffers the same problem. The styling of the 308 CC is hardly a surprise, but there are one or two interesting design details. The rear lights are made up of LEDs and inside Peugeot has poached Mercedes' Airscarf system, with a new option called Airwave to warm front occupants' necks. So when will we see the new 308 CC? It's making its show debut at the Paris motor show in October 2008, with UK sales slated for spring 2009. Expect prices from around 拢18,000 stretching up to 拢23,000.
This black bin sack on wheels is really a Peugeot 308 CC. With underpinnings and engines from the regular 308 hatchback, the CC is expected to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009, with sales kicking off just in time for next summer. Is the 308 CC really a 307 CC? The 308 CC is an evolution of the 307 CC, so expect similar changes to those made on the hatchback. That means thorough tweaks to all the bits we can't see, while the A-pillars have a different rake compared to the regular hatch. It should also boost the driving experience. The rear LED lights remain as a design feature. They were originally used on the 307 CC because regular light clusters were too bulky to fit with the folding metal roof. That metal roof will now stow under a slightly higher and flatter rear deck while, up front, the nose will takes cues from both the 308 hatch and the RC Z concept.
