The Motorist 03 | Page 6

308 Peugeot GT LINE By Sam Ayres Peugeot’s new range of vehicles is what I like to call “eye candy” . This is amplified by the GT-Line packages that are available options on these vehicles. You get the sporty look and feel but without the “vroom –vroom” and inherently worse fuel economy. This rings true with the young and hip 208 GT-Line, but also the more refined 308 GT-Line model. The way a car looks and feels has become more important over the years, buyers want to have an emotional connection with the vehicles they drive. In a way they want a reflection of themselves, this is even more so in the younger generations. In my eyes, the rear of the 308 GT-Line looks awesome, due to its low and wide stance. The tail lights are sharp and the two rear exhaust tips finish the sporty look off nicely, even if there are only there for superficial reasons. The same goes for the front too, it retains a sharp, sporty and aggressive look. The 308 GT-Line instantly strikes me as the kind of car that would appeal to a young individual , in his/ her mid to late twenties. The person is a professional and is responsible, that’s the kind of vibe this car gives off. Beauty from within: Stepping inside the vehicle also encompasses pleasant feelings, it’s inviting and simple in its design. Everything except the audio controls is operated electronically from the large central screen. This includes the climate control, which is great. So without millions of buttons for A/C and other things, the central console is left uncluttered and I love it. Even the 9.7 inch screen has been designed into the dash flawlessly. The sweeping design leads into the dials, which are situated quite high up to provide a head-up display type of effect. One thing I had to get used to was the rev counter which rises from right to left, opposite to most vehicles. With loud music playing and a quick glace you could confuse 1200rpm with 6000rp and wonder why you are revving the nuts off the little 1.2 litre motor. Adding to the I-Cockpit are the GT-Line seats which feature