It's been over eight years since Peugeot brought affordable coupe-cabriolet motoring to the masses, when the marque unleashed the 206 CC on the market. From here on, the CC label has come to represent two cars in one — a hardtop coupe that transforms into the cabriolet at the touch of a button.

Peugeot later expanded its CC portfolio for those seeking more practical accommodation, with the introduction of the 307 CC, based on the larger Peugeot 307's platform. Now that car makes way for the 308 CC, which — you guessed it — takes all the perks of the latest 308 and translates it into CC format, including a turbocharged engine.

Despite being a CC with a fully automatic retractable hardtop that folds into the boot in 20 seconds at the touch of a button, the 308 CC still offers four full seats and decent luggage space. Yes, its rear quarters will seat four adults rather than the small children and contortionists that cabriolets are often seemingly designed to accommodate.

While designing a car with a metal roof that folds into the boot can be tricky, Peugeot has succeeded in giving the 308 CC more than its share of sex appeal. Its tapered headlights, low-slung stance, steeply raked windscreen, muscular haunches and exclusively designed 18-inch alloy wheels all give this car a clear sense of purpose.

The sophisticated interior continues this theme with its sculpted, high-backed bucket seats and elegant finishes. Leather upholstery is standard, as is a thick-rimmed sports steering wheel, fully automatic bi-zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, trip computer and satellite controls for the audio system.

The safety credentials are top-notch too, with a full array of front, side and headrest airbags fitted, as well as active safety features such as stability control and all-disc braking system with ABS.

On the technical front, the move over to the 308 platform brings with it many advances, a highlight of these being the inclusion of a turbocharged engine as standard.

This high-tech 1.6-litre force-fed engine provides a great balance between performance and efficiency. The power output is a heady 110kW at 5800rpm, while 240Nm is on tap from as low as 1400rpm. Twin scroll turbocharging ensures that the turbine is able to spin from very low in the rev range, in theory eliminating that dreadful, and dangerous launch failure problem that afflicts many turbo-charged cars.

The power is fed to the front wheels front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

Peugeot claims that the 308 CC will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 10.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 215km/h. Driven more frugally, however, it should achieve a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 7.5 litres per 100km, and as little as 5.6 l/100km while cruising on the open road.

As for dynamics, substantial bracing and carefully tuned suspension settings aim to remove most of the rigidity compromise often associated with open-top cars.

All that's been mentioned is standard on the single model offering, which will go on sale in mid-July at a price of R336 500. The price includes a three-year/ 100 000km full maintenance plan.

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