We Love Volkswagen's Past, Present And Future..,
The Volkswagen would need to be capable of carrying a family of five at sustained speeds of 62 miles per hour, with a fuel efficiency of 32 miles per gallon. It would also need to be inexpensive to fix and replace worn-out parts. Ferdinand Porsche developed several prototypes of a model called the 鈥淭ype 60.鈥?Featuring a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and a distinctive bulbous shape, the prototypes were test-driven for nearly 2 million miles. A factory was built in Fallersleben (later renamed Wolfsburg) to mass produce the cars, with Hitler himself laying the cornerstone in 1938. During World War II, the factory was devoted to producing military transport vehicles. After the war鈥檚 conclusion in 1945, British Army Major Ivan Hirst was tasked with controlling the bombed-out factory. He convinced the British military to order 20,000 cars, and soon the factory was producing 1,000 per month. The Volkswagen came to be known as the 鈥淏eetle鈥?for its rounded appearance.
鈥楨MP2鈥? co-developed between Peugeot and Citroen, might sound like a droid from Star Wars, but it鈥檚 actually carrying the hopes of a new generation of French cars. The 鈥楨fficient Modular Platform鈥?will underpin several family hatchbacks, MPVs and crossovers from the two brands and already sees duty in the Citroen C4 Picasso. The architecture saves 140kg in weight versus the old 308, and crucially for this SW model, it鈥檚 more space-efficient inside too. The dashboard is of course identical to the 308 hatch: it鈥檚 minimalist, touchscreen-centric, and bound to divide opinion with that love/hate-it small-diameter steering wheel. It鈥檚 a high-quality cabin though, and that avant-garde design is a reassuring sign of life from Peugeot鈥檚 beleaguered ranks. Though why they've coined it 'i-Cockpit' is anyone's guess. Engines will be shared with the hatchback, including a 鈥楤lueHDI鈥?turbodiesel variant to compete with the VW Golf Bluemotion and Ford Focus Econetic. It emits 85g/km of CO2 - another class-beating figure for the car - and dodges road tax as a result.
This is Peugeot's all-new family hatchback: the 308. Yep, that's right: Peugeot isn't rolling over to the '309' moniker, but don't be fooled: the new 308's design looks worlds apart from the off-the-pace outgoing car. Sticking with the same model names for all future cars will simplify the range for consumers, reckons Peugeot: it's a demonstration of the fightback to rebuild the brand's image (think Ford ditching the 'Escort' badge and sticking with 'Focus' instead). The new 308 is 140kg lighter than before, more economical and gets a totally rethought cabin. Compared to the lumpy old 308, the new car has smartened up its act, with neater two-piece front grilles and straight-edged side surfacing. The C-shaped taillight clusters are similar to the 208 supermini and 2008 crossover: the 'lion claw' details pay tribute to Peugeot's rampant lion badge. Is the new Peugeot 308 more radical underneath? While the neat but nondescript styling isn't a jaw-dropper, Peugeot has really gone to town underneath.
308 is, on average, 140kg lighter than the outgoing car, thanks to PSA Peugeot-Citroen's new 'EMP2' platform. It's an adaptable architecture that underpins the new Citroen Picasso and will see duty in most of Peugeot-Citroen's future midsized models. Like the VW Group's MQB platform, the modular skeleton saves weight and cuts production costs. Engines will be shared with the 208 and 2008 crossover, albeit with a slight retune for improved economy figures. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, while there'll also be two four-pot diesels. An eco-minded e-HDi model will join the range later, boasting an 85g/km CO2 output. Hang on: are those pictures of a 208 interior? Nope, you're looking at the new 308's cabin. Peugeot's new family hatch has borrowed a few tricks from its supermini sister, like the downsized steering wheel and high-mounted instrument dials (here featuring an anticlockwise rev counter like CAR's new Aston Martin DB9 long-termer). Designed to create more space in the cabin and make the car feel more agile, the tiny 'wheel treatment has taken some vitriol for not catering to taller drivers, but Peugeot is sticking to its guns.
Another 208-style feature is the central touchscreen system for entertainment, vehicle settings and sat-nav. Peugeot is making big claims about the new 308's 'premium materials and exceptional build quality' too, as it fights for a dwindling market share in the face of stiff Korean and German opposition. Does the 308 look good enough to succeed? Add your thoughts in the comments below. When can I buy a Peugeot 308? The new 308 goes on sale in the UK in January 2014. Prices 'will remain competitive', says Peugeot, with only slight rises over the current 308 planned in line with inflation. Expect the entry-level models to start at 拢16,000. Will there be a hot GTi version? It's being considering, but nothing's signed off yet. Peugeot could easily drop the RCZ R concept's 256bhp engine into the 308, punting the hot hatch straight into new Seat Leon Cupra and Vauxhall Astra VXR territory. However, Peugeot could opt for the enthusiast-appeasing 'GT' nameplate for the flagship 308 as it did in 2011, using the 208 GTi's 197bhp mill.
