Paris motor show - Peugeot 308 CC

Peugeot released the first pictures of the 308 CC just before the British International Motor Show earlier this year, but left the public debut for the car to home turf in Paris.

It goes on sale in the UK from the spring of 2009 with prices likely to start at about £18,500.

Just like its predecessor, the 308 CC will be a four-seater with an electrically folding hard-top roof. It takes 20 seconds for the roof to fold into the boot. Roof up, there’s 100 litres more luggage space than before at 465 litres.

Things have improved with the roof down, but only by 50 or so litres, so going topless means having just 266 litres to play with.

Like the Mercedes SLK and SL, the 308CC will be available with a system that blows warm air through the front headrest to keep you warm. Now there’s no excuse for folding the roof away on a bright winter’s day. It’s called airwave, but it doesn’t come with free chewing gum (probably).

Initially buyers will get a pair of engines to choose from – a 150bhp 1.6-litre petrol and a 140bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel, both using a six-speed manual gearbox.

Stop-Start
Peugeot also announced it will have a Stop-Start system on selected cars in its range by 2011. The unit, which will work on petrol and diesel motors, is being showcased on a 308 in Paris, and reduces average fuel consumption by 9%.