THE number 308 is for all intents and purposes a magical one. It is, after all, one that is closely associated with an achingly beautiful Ferrari from the mid- 1970s.

With such special connotations, it would seem almost certain that the name Peugeot prefixed with 308 might elicit some derision. But the big surprise is that the Peugeot 308 actually turns out to be nearly as desirable.

The Peugeot 308 replaces the Peugeot 307 and is longer and wider than its predecessor. It has that same curvaceous styling seen on recent Pugs and is suitably modern and attractive. But the most interesting aspect of the new car, which was unveiled in Europe close to a year ago, is what lies under the bonnet.

Peugeot has adopted forced induction for the 308 and the 1.6-litre direct injection engine is the same twin-scroll turbocharged unit jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW, and which is also found in the latter's Mini Cooper S. In the 308, however, it has been slightly detuned. Both share the same maximum torque figure but the power in the French model is 35 hp lower.

And the delivery of that power couldn't be more different. Floor the accelerator of the 308 and it lunges forward enthusiastically yet smoothly, with virtually no turbo lag. The linear performance adds to the overall refinement of the driving experience as the 308 suspension filters out the road bumps and outside noises to provide a serene cabin atmosphere. At the same time, the car is fun to drive. The steering is well- weighted, and sweeping curves can be approached swiftly and confidently.

Despite the relatively large body size, the power plant rarely feels like it's running out of breath. The 308 certainly seems like it has bigger lungs than the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit driving the front wheels.

Only the fact that there is only a four-speed automatic gearbox detracts from the driving pleasure. The transmission is Tiptronic-style (with a chrome-plated gated shift), but you run out of gears quickly when changing manually.

As for passenger comfort, the cabin is pretty spacious and the 308's compact class dimensions mean that those in the back are also well taken care of. Rear headroom and legroom are excellent. In front, the centre console sports a snazzy metallic trim with a cool five-CD in-dash changer. Everything else - including the attractive meters - is styled as you would expect a fashionable Gallic car to be.

It may sound like a cliche but the Peugeot 308 really is the epitome of French flair.

Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo
Engine: 1,598cc turbocharged
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic transmission
Max power: 140 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Max torque: 240 Nm @ 1,400 rpm
0-100 kmh: 9.32 secs
Top speed: 202 kmh
Price: $91,900 (with COE)
Distributor: AutoFrance, Tel 6376-2288

This article was first published in The Business Times on Jun 7, 2008.