One year on, The Peugeot 308 continues to ooze quality and desirability.

• 2014 has seen the PEUGEOT 308 earn numerous awards, including industry’s top prize - COTY
• Game-changing compact family car is now available with SW body style and class-leading engines
• 308 GT model, due in showrooms in January has enhanced performance and desirability

Exactly 12 months ago, PEUGEOT Dealers were buzzing with excitement at the arrival of the all-new 308. It had already been shortlisted for the prestigious Car of the Year (COTY) award, was stunning to look at, oozed desirability and was officially on sale from 2^nd January 2014.

Fast-forward to today and what a year 2014 has been for PEUGEOT’s new compact family hatchback. Not only did it take the much-coveted COTY trophy, but numerous other awards followed, and the critically acclaimed SW estate is now also in showrooms offering extra practicality.

A year after the arrival of the PEUGEOT 308 sees the next chapter in the developing success story of this impressive car. In January 2015 the range is further enhanced with the GT and GT Line derivatives - the eagerly anticipated performance-oriented flagship models.

It’s in PEUGEOT showrooms across the UK where the most important measure of the 308’s success can be found, with 15,000 cars sold already and a total of 220,000 in other mainly European markets. In 2015 the award-winning 308 goes on sale in China – the world’s largest car market.

Morgan Lecoupeur, Marketing Director at PEUGEOT UK, commented: “It’s been a triumphant year for the PEUGEOT 308, richly deserved by everyone who has been involved. That includes the creative team, the engineers who developed the car and our retailers who share its virtues with our customers.”

The PEUGEOT 308 is built on the innovative Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2), which incorporates a staggering 116 patented technologies. Engineered to make the car lower and wider than before, the hatchback design allows for 420 litres of boot space – the largest in the segment.

At the opposite end of the vehicle is a range of highly advanced and class-leading engines and gearbox choices. The Brand’s acclaimed new PureTech three-cylinder petrol and leading-edge BlueHDi diesels engines ensure the 308 has class-leading economy and lowest emissions right across the range. Depending on the model selected, fuel economy can be as high as 91.1mpg with CO₂ emissions as low as 82g/km (lower than some hybrid cars).

For owners, the PEUGEOT 308 is a versatile and practical compact family car.  One of many highlights is its striking and contemporary PEUGEOT ‘i-Cockpit’ interior, which provides a genuine premium feel. Driver-focused environment is like nothing else in the class, offering one of the most technically advanced touch-screen infotainment systems available.

The 308 hatchback was supported by the arrival of the 308 SW in the spring, offering a balanced and stylish estate body style. The SW boot below the parcel shelf is an impressive 660 litres, which also includes 70 litres of storage under the floor and the ‘Magic Flat’ rear seats, standard on all versions, are both easy and intuitive to use.

October’s Paris Motor Show witnessed the public debut of the performance-oriented 308 GT, which goes on sale in the UK in January. Designed to be even more engaging and exhilarating to drive, power comes from either a 1.6-litre THP 205 Stop&Start petrol engine with a six-speed manual or a 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 diesel engine. The diesel delivers 180hp, has 400Nm of torque, can accelerate between 50-70mph in 5.5 seconds yet has CO₂ emissions of just 103g/km and economy of 70.6mpg.

Lecoupeur commented: “We won’t be resting on our laurels and with the arrival of the PEUGEOT 308 GT we have the opportunity to bring a new type of driver into the fold and make 2015 just as successful for the accomplished and award-winning 308.”