Peugeot is about to launch its third-technology 308 assortment in Australia with a new layout, additional technological innovation, and a plug-in hybrid option that will see it compete at the top quality stop of the current market.
At least, that is what Peugeot Australia controlling director Kate Gillis advised CarExpert through an early glance at a pre-creation 308 GT High quality Hatch in Sydney past week.
“Firstly, the 308 is just one of the most well known models Peugeot has at any time experienced in Australia above two generations and a lot of iterations, so it is been significant to the brand name here,” she reported.
“But this new 3rd-generation product with its radical design and style, new symbol and badging, and the really hottest technologies and equipment… truly does alter 308’s positioning in the marketplace.
“At Peugeot, we chat a ton about being premium and while we have been challenged on that in the past… now we have a new model that speaks to the quality close of the sector in so a lot of ways.”
Gillis would not be drawn on distinct makes and types the 308 goes up towards, but did point out community pricing and specification would replicate its more quality positioning in the phase.
“It’s surely a action-up on any prior Peugeot 308 standing, with premium pricing and tools ranges that will signify as significantly with the new-era auto.
“For us the ambition is about creating the familiarity of the brand name as perfectly as the 308 design, which is one thing we’re thoroughly invested in from here on in for the subsequent calendar year or two.
“However, we’re almost certainly not heading to compete on that greater scale, or make the top 10 record, but we’d like to see potent customer desire for anything unique in the sector like the array-topping 308 GT Activity Plug-in Hybrid launching in this article previously in H1, 2023.
“We’ve also bought other new Peugeot models arriving like all-new 408 crossover landing in Q2 2023, as nicely as healthful dealer community that is bringing fantastic folks back again into the Peugeot manufacturer.
“With 308, it is a wonderful chance to carry a thing various, a thing fresh to this market that is certainly eye catching,” she extra.
It’s attention-grabbing that Peugeot can launch new-gen 308 in Australia as a top quality perform. In its dwelling marketplace of France, it retains a decidedly mainstream place.
Regionally, Peugeot frequently imports extra hugely specified vehicles into Australia than in European marketplaces, in reply to buyer expectations listed here.
“The need from the Australian consumer that we’re aiming to fulfill with our new-gen Peugeot 308 variety is for a greater-specified auto that dictates we import cars with larger gear levels than other markets,” said a regional spokesperson.
“That’s what we are observing even with our present assortment, our consumers are gravitating towards the larger-spec model variants. They immediately anticipate Peugeot to be at the upper finish of the section, and the future 308 range matches perfectly with those expectations.”
The new 308 is also likely to be some thing of a catapult for other impending Peugeot designs like the 408 crossover that is established to arrive in 2023.
“New 308 is undoubtedly a door-opener for a number of unique products especially the moment the fresh new new manufacturer graphic of Peugeot has been founded [across] the entire 308 vary,” mentioned Gillis.
“It’s a authentic sport-changer for us at Peugeot, as you’re likely to see that all-new radical layout language of 308 get started to seem across a total assortment of new models we will search at for this current market.”
Peugeot Australia will start the new-era 308 range, such as the GT Hatch, GT Top quality Hatch and GT Top quality Wagon in Q4 2022, with the range-topping GT Activity Hatch P.H.E.V. (plug-in hybrid) arriving in the very first half of 2023.
The new 308 hatch, 308 GT Top quality Hatch and 308 GT Top quality Wagon are powered by a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor earning 96kW of energy and 230Nm or torque.
It is paired with an eight-velocity automated transmission driving the entrance wheels.
The GT Activity Hatch PHEV combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol motor with a single electrical motor, with a mixed output of 165kW and 360Nm.
2023 Peugeot 308 indicative pricing
- 308 Hatch: $43,990
- 308 GT Top quality Hatch: $48,990
- 308 GT High quality Wagon: $50,990
- 308 GT Sport PHEV : $66,990
All costs prior to on-road prices
For far more details on expected 2023 Peugeot 308 pricing and specs, click below.