Hot new 308 not part of Peugeot’s future plans

Peugeot has officially cast aside hopes of a performance variant of the new 308 as result of the segment “collapsing”.

This is according to the Stellantis owned brand’s Product Director Jerome Micheron, who told Britain’s Top Gear Magazine shortly after the unveiling of the new third generation 308 that the lion brand won’t a produce a PSE or Peugeot Sport Engineered version like the 508.

The al-new Peugeot 308 will do without a performance model. Image: supplied

“If you look at the market for sporty versions, and the CO2 regulations, it has collapsed,” Micheron said, before also remarking, “We don’t see a market yet. And it adds extra weight,” about the plug-in hybrid PSE.

Last year, it was reported that a PSE version was being considered with a reported 221 kW from its turbocharged and hybridised 1.6 PureTech engine as the decision had already been taken to phase-out the iconic GTi designation on not only the 308, but also the 208 whose line-up is currently topped by the all-electric e-208.

RELATED: Lion pounces as Peugeot unveils brand-new 308

Peugeot’s denouncing of a hot 308 will however not filter through to stablemate Opel, who will be reviving the OPC moniker for the all-new, next generation Astra currently undergoing testing.

The first Astra since the nameplate’s founding by UK sister brand Vauxhall in 1979 not be developed or signed-off by General Motors following the US giant’s offloading of both brands to PSA four years ago, the newcomer will be based on the 308’s updated EMP2 platform and likely feature the same range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Peugeot 508 PSE

While an announcement on the Astra still weeks away, PSA South Africa has so far remained mum on confirming the 308 for the local market, but expectations are it could arrive towards the end of this year minus the plug-in hybrid and diesel powerunits.

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