Peugeot's great white hope on sale now, the new 308.

• All-new Compact Family Hatchback has style, quality, efficiency and outstanding dynamics
• Striking and contemporary design inside and out
• On sale from 2nd January 2014
• Shortlisted for European Car of the Year 2014

The wait is over. The critically acclaimed New 308 from Peugeot is officially on sale now.

The stunning new vehicle – already shortlisted for the prestigious European Car of the Year 2014 award – signals the start of a new era for Peugeot. It will see even greater focus on design-led desirable cars, outstanding environmental performance and best-in-class driving dynamics.

Underlying everything is a determination to bring a new level of quality to the Peugeot ownership experience, including exceptional customer service from Dealers.

Tim Zimmerman, Managing Director of Peugeot UK, commented: “This is a genuinely exciting time to be leading Peugeot.  Last year was a huge success for our business, and the arrival of the New 308 – plus a number of other great cars – ensures 2014 will build on that solid foundation.”

The New 308 is a Peugeot like no other and at its heart is the innovative Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2). The car is the first new Peugeot to benefit from this advanced architecture, which has incorporated 116 patented technologies.

It has allowed the New 308 to be lighter than ever, up to 140kg compared to the predecessor model. Coupled with eight advanced engines, the result is segment-leading environmental performance. Depending on the model selected, fuel economy can be as high as 91.1mpg with CO2 emissions as low as 82g/km. The New 308 is also an exceptional car to drive thanks to its advanced steering and damping technology.

One of the features which makes the New 308 so desirable is its premium ‘i-Cockpit’ interior.  Driver-focused like nothing else in the segment, and with a notably uncluttered dashboard, it offers one of the most technically advanced touch-screen infotainment systems on any new car. With a large 9.7-inch screen size, this intuitive interface allows the user to control everything from the climate control to the audio system.

The car is also exceptionally practical. The 420-litre boot space with the rear seats upright is the largest in the segment, and supplemented by generous-sized cup holders and storage spaces located around the cabin.

Running costs, particularly for corporate customers, are a key consideration when choosing a car. The good news is that the New Peugeot 308 scores just as highly there as it does everywhere else. The fuel-efficient range of engines means less time spent filling up on forecourts, while the CO2 classifications means low VED road tax bandings.

Furthermore, with a residual value from CAP that’s up 9% compared to the outgoing model, the New 308’s predicted resale value is ahead of several key rivals and the segment average.

Peugeot M.D. Tim Zimmerman continued: “The New 308 is a significant leap forward for Peugeot. It’s high on style and quality and provides a truly rewarding driving experience, all at a value-for-money price. We’re confident it will be a big hit with UK customers.”

The New 308 is available in four trim levels, Access (from £14,495), Active (from £17,195), Allure (from £18,645) and Feline (from £20,995).

USA - 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 & GMC Sierra 1500 now with light weight high strength steel capability

Like athletes who burn fat and build muscle to become more competitive, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 strategically replaced traditional steel with lightweight, high-strength steels for improved capability, safety and fuel efficiency.

High-strength and ultra-high-strength steels make the Silverado and Sierra’s fully boxed frames and cabs lighter and stronger, helping the trucks deliver the best fuel economy of any V-8 pickup, up to 23 mpg highway. They also have class-leading towing capability of up to 12,000 pounds when equipped with the available 6.2L V-8.

Similarly, making the most of mass also enables Silverados and Sierras equipped with the 4.3L V-6 to tow up to 7,600 pounds, the highest for any standard V-6 in the segment, with EPA highway fuel economy of up to 24 mpg.

“Our customers tell us they want better fuel economy, but only if it doesn’t come at the expense of capability,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer of the Silverado and Sierra. “By using lightweight materials like ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum for key structural parts and components in our new trucks we were able to improve both capability and efficiency.”

It’s been said that stronger muscles and bones help prevent injury, and the same can be said of the high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels that make up two-thirds of Silverado and Sierra’s cab structures, including A-pillars, B-pillars, rocker panels, roof rails and underbody. High-strength steel is several times stronger than mild steel.

These rigid materials helped Silverado and Sierra become the first pickup trucks to receive the highest possible 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program for the 2011 model year.

Similarly, the main rails and key cross members of Silverado and Sierra’s updated frames are high-strength steel with major elements hydro-formed for reduced mass and improved strength. Their pickup boxes are made from roll-formed steel for increased strength and reduced mass, compared with the stamped beds used by major competitors.

According to U.S. Steel Corp., the use of advanced high-strength steels is the fastest-growing trend in auto manufacturing today. Parts made from high-strength steel can be as much as 39 percent lighter than parts made from traditional steel.

Strong, lightweight aluminum alloys also play a key role in Silverado and Sierra by reducing the weight of the trucks’ engines, front suspension components, hoods and other parts. All three EcoTec3 engines use aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce mass for improved fuel economy.

Direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitor trucks, also contribute to Silverado and Sierra’s fitness.

First spy shot of third generation AUDI TT

Photographers have caught their first glimpses of Audi's third-generation TT coupe, expected to go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2014 and in the United States the next year.

The photos suggest evolutionary styling changes for the model, which will shed weight and get better fuel economy with a move to the MQB architecture and more efficient turbocharged gasoline engines used in the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.

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