Peugeot 308 crowned European Car of the Year 2014

Peugeot’s new ‘posh’ 308 small family hatchback crowned European Car of the Year 2014

Peugeot 308 small family hatchback named European Car of the Year 2014
Crowning of 'posh' car made on eve of Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland
Vehicle awarded 307 points from international jury of 58 motoring writers
Beat the likes of BMW i3, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3 and Skoda Octavia

Peugeot’s new 308 small family hatchback designed to make the French car-maker more upmarket has been named European Car of the Year.

The crowning of the ‘posh’ Peugeot  was made on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, where the world’s car makers are gathering.

The Peugeot 308 received a winning 307 points from an international jury of 58 motoring writers – with top points awarded by 22 of them.

The French hatchback beat six other rivals including two electric cars the BMW i3 (with 223 points), the Tesla S (216), Citroen C4 Picasso (182), Mazda3 (180), Skoda Octavia (170), and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Built in Sochaux, Peugeot’s historic home in Eastern France, the new 308 was launched in mainland  Europe during the last four months of 2013 and in the UK in January this year, where already more than 4,000 orders have been taken for the car priced from £14,495  to £24,345 .

Production and sales of the 308 in China, the biggest car market in the world, will start early in 2015.

A Peugeot spokesman said: ‘The 2014 "Car of the Year" title represents the most prestigious recognition for the 308, which embodies the brand’s values of excellence.’

‘Sales success has already been achieved, with more than 55,000 orders recorded since the launch of the model; the new 308 is also contributing towards the brand’s move up-market, confirmed by the mix of the orders, a higher proportion of which is for the upper trim levels in its range.’

From the start of Spring, the new 308 range will be expanded by the introduction of a second body style: the 308 SW estate.

Receiving the award from jury president Hakan Matson, director general of Automobiles Peugeot Maxime Picat, said: ’With the new PEUGEOT 308, we were convinced that we had achieved a leap in concept, technology and quality and which would soon allow it a place on the podium for the category in Europe. ‘

He added: ’The prestigious 2014 "Car of the Year" award, which I receive today on behalf of everyone at Peugeot who has contributed towards the development and launch of the award winning new 308, is the best confirmation of this’.

The Continent-wide European Car of the Year contest is a sort of automotive version of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The seven finalists were  whittled down form an initial’ long-list 32 nominees to find  ‘the most outstanding new car to go on sale in the last 12 months’.

The ‘Car of the Year’ - known in the business by the acronym as ‘COTY’ - event is overseen by seven major journals, including the UK’s Autocar, with an international  jury consisting of 58 representatives from 23 countries .

The UK has six jurors, along with other major car markets Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Smaller countries like Holland and Sweden get three jurors, while the likes of Belgium, Austria,  Poland and even Russia get two - with Finland and Norway getting just one.