These are the first official pictures of Peugeot's all-new 308 compact hatch, due to debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September and on sale in Europe shortly after.
Right-hand drive sales are slated to start in January 2014 in the UK, so we can expect to see the new 308 in South Africa in the third quarter of 2014.
It's intended to revitalise the brand's position in this ultra-competitive segment, with premium materials, improved build quality and a clean new 'button-less' cabin.
The new 308 is only 4.25 metres long, built on PSA Peugeot Citroen's EMP2 modular platform, which helps make it 140kg lighter than the previous 308. So different is the new platform, they say, that it has resulted in 116 patent applications.
STRONG STYLING
At the front there's a new interpretation of Peugeot's 'floating' grille and a strong lighting signature. Slim full-LED headlights are standard on most of trim levels, while the LED tail lights represent three lion claws.
The interior is arranged around what the design and engineering teams call their i-cockpit, with a compact steering wheel and head-up instrument layout, together with a 245mm touchscreen that brings together most of the infotainment controls, radically reducing the number of buttons and switches to create an uncluttered cabin.
The new 308 is the latest demonstration of Peugeot's move up-market, which started with the 208 and 2008, and will be built at the Sochaux plant in France, while the Trémery and Douvrin sites will supply all the engines and drivetrains.
More information will be released at the 308's world premiere at Frankfurt on 10 September 2013, specifically specification levels (expect bells and whistles galore!) and which of the new-generation engines will be offered in this model.