Peugeot Previews New 308 Sedan at Auto China 2016

Peugeot’s 308 compact family has received a third member at the Auto China 2016 show

Built in China by the Dongfeng Peugeot joint venture and available exclusively for this market (at least for the time being), the new body style was designed specifically for Chinese customers.

Based on the new EMP2 platform, the Peugeot 308 Sedan will represent the core product of the Dongfeng Peugeot sedan range and will compete in China's highest volume market segment – the C segment for three-box sedans.

The 308 Sedan may have a longer wheelbase than the 308S hatchback sold in China, as rear-seat legroom is essential in the segment it will compete in. Trunk volume should also exceed that of the hatchback (with the rear seats up), but for now there's no official figure to back this statement.

Peugeot hasn't released details about the engines either, but the 308 Sedan should feature the same units found on the 308S hatchback sold in China. These include 1.2- and 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engines mated to manual and automatic transmissions.

As for the exterior design, the rear end is obviously where the most significant changes can be noticed compared to the hatchback. The sedan rear shape has been integrated seamlessly into the original hatchback design and features smoked LED taillights connected by a thick glossy black bar and two slim chromed exhaust tips. At the front, the 308 Sedan features smoked headlights as well with integrated LED daytime running lights/turn signals.

The model will launch in China in the second half of 2016 when we should get official information about the engine lineup, equipment, and measurements. Peugeot has given no hint as to whether the 308 Sedan will be available in other markets, which likely means the compact sedan will remain for Chinese eyes only.