New Peugeot 208 revealed

The new car is smaller, lighter, cleaner and more stylish than the 207, bringing improvements in every possible way. And we have the first official pictures and 
all the details that matter. From launch, the car will be offered as a three and five-door, and it has been styled to stand out from its competitors. […]

The new car is smaller, lighter, cleaner and more stylish than the 207, bringing improvements in every possible way. And we have the first official pictures and 
all the details that matter.

From launch, the car will be offered as a three and five-door, and it has been styled to stand out from its competitors. Both versions are more sophisticated than the Fiesta and more distinctive than the VW Polo and are packed with intricate details.

Inside, the revolution continues. A large central touch screen dominates the interior on all but the entry level 208. This controls the entertainment and navigation functions, plus the vehicle dynamics. Owners wanting to personalise their car can get the screen trimmed in different ‘skins’.

So it’s no surprise that the layout and materials bear no resemblance to the past, with a glossy finish on the console and soft-touch materials throughout. The steering wheel has shrunk, too, and you view the instrument cluster over the top of it, instead of through it, which Peugeot says helps drivers focus on the road.

It’s not only the steering wheel that’s smaller, either – the whole car is. It’s 7cm shorter and 1cm lower, but the wheelbase is the same as the 207’s. Incredibly, the cabin is more spacious, with 5cm extra legroom, plus the boot is 15 litres bigger, at 285 litres – that’s still 10 litres less than in a Fiesta.

The more compact dimensions mean dramatic weight savings. On average, the 208 is 110kg lighter than the 207, with the base car weighing only 975kg. Plus, the shape, optimised in the wind tunnel, is more aerodynamic than ever – and fuel economy will be impressive as a result.

The most efficient HDi has 87g/km emissions – on a par with the new Fiesta ECOnetic. The petrol line-up includes a new family of three-cylinder engines, the most efficient of which claims 99g/km of CO2.