Peugeot 308: Superbly green
2014 has been a good year for Peugeot's brilliant 308. Voted European Car of the Year, it has been well-received by critics and industry experts alike, commended for its design, power and technology.
One of the highlights of the new model that has most impressed drivers and motoring enthusiasts is its commitment to being green, a recognition that has been further bolstered.
The 308 has picked up two further awards from different organisations. At the Next Green Car Awards, the model picked up the top spot in the Small Family Car category and at the Green Apple Awards, it was honoured in the Larger Family category.
"No matter whether you think the Peugeot 308 is large or small, it clearly impressed the expert judges everywhere with its environmental excellence," said Morgan Lecoupeur, marketing director at Peugeot UK.
"It’s been a great year for Peugeot and this salutes a design which has been recognised the world over. Its advanced platform engineering, lower body weight and class-leading low CO2 output are its key achievements, supported by class-leading PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines."
The engineers behind this have to be lauded for their innovation, because their skills and efforts have helped make this model superbly efficient, aerodynamic and streamlined.
Most of the major units have been scaled down, which has not only cut the overall weight of the car but also reduced, as Mr Lecoupeur noted, CO2 emissions massively (as low as 85g/km). Peugeot says that it has established a "new environmental benchmark" in this regard.
Super style
The 308 is a gorgeous vehicle, sleek and exceptionally elegant. The company explains that behind the design is a lot of functionality – each component, cut and line is purposeful.
This sensibility continues inside, with the interior exuding a similar level of sophistication and beauty that is truly a sight to behold. There is a no-nonsense approach to the look, courtesy of its i-Cockpit – minimalism is at the heart of its design.
Dream-like driving
Peugeot's 308 is a thoroughly pleasant drive, which is made all the more fun thanks to its dramatic weight loss. Lighter than its predecessors, it is much more adept and "incredibly responsive".
Perfect production
The company set itself a target when it came to developing the 308 – how do you design a car that will still feel new after three years of driving? Well, they did just that and it is a rather astonishing feat.
"The greatest care has been taken over every detail, from the plush leather seating to the scratch-resistant dashboard," Peugeot has previously stated. "It’s built on a brand new platform (chassis) and is made from high-strength steel using a new welding process."