A SHARPLY styled new Peugeot 308 will be on the road by the end of the year and it is the first car to bear the French company's latest badge.

Featuring a large, shield-shaped lion's head design the new logo sits in the centre of a jewel-effect front grille and also appears on the sides of the front wings and on the tailgate.

Continuing Peugeot's electrification theme, the new 308 will be available with two plug-in powertrains as well as petrol and diesel engines.

However, there will be no pure electric model in the initial line up.

The plug-in models use a four cylinder PureTech petrol engine developing either 180 or 150hp mated to an 81kW electric motor and will be capable of up to 37 miles of zero emission driving with emissions as low as 25g/km.

Both have eight-speed automatic transmissions and recharging time is one hour and 55 minutes when using a fast charger.

The non-electrified versions have either a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol r a 1.5-litre four cylinder diesel engine, both developing 128hp and come with auto boxes.

Performance data and details about manual options are still to be released.

In keeping with Peugeot's recent shift upmarket the new 308 has bold styling and although only half-an-inch longer than the current model its wheelbase has increased by more than two inches.

That has created more room inside and in the boot where luggage space now ranges from between 412 and 1,323 litres. An underfloor compartment adds a further 28 litres of storage space.

Inside, the third generation 308 comes with Peugeot's latest i-Cockpit which includes a 10-inch display screen as well as a similarly sized multi-mode instrument panel.

Conventional switches have been kept to a minimum while there is no gear lever or parking brake handle on the automatics with all functions being operated electronically via push buttons.

The car is also fitted with wireless phone charging plus Peugeot's new i-Connect infotainment system which enables a variety of options including voice control to access most of the functions.

Semi-autonomous driving features include a lane change system, speed recommendations linked to speed limit signs and a cornering assistance function related to the severity of a bend

Other new features include long range blind spot monitors with a range of up to 75 metres, rear cross traffic alerts and cameras to help with reversing and parking.

Rear seat occupants have two USB outlets located at the rear of the centre console while a folding centre armrest contains a phone tray as well as two additional cup holders.

Peugeot is making the new 308 compatible with a smartphone app that enables preheating of the vehicle and to control the battery charging on the plug-in models.

Prices are still to be confirmed but are expected to show a slight increase over the current 308 which costs from £21,270 with the plug-in hybrids commanding a significant premium.