Peugeot Launches New 308 Sedan in China [47 Photos]

French carmaker Peugeot has released its third new model into the Chinese market in the last eighteen months, the 308 compact sedan, which made its debut at the at the Chengdu Motor Show in mid-September this year.

Manufactured locally in cooperation with Peugeot's Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the new 308 Sedan joins the carmaker's extended offerings in the C-segment that also include the 307 and 408 saloons.

Peugeot said that with the new launch, it intends to strengthen its presence within the very competitive category, with a full year sales target of 60,000 units.

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Video: Le Gendarme de Paris…

When Sergeant Ludovic Cruchot (played by the great Louis de Funès) and the rest of the protagonists of the Le gendarme film series terrorized the French roads with their crazy antics and car chases, it was extremely fun to watch.

But something tells us that the pedestrians seen in this clip, which was shot in a crowded district of Paris, France, were far less than amused with the police man behind the steering wheel of this Peugeot 308 307. Follow the jump to see why.

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Peugeot Creates Interactive Print Ad with an Inflatable Mini Airbag for the 408 Sedan

This past February, Peugeot launched the four-door sedan variant of its 308 series in the Brazilian market as the new 408. In one of its first advertising campaigns for the car, the French carmaker wanted to communicate the compact-sized model’s safety features, namely the availability of six airbags with eight protection points.

Peugeot turned to the creative people of the Sao Paulo-based advertising agency Loducca who came up with an interactive print ad for the 408. The company used a supplier from China to create 50,000 mini airbags, which were then inserted in one of Brazil’s most reputable business magazines, the Exame.

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VIDEO : 2011 Peugeot 308 Facelift Commercial is the Next Best Thing to a Wet T-Shirt Contest...

You can never get it wrong when casting attractive women in commercials, right? That's what the people from Peugeot must have thought when they commissioned this TV ad for the restyled Peugeot 308. The car plays a very marginal part in the commercial, with the 30-second long footage being dominated by the Peugeot's owner, an attractive young lady who walks with no umbrella in the pouring rain just to get to her beloved 308. Not the most creative of ads, but at least the people from the casting department did their job.

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Peugeot Shows the New Face of 308 Range Ahead of the Geneva Salon

At next month's Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot will unveil its refreshed 308 range that enters the 2011 model year with some subtle styling changes, revised powertrains and the introduction of a fuel efficient micro-hybrid e-HDi variant with CO2 emissions under 100g/km.

All three body styles of the Ford Focus-rivaling 308, including the hatchback, CC coupe-convertible and the SW station wagon, have been given a new face that subtly incorporates the latest stylistic codes of the Peugeot brand.

This translates to a less smiley and more compact sized front grille, reshaped LED headlamps and running lights, a new hood design and a re-sculptured front bumper. The fresh alloy wheel designs, new brand logos and some trim changes on certain models complete the exterior makeover.

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Peugeot Adds Six-Speed Auto Option to 308 CC 1.6 Turbo with 156HP

About a week after the announcement on the availability of a new 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 112HP on the 308 CC, Peugeot is further expanding the UK range of its coupe-convertible model with the launch of a new model that combines the 156HP 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a new six-speed automatic transmission.

The new model will replace the 308 CC with the 140-horsepower strong 1.6-liter Turbo and the outdated 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The more powerful engine and the new transmission significantly improve the 308 CC's performance figures with the sprint from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) now taking 9.8 seconds instead of 12.4 seconds and the 0-1,000m in 31 seconds instead of the 140HP model's 33.5 seconds.

Similarly, the new automatic version of the hardtop convertible reaches a higher top speed of 211 km/h or 131mph, up from 204km/h or 127mph.

Despite the power increase and the improved acceleration numbers, the new 308 CC Automatic is more frugal than its predecessor returning a combined economy figure of 36.6mpg UK or 7.7 lt/100km (140HP Auto: 34.8mpg or 8.1 lt/100km).

The 308 CC THP 156HP Automatic is on sale now in the UK with prices starting from £23,595 on-the-road. Unlike the outgoing THP 140 automatic model which was only available in SE trim level, the new model is available in both SE and GT trim levels.

New Peugeot 408 Sedan Breaks Cover in China

French carmaker Peugeot took the wraps off its new China-made 408 sedan in Beijing on Monday. Despite its name, the 408 is not a successor to the European 407, which is also available in China, but a long-wheelbase (+100mm), sedan version of Peugeot's 308 range that includes three and five-door hatchback, coupe-convertible and station wagon models.

Designed and developed jointly by Peugeot's Styling teams in Europe and China, the 408 is the fruit of work by the joint venture set up between PSA Peugeot Citroen and the Chinese group DFM.

The 408 measures 4.68 meters in length, 1.81 meter in width and has a wheelbase of 2.71 meters, meaning it's roughly the same size as the 407 sedan (4.69m, 1.81m and 2.72m respectively).

At launch, the 408 sedan will be available in China with a choice of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline engines producing 106HP and 147HP respectively.

The sedan is being produced at the Wuhan plant in Hubei province in China with Peugeot expecting full-year sales target of 100,000 units.

Peugeot 308CC Hardtop Convertible gets New 1.6-Liter HDi Diesel Engine

The 308 CC is the first model in the Peugeot range to benefit from the French firm's new 1.6-liter HDi FAP turbo diesel engine that meets the requirements of the new Euro 5 emission standards.

Its maximum output is 112 horsepower at 3,600 rpm or 2HP more than the current 1.6L diesel. Peak torque is also up at 270 Nm or 199.2 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm, an increase of 12.5% over the current unit, and during overboost, 285 Nm compared to 260 Nm.

Peugeot said that between this new 1.6 litre HDi and its same displacement predecessor, more than 50 % of the parts have been entirely redesigned resulting to more power as well as noise reduction, better fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions.

As with the its predecessor, the new 1.6 litre HDi comes as standard with a diesel particulate emission filter (FAP) with a service life of 112,000 miles.

Paired to a six-speed manual gearbox, the new diesel propels the 308CC from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in a modest 12.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 119mph or 191 km/h, while returning a combined fuel economy in the EU cycle of 53.3 mpg UK (5.3 lt/100km or 44.4 mpg US).

The new engine will be available in the 308 CC in both Sport and SE trim levels and will be known as the HDi 112. Prices start at £21,095.00 on-the-road.

2009 Peugeot 3008 Crossover Scooped Completely Undisguised

When we first saw Peugeot's Prologue concept car at the Paris Auto Show in October we knew that the compact crossover was practically production ready. Apparently it was so good to go that Peugeot doesn't even care about covering the actual production model that was spotted by a reader of the Dutch car magazine Autoweek without a single trace of camouflage. Minus a few rings and bells like the absence of the aluminum exterior trim and the unadorned alloy wheels, the production model doesn't vary from the concept car we saw in Paris.

The compact crossover that will most probably be called 3008 (supposedly) combines features and elements from both SUV and minivan (MPV) vehicles. The new model will face competition in Europe from the likes of the Citroen C4 Picasso and the quite successful Nissan Qashqai.

Since it's based on the underpinnings of the Peugeot 308, expect to see naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants of the PSA - BMW Group co-developed 1.6-liter petrol engine as well as a wide range of HDi diesel powerplants when the vehicle goes on sale in Europe in the second half o 2009.

Via: Autoweek.nl

Peugeot’s Paris Show Prologue Hybrid Concept Previews 3008 Crossover

Described by Peugeot as a model that is ‘derived from the fusion of different worlds’, the Prologue concept is essentially the pre-production version of the French carmaker’s long awaited 3008 crossover. And by crossover Peugeot means that the Prologue concept borrows features from both SUV and minivan (MPV) vehicles. The end result is a rather weird blend that looks vaguer than a cornered politician’s speech and a far cry from the elegant and stylish propositions we’re used to seeing from Peugeot. -Continued

Other than its styling, the French automaker said that the Prologue concept car will boast a modular interior design and high-tech equipment along with a new generation hybrid powetrain that mates an internal combustion engine with an electric motor developing a total output of 200 HP. Crucially, the concept car can be powered entirely by electricity or petrol or a combination of both.

Peugeot UK offering Fuel Incentives on 308 Range

If they’re doing it here in the States where gasoline is still relatively cheap, it’s only logical that companies will offer fuel incentives to car buyers in Europe and especially in the UK where gas costs a pocket pinching £1.197 for a liter of petrol and £1.3325 for diesel. Peugeot UK on its behalf is offering £308 of free fuel for those who buy any model in the 308 range in August and September. According to the French carmaker, if the chosen version is a diesel HDi 90 model then it could mean that more than the first 3,000 miles are free while petrol versions would travel up to 2,500 miles.

2009 Peugeot 3008 Crossover Rendering

In its latest issue, French car magazine “Auto Plus” has a rendering of the Peugeot 3008 4x4 that’s expected to be introduced into the market sometime in 2009. The compact sized 3008 minivan will be based on the platform and mechanics of the Citroen C4 Picasso MPV and apart from the front-wheel-drive versions, Peugeot will also offer a 4x4 variant. As you can see in the rendering above, the 3008 4x4 will be distinguished by the higher road clearance and the protective cladding on the bumpers.

Via: Auto Plus