Only a few months after the launch of the new 308 hatchback, Peugeot’s SW version is ready to roll. The concept of the 308 SW was previewed at last years Frankfurt motor show and the finished vehicle is very similar in appearance. The design is in Peugeots own words, a “Semi Tall Architecture” vehicle platform. In English we can take this to be a vehicle that is designed to fall somewhere in between a conventional MPV and a normal saloon/hatchback in stature.
Showing plenty of the Gallic flair that Peugeot are renowned for, the design is said to appeal to those who were bored with the conventional format of a hatchback but didn’t want to upgrade to an ungainly sized MPV. Car manufacturers certainly cross segment boundaries now with car designs and the 308 SW certainly appeals to those that require practicality with a touch of design flair.
The 308 SW can be equipped with seven seats. Judging by the interior images, it would seem many hours of pleasure/frustration can me had folding and flipping the seats into a multitude of combinations.
Five petrol engines ranging from 95 to 175 bhp are available but the big seller in Europe will be the diesel engine options, of which there are three. The diesel engines range from 90 bhp to 136 bhp, two of which are fitted with a standard Diesel Particulate Filter. 5 speed manual, 6 speed manual or 4 speed automatic gearboxes can be optioned depending on which engine you choose.
Quote, originally posted by Peugeot »
Press Release
World premiere at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show
Replaces the 307 SW
Larger, improved modularity and class leading safety
On sale in the UK in June 2008
This year’s Geneva Motor Show will be the stage for Peugeot to unveil the new, innovative and practical 308 SW, which will replace the 307 SW.
Launched in April 2002, the Peugeot 307 SW offered a stylish and innovative alternative for customers who, for practical reasons, found that a hatchback vehicle lacked the flexibility and size they required and were uninspired by the design of conventional estate cars and medium size MPVs. Since its launch in the UK, the 307 SW has sold over 40,000 vehicles.
Like the 308 hatchback, the 308 SW builds on the strengths of its predecessor but develops them even further. For example, the panoramic glass roof is now 27% larger (total area of 1.68 m2) and extends beyond the heads of the second row passengers, the modularity is easier to operate and improved and it now has a very practical opening rear tailgate glass.
A lot of attention has also been paid to the modularity of the 308 SW so that it can be adapted simply and efficiently, according to the requirements of its occupants. The rear seats in the second row are all individual, easy to remove, identical in size and offer a multitude of combinations.
To enable seven occupants to be carried, two occasional rear seats can be fitted in the third row.
Access to the rear load area is either via the rear tailgate or the opening rear tailgate glass. With the second row seats in place it can accommodate up to 674 litres (573 dm3 VDA) under the rear load cover. With the seats removed it provides a total volume of 2,149 litres up to the level of the roof (1,736 dm3 VDA).
The 308 SW is based on platform 2 of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group and compared to the hatchback, the wheelbase of the 308 SW has been increased by 100 mm and the rear overhang by 124 mm.
With regards to secondary safety, the structure (thanks in particular to the presence of three impact absorption beams) has been designed to provide optimal protection, combined with the ability to absorb the maximum amount of impact energy in a controlled manner. In addition, the SW can be equipped with up to seven airbags, including a steering column airbag.
The 308 SW is available with a wide choice of modern, high performance, economical and environmentally-friendly powertrains. The use of the latest technology in both the petrol and diesel engines, combined with the car’s efficient aerodynamics, weight saving measures and the use of Michelin Energy Saver tyres, reduces the fuel consumption, compared to the 307 SW, by up to 10% .
With regards to road holding, the suspension set-up and wheel size options have been borrowed from the 308 hatchback but revised to meet the special requirements of the SW version.
The 308 SW range will go on sale in the UK in June and more information concerning specification and prices will be announced nearer the launch date.
Fisker Buzz - The Fisker Community - Join today for the latest on Fisker Automotive
Very nice looking but I think this wagon needs more WAGON. Love the front end. I think it would be perfect with a slightly less silly rear-end treatment and some more useable space like a proper wagon back there. Thanks for the pics though. I hope Peugeot brings some sharp looking cars like this back to our shores again one day.
The Ami 6 was one of the uglier cars produced by Citroen. The Ami 8 had a different rear end but still deeply weird, while the GS flat-four engined Ami Super at least had somewhat less-than-glacial performance.
There are two types of football fans- those who support Man Utd or Liverpool, and those who are glad they don't!
"Boy, they don't make cars like that anymore!" A purveyor of the obscure, forgotten, über-luxurious and just plain silly
No replacement for diesel displacement - for common sense real world performance
The lamps aren't stretched enough. There's too much metal between the headlamps and a-pillar and too much metal between the tails and the c-pillar window.
-Matt 7,001,084 Californians don't want me to have what they have.
hmmm. I'm a big fan of hatches and wagons........but I don't care for the styling. I'd like to say it is because of one particular thing, but really the design just doesn't flow well to me. Particularly the pillars and roof.
I think it's quite ugly in the rear, but i applaud them for making an affordable AND smart 7-seater...!
The luggage-compartment is quite large to:
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive ! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve ! [...] - July 14, national day of France
For the most part. If memory serves, it's also the cucumber capital of Japan. Hence the home-market ads for the FT-86 featuring Takeichi-kun, the cartoon cucumber whose meteoric rise through the underground drift world has shamed him in the eyes of his school-master.
Very nice looking but I think this wagon needs more WAGON. Love the front end. I think it would be perfect with a slightly less silly rear-end treatment and some more useable space like a proper wagon back there. Thanks for the pics though. I hope Peugeot brings some sharp looking cars like this back to our shores again one day.
i love it, but agree it does need more "wagon" (cowbell). as far us getting one? yeah right! the US has yet to get somewhat limited models from more established and widely accepted/marketed companies like...i don't know....vw! i'm thinking of the eurovan, polo, lupo. ok now i'm just venting!
For advertising information Click Here
