Peugeot 308 2016 News

Manufacturers including Hyundai, Holden, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen and Audi have all issued safety recalls for various models, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its latest round of national safety recalls, with models from Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Citroen, Ram and Aston Martin affected.

The Australasian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced another set of national safety recalls, with models from Mazda, Tesla, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen impacted.

Peugeot reckons it has trimmed the starting price for its new 308 GTi but the French hot hatch will still cost more than a Volkswagen GTI when it arrives early next year.Local executives originally said the GTi would cost between $45,000 and $55,000 but after discussions with head office at the recent international launch of the car, the price has been pruned to sneak in below the lowest estimate at $44,990 for the GTi 250 and $49,990 for the more powerful version.That still slots the Pug in above a host of impressive hot hatches.The Golf GTI starts from $40,990, the Ford Focus ST $38,990, the Holden Astra VXR $39,990 and the Renault Megane 265 $43,990.But despite the price, Peugeot is already holding orders, even before the books officially open at the start of December.The 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport comes in two states of tune — the GTi 250 with 184kW and the GTi 270 with 200kW — but torque is the same, 330Nm.Peugeot shares the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo with BMW and Mini. It is a development of the powerplant in the RCZ sports car.The not-so-good news is that, in common with the 208 GTi before it, the front-wheel drive 308 GTi comes as a six-speed manual only, a prospect that won't thrill city dwellers.But Peugeot-Citroen buyers lean to manuals, with 15 to 22 per cent of buyers favouring a manual over the past two years."It's a performance hatch and given this badge we are hopeful it will resonate here," a spokesman says.Peugeot expects the GTi 270 to account for 60 per cent of sales.The 308 GTi develops more power and is quicker out of the gates than the Golf, with 0-100km/h taking just 6.0 seconds in the 270. The VW takes 6.5 seconds (or 6.4 seconds in the Performance model) but has a dual clutch auto.Peugeot national marketing manager Dimitri Andreatidis says the 308 GTi brings an iconic badge back to a legendary segment. "The 308 GTi signals more than the relaunch of Peugeot performance product and it signifies the growing importance of Australia for Peugeot, with the vehicle available in limited countries," he says."We are excited about the return of the GTi badge to the hot hatch segment and believe it will resonate with Australians and their appetite for sports and performance product, offering fun, efficient, enjoyable, comfortable and a thoroughly engaging drive experience."

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Hot hatches are in high demand, and they include everything from warm hatchbacks with sporty details to boiling hot turbocharged terrors.

French automaker Peugeot is launching a new generation of its 308 hatchback at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, and to help build excitement will also roll out this performance-oriented concept version. Dubbed the 308 R, the concept hints at a hotted-up Peugeot 308 that if built would target the likes of the Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST. The 308 R concept is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which rates at 200kW and is found in the Peugeot RCZ R sports coupe, which also debuts in Frankfurt next month. Peak torque registers at 329Nm and is available from a low 1,900 rpm. Drive is channelled to the front wheels, via a six-speed manual transmission and a Torsen differential. The wheels are 19-inch light allows wrapped with 235/35 tires, and inside them sits four-piston brake calipers and Alcon discs. The concept gets a number of unique body panels, which are made out of carbon fibre and bolted directly to the regular 308’s lightweight platform. That platform is Peugeot’s new EMP2 modular set, which is also found in the latest Citroën C4 Picasso and is said to be around 135kg lighter than the platform in the previous 308. But to further improve dynamics, the 308 R also sports lowered suspension and a wide track--up to 30mm wider at the front. At the rear, there is a discreet roof spoiler and a bumper with an integrated diffuser. Also integrated with the rear bumper is a pair of square-shaped exhaust tips. Inside, there’s a driver-focused cockpit with a big 9.7-inch touch-screen display mounted in the dash. Peugeot explains that the dash was designed so that the displays can be viewed over and not through, helping to reduce driver distractions. Sales of the new Peugeot 308 commence in Europe after the car’s Frankfurt debut. Hopefully, we’ll see a production version of the 308 R in the not too distant future. www.motorauthority.com  

Its vice-president of international sales Bernd Schantz was on hand in Melbourne last week for the global debut of the 308 Touring, ahead of its Geneva motor show reveal.Although Schantz's focus is on big markets like Russia, China and South America, he says Australia and the Asia-Pacific rank highly.“If you look at the different regions in which Peugeot is present, very clearly the European market is in saturation phase,” he says.As a result Peugeot is looking to growth areas but “clearly the Asia-Pacific region is one of the important developments for us.”Peugeot has been in Australia for 50 years.“There's a great (synchronicity) between this market and Peugeot,” Schantz says.“Our products are well adapted to this market. The Peugeot image of stylish cars fits very well with this market."“I hope that we will sell more than 10,000 cars but I think that we should go further in the future. We have some further potential and we have to work on optimising our potential.”Schantz says it is a personal challenge to increase sales in markets like Australia.“The 308 Touring debut in Australia ahead of Geneva shows that Australia is an important market,” he says.“The next world premiere should be in Sydney, without saying too much.”He described the Melbourne debut for the vehicle as symbolic.“But it's important because a lot of motor shows want to have a world premiere and the decision to show the 308 Touring here is a good symbol,” he says.