Award-winning PEUGEOT 308 introduces performance GT models
Lovers of the award-winning PEUGEOT 308 will be salivating at the thought of the arrival of a new dynamic flagship – the stunning 308 GT.
With a starting point as the 2014 European Car of the Year, the Peugeot 308 GT is available in Hatchback and SW body styles, both of which offer assertive new styling, outstanding performance-oriented engines and bespoke chassis modifications to create an exceptional on-the-road experience that will delight the most enthusiastic drivers whilst keeping all that is good and great about the 308 range.
Assertive sporty styling
Right from the start, the unique design quality of the 308 GT is immediately obvious.
The iconic PEUGEOT Lion emblem has been moved to the front grille from its usual position on the bonnet’s leading edge - and now has three horizontal blades on either side - and there is also the addition of top-of-the-range headlights made up of 62 LEDs to ensure the very best vision at all times, moving from the inside to the outside in its dynamic sequential operation.
Black lacquered door mirrors merge with the tinted windows, highlighting the visual impact of the 308 GT as it sits on its 18" ‘Diamant’ wheels, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres.
From the very start, visual identity is confirmed with a 308 GT striking and distinctive posture, instigated by the lacquered black diffuser and stylish twin exhaust pipes, and finished off with the GT signature integrated into the tailgate, as well as the front grille and front wings.
There is even a brand new colour palette available for the 308 GT in the shade of the new and exclusive ‘Magnetic Blue’ which brings to mind the blue that is normally reserved for French competition vehicles. There is no doubt that this bold shade suits the car’s fluid and dynamic lines, while emphasising its lowered ride height.
Inside the car, the interior has both the roof lining and upper window pillars finished in anthracite before you notice the little touches like red stitching in the upholstery trim, on the door panels and dashboard, the gear lever gaiter and the floor mats; the aluminium detailing on the pedals; and the stainless steel sill finishers in the door apertures. The instrument panel bears a new chequered flag motif background and to add a little touch for the driver, when the ignition is switched on, a GT welcome message flashes up on the large touchscreen.
With a sporty little number like this one, a correct driving position is a necessity - and with the exact ergonomics of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit in every 308 - so much so with the 308 GT. The driver can adjust the height and reach of the compact steering wheel, which is unique to this car due to its perforated leather trim and GT badge.
Remarkable dynamic performance
Not only does the Peugeot 308 GT LOOK sporty, enhanced new chassis settings, a lower ride height, revised suspension and high-performance engines make sure that it PERFORMS sporty too!
And those engines are available in both petrol and diesel versions.
The four-cylinder 1.6-litre THP 205 Stop&Start petrol engine has a six-speed manual gearbox that helps the 285Nm of torque, available between 1,750 and 4,500rpm, perform in combination with low CO2 emissions of 130g/km and fuel consumption of 50.4mpg, with a remarkable power-to-weight ratio of just 5.85kg/hp (171hp per tonne.)
All of this is possible thanks to a combination of some of the finest products available in powertrain world: in this case; a twin-scroll turbocharger to initiate performance and instant response from a very low engine speed; direct fuel injection that assures optimum combustion efficiency; variable valve lift on inlet that is coupled with variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust; and Stop&Start technology designed to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as improving general comfort in urban driving
The four-cylinder 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 diesel engine is also up there when it comes to performance. It delivers its maximum power of 180hp at 3,750rpm with a maximum torque of 400Nm at 2,000rpm; and with a power-to-weight ratio of just 7.3 kg/hp (136hp per tonne), this engine can propel the Peugeot 308 GT to 50-70mph in 5th gear in just 5.5 seconds. CO2 emissions are just 103g/km, with official fuel consumption of 70.6mpg.
This is achieved by combining a 3rd generation common-rail fuel system operating at up to 2,000 bars, a new combustion chamber that optimises the mixture of air and fuel, a compression ratio that has been raised to 16.7:1 to improve the overall efficiency of the engine and the use of low viscosity engine oil (0W15).
This particular diesel engine is coupled to an EAT6 (Efficient Automatic Transmission) six-speed automatic gearbox that has been specially designed and developed in collaboration with Aisin AW to ensure that its efficiency is almost the same as for a manual gearbox, resulting in the low CO2 emissions and high fuel economy .
A heightened driving experience
Not only is a drive in the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit of the 308 GT driver a driving experience to be savoured, but there is also the addition of the Driver Sport Pack, standard on every 308 GT, to be considered. This Pack includes: a more amplified and more sporty engine noise, instruments illuminated in red display, an instrument panel that displays the power and torque delivered, turbo pressure, longitudinal and transverse acceleration, firmer and more responsive power steering, and a more responsive operation of the EAT6 gearbox, with steering wheel-mounted control paddles. (The Driver Sport Pack setting can be turned off for a 'smoother' ride.)
To help that drive along, the Driver Assistance Pack uses a radar that is built into the front of the 308 GT to aid and assist the Dynamic Cruise Control, Emergency Collision Alert System and the Emergency Collision Braking System - and then you can add in the Blind Spot Monitoring System and Park Assist to give the driver even more confidence.
The full range of the Peugeot 308 GT consists of the 1.6L THP 205 S&S Hatchback, the 2.0L BlueHDi EAT6 180 S&S Hatchback and the 2.0L BlueHDi EAT6 180 S&S SW - and deliveries start in March!