Peugeot usually designs beautiful cars. The mid-1980’s 309 wasn’t one of them, perhaps because it was originally meant to replace the Chrysler/Simca/Talbot Horizon – until Peugeot axed the Talbot brand, and thus the 309 was born.
Almost no one really missed it when it was replaced in 1993 by the much more coherent 306 (though the 309 continued to be built in India until the late 1990s).
And the reason why we’re telling you all this is because the 308’s replacement, a test mule of which is featured in these scoops, will most likely be named 301, a moniker last used in the 1930s, to avoid any connection with the unloved 309.
The French carmaker’s new C-segment model will share its platform with the Citroen C4 and DS4 models. Though the car pictured is a pre-facelift 308, the wheel arch extensions give away the 301’s wider front and rear tracks.
Like the recently launched 208, the 301 is expected to be both more compact and crucially, lighter than its predecessor. Although no details have yet emerged, judging by the 208’s 70 mm shorter length and 110 kg (242 lbs) weight savings on average, the 301 looks like it will be a much more nimble as well as more fuel-efficient than today’s model.
The engine line-up will comprise of a wide range of gasoline and diesel units. The 208’s “micro-hybrid” technology, which offers exceptionally low consumption and CO2 emissions, is expected to feature in the 301 diesel engines while a HYbrid4 diesel-electric hybrid version will also be offered.
We’ll also see Peugeot’s new three-cylinder petrol engines and at a later date, a Golf GTI rival powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four cylinder used in the RCZ 2+2 coupe.
Design-wise, the 301 will adopt the “floating” grille and the stretched headlights that feature on the new 508 and 208. At launch, the 301 will likely be offered in five- and three-door hatchback versions, with the estate, a sedan (for certain markets) and a coupe-cabriolet to follow down the line.
The interior will be radically different than that of the 308’s, featuring the a high-set instrument binnacle and center console-mounted touch screen like the 208 and which according to the company, offer the driver all important information at a glance.
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