Peugeot News

As we prepare to close the curtain on 2025, the Australian new car market looks a very different place than it did at this time last year.

A landmark car ban in Europe could be overturned, according to reports.

America wants to see a station wagon comeback, but it won't be as easy as it sounds.

This French brand looks to the future as it faces oblivion in Australia.

It’s been 10 months since former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares left the company and now he claims the multinational carmaker giant could face a potential breakup.

Stellantis has begun road-testing an electric vehicle (EV) prototype with a new battery technology that’s aimed at making its EVs more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective.Developed in partnership with French battery technology company Saft over the last few years, the Peugeot E-3008 electric SUV is fitted with Intelligent Battery Integrated System (IBIS) technology.It embeds the inverter and charger functionalities directly in the battery pack, regardless of the chemistry or application, which in turn saves space and reduces complexity. It still offers both AC and DC charging capabilities, while still being able to power the vehicle’s 12V system.Stellantis claims this IBIS technology improves the energy efficiency by 10 per cent, according to WLTP testing, and improves power by 15 per cent with the same battery size.Additionally the weight is reduced by 40kg and there’s 17L more volume available, allowing for more design flexibility and better aerodynamics.Early results have shown that there’s a 15 per cent reduction in charging time. When plugged into a 7kW AC charger it only takes six hours to fully charge, rather than seven.Lastly IBIS technology is claimed to allow for easier servicing and maintenance, plus once the battery has reached the end of its usable life in a vehicle, it can be reused as a stationary unit.“This project reflects our belief that simplification is innovation,” said Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic.“By rethinking and simplifying the electric powertrain architecture, we are making it lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective.“These are the kinds of innovations that help us deliver better, more affordable EVs to our customers.”Stellantis isn’t the only carmaker working on this kind of technology. Porsche is also working on a ‘modular multi-level inverter’ that combines multiple electric components into one unit.At this stage Stellantis has said it’s aiming to introduce this battery technology into its production vehicles by the end of the decade.

This week, Ferrari revealed the replacement for its SF90 Spider supercar, the 849 Testarossa Spider, and my first thought was that I’m glad convertibles are still on the cards - knowing full well that I would likely never be in a position to own this model.

Peugeot has lifted the lid on its refreshed 308 small car range which benefits from a makeover and improved driving range for the fully electric version.The third-generation 308 made its debut back in 2021 so this update comes towards the back end of its life cycle.The biggest changes for the 308 are visual, with the already striking small car gaining a new front-end look with a fresh three-claw headlight signature, a redesigned grille and illuminated Peugeot badge. Higher grades get short vertical lights surrounding the vertical logo.It also comes with a new bumper and air intakes, new wheels and a new Lagoa Blue hue, while the rear end gets 3D lights across the board. Previously they were kept for the top-spec grades only.Inside the changes are less pronounced, with new fabrics and fresh instrument cluster graphics - 3D on some grades - while safety gets a small boost, too.In Europe the 308 is available with four powertrain options, including a 97kW 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, a 108kW mild hybrid turbo-petrol engine with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a 145kW plug-in hybrid.The PHEV has a 17.2kWh battery offering an extra 20km of range, ensuring an EV driving range of 85km on the WLTP cycle.Finally the E-208 EV gains more driving range as part of the update. It has a 115kW/270Nm electric motor paired with a 58.4kWh battery. The new range is 450km (WLTP) which is a 34km boost compared to the previous version.CarsGuide has contacted Peugeot Australia to see if the updated 308 is set for a local launch.Expect the mild hybrid in hatchback guise to be the sole model offered Down Under.While the 308 remains a popular pick in regions like Europe and the United Kingdom, it has a much lower profile in Australia. Despite solid reviews, including from CarsGuide, the 308 is seen as a premium niche model here, which is reflected by its sales figures.To the end of July this year Peugeot has sold 57 examples of the 308, a 37 per cent drop off compared with the previous year. That makes it the slowest-selling model in Australia’s premium small-car segment.Peugeot Australia recently changed its model strategy, moving away from fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains - for now - to mild hybrid and hybrid offerings.The 308 shifted from PHEV and petrol power to a mild hybrid powertrain late last year, with Peugeot also taking the opportunity to drop the slow-selling wagon version at the same time.Pricing for the current MY25 308 GT Hybrid is $48,990 before on-road costs.A quick look at the Peugeot website reveals there’s still some stock of the MY24 petrol-powered 308 from $48,465 drive-away.Peugeot offered the all-electric E-308 hatch as part of a limited offer of just 14 examples last year, priced from $65,990 drive-away. Of that allocation it appears just one example of the E-208 is left, according to online classifieds.

Stellantis, parent company of Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Leapmotor, has reportedly put its ‘AutoDrive’ self-driving software on hold over concerns there is no demand for it among buyers.

It’s been over five years now since COVID lockdowns started and in some way it feels like a lifetime ago. For a lot of people buying new cars during this period, however, there were long wait times. COVID lockdowns were a key reason for this, but another major reason for delays was the global shortage of semiconductors.