New Peugeot 108 To Shake-Up City Car Sector

The all-new Peugeot 108 hits UK streets this summer and it is little wonder that the French manufacturer's long-awaited compact is expected to cause quite a stir right across the urban runabout sector. Sleek and stylish, the brand-new 108 has bags of character and is likely to win over plenty of drivers looking for a fun and playful, yet highly practical, city car that offers something for everyone.

• The small stature of the all-new 108 makes it ideal for anyone interested in driving an agile urban runabout that is able to tackle busy city streets with ease and squeeze into the tightest of parking spaces without breaking a sweat. Available in three-door and five-door versions, the petite bodyshell of this model belies the amount of space that has been created inside. The car's interior dimensions are almost identical to those of its predecessor, the extremely popular 107, but if anything, this new car is even more user-friendly and practical when it comes to everyday motoring convenience.

  The front-end exterior styling of the all-new Peugeot 108 looks mature and grown-up, with sweeping lines and a wide grille flanked by sweptback headlights containing snazzy LED daytime running lights. The three-door version comes as either a hatchback or a cabriolet featuring a retractable fabric roof which Peugeot refers to as the 108 TOP! The interior of the car is home to a host of technological features, including a seven-inch colour touchscreen complete with audio controls, a trip computer and mirror screen technology capable of allowing users to operate their smartphone through the system with ease.

  A huge number of optional extras are available across the range, such as DAB digital radio, electric front windows, keyless entry and push button start technology called Peugeot Open & Go. Climate control is also available, as is a rear reversing and parking camera designed to increase safety and make squeezing into tight spots in the city that little bit easier. Tight manoeuvring is also helped by the car's tiny turning circle of just 4.8 metres. On the cabrio model, a deflector is fitted to reduce wind turbulence inside the cabin when the roof is down.

  There is plenty of room here to seat four people comfortably, so there's no need to worry about being able to enjoy a comfortable ride in the new 108. On three-door models both front seats come with a memory function, meaning they will revert to the same position after being lifted out of the way for passengers to access the rear seats. The fact that the rear bench seat splits down the middle ensures additional practicality and makes carrying awkward loads even easier. When it comes to the boot, Peugeot has raised its game and created a 196-litre space. This represents an additional 89 litres compared to its predecessor the 107, making loading that weekly shop considerably easier. What's more, thanks to a boot sill that is 20mm lower, access is easier than ever before. The model's cleverly-designed parcel shelf comes in the form of a fabric cover that is tucked out of the way when the boot is open and returns to cover the contents of the boot when the door is closed.

  To truly experience this exciting new release however, you really need to organise a test drive and get behind the wheel. Mechanically identical to the Citroën C1, the new 108 comes with a choice of two petrol engines. You can opt for the 1.0-litre VTi offering 68bhp, which comes as either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic using Peugeot's clutchless Efficient Tronic Gearbox. Alternatively there's the 1.2-litre VTi, offering 82bhp, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission. Both engine options produce CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km, highlighting Peugeot's commitment to develop a city car that is not only affordable to own and run, but kinder to the environment. Both engines offer a driving experience to relish. The all-new 108 is extremely responsive and agile, while the new driving position, which has been brought forward, helps to ensure fantastic visibility.

  Making your new Peugeot 108 your own is effortless and this is an area that the French firm has really focussed hard on with this model. There are eight different paint finishes to choose from, three separate interior ambiances and seven interior styles featuring particular trim inserts, seat fabrics and various styling details. Consider opting for the ultra-modern Barcode theme or perhaps stick to something more traditional with the classy Dressy style theme. Of course, there is always the Sport theme which brings out the 108's dynamic lines and curves with the help of all-black wing mirrors with red edging and the exterior checkerboard design. With this new Peugeot it is easier than ever to make a personal statement.

  As you would expect from a Peugeot, safety was a top priority for the model's designers and there are plenty of inventive features. Included as standard on the new model are two rear-seat ISOFIX child seat fixing points, while six separate airbags are also fitted as standard to keep driver and passengers safe in the event of an accident. Peugeot's Electronic Stability Programme is there to detect loss of traction and will work to reduce over steer by cutting the amount of power being delivered to the wheels and braking them individually as required. According to statistics compiled by the UK's Department of Transport, cars that have been fitted with ESP are 25 per cent less likely to be involved in fatal accidents. Having properly inflated tyres is also essential to help guarantee your safety and the 108 comes with pressure sensors that will alert you once a tyre is under-inflated. What's more, properly inflated tyres mean you'll use less fuel, resulting in fewer trips to the pumps and lower running costs.

  The full 108 range is available to buy through Pentagon, for more information or to book a test drive please contact us on 0333 2220420 or visit us at www.pentagon-peugeot.co.uk to make an online enquiry.