Three years after launch, the Peugeot 208 – the brand’s best-selling model – is getting an upgrade to boost its appeal.

It has been finessed with a more assertive styling, fresh exterior colour choices including textured paint and an exciting range of personalisation options. The range also benefits from the latest petrol and diesel engines from Peugeot, including the newly crowned PureTech petrol International Engine of the Year 2015 category winner.

The new 208 has just arrived in Ireland, priced from €14,845 plus delivery charges, covered by a five year extended warranty. A 3.9% PCP low-cost finance offer is available at Peugeot Dealers.

Available in Access, Active, Allure and new GT Line and GTi versions, the new Peugeot 208 is more assertive and distinctive with a new front bumper and wider grille, while the new rear full LED light clusters with 3D claws make it instantaneously recognisable. Inside, the new 208 retains the Peugeot iCockpit cabin, consisting of a compact steering wheel and head-up instrumentation panel.

Standard equipment across the range remains high and includes, from Access level one, a spare wheel, front electric windows, 6 airbags, cruise control + speed limiter, driver seat height adjustment, remote central locking and deadlocks, Bluetooth, steering column remote controls and ESP. The 208’s touch screen remains standard from Active trim level, and provides intuitive and easy access to audio, telephone and vehicle information systems.

Making a debut on the new Peugeot 208 are two personalisation packs – Menthol White and Lime Green - an optional extra and available on Allure trims, with an RRSP from €270.

The range includes a 1.0 PureTech petrol 68bhp unit, a 1.2 PureTech petrol 82bhp unit (5-speed manual and Ecomatique) and the new 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech 110hp S&S engine, available as a special order model. Coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox, the new 1.2 110bhp petrol engine achieves CO2 emissions of just 103g/km and annual road tax of €190. It is available with a new EAT6 six-speed automatic gearbox with Quickshift technology, allowing for faster changes, with CO2 emissions of 104g/km, just 1g/km more than its manual version, meaning annual road tax is kept to €190.

With the arrival of the new Peugeot 208, two new diesel engine derivatives are being launched in Ireland; the new 1.6 BlueHDi diesel 75bhp unit has 90g/CO2 and qualifies for €180 road tax, while the new 1.6 BlueHDi diesel 100bhp Stop Start unit emits just 87g/CO2, with annual road tax at €180