THE new Peugeot 308 has gone on sale with the choice of three petrol and two diesel engines. (Click here to read our full review of the new Peugeot hatchback.)

But company car drivers should wait a while.

Come spring 2014 Peugeot is promising updated engines with lower emissions and better running costs.

This will include an 82g/km CO2 emissions diesel engine, slotting the Peugeot 308 into the 14% company car tax band for the 2014/15 tax year.

The full spring engine and transmission revamp will include the innovative 1.2-litre, e-THP 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in two states of tune, a 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel with a game-changing 82g/km CO2 and 91mpg, and a 2.0-litre Blue Hdi with just 103g/km CO2.

This will set new records for the segment and become the class leader in emissions and fuel efficiency.

New generation 6-speed Aisin automatic gearboxes will also become available at that time cutting the difference between manual and automatic in terms of CO2 emissions to a mere 7g/km, at 103 and 110g/km respectively. 

For the time being , the Peugeot 308 has launched with the following engines.

Petrol: The entry petrol unit is a 1.2 VTi offering 82bhp coupled to a 5-speed gearbox, emitting 114g/km CO2. The other 1.6 litre petrol engine is available in two power outputs – 125bhp and 155bhp. Both emit 129g/km CO2 and are linked to 6-speed manual gearboxes. 

Diesel: One four-cylinder 1.6-litre diesel engine is available at launch, available in two different power outputs. The first, the HDi 92bhp unit which emits just 93g/km CO2, is coupled to a 5-speed manual ‘box. There is also a 115bhp, e-HDI paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox which emits a slightly higher 95g/km CO2.

There are no automatic transmissions available at launch, but it’s all change in the spring when the new, ultra-efficient petrol and diesel engines become available.