The Peugeot 308 must be the happiest car in the world. It has the largest most toothiest front ever to sit on a car and on some models, it grins happily for all to see with its very large chrome lined grille and its slanted happy looking eyes. But that very large basking shark grille has now been made slightly smaller in the facelifted 308 hatchback, cabriolet and wagon. Peugeot will officially unveil these cars live at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

The 308 will have the same engines, both diesel and petrol. The most thrilling 308 will be fitted with the 200bhp version of the 1.6liter BMW Mini turbocharged engine and the least exciting one (in my opinion) would be the one fitted with the 1.4liter petrol engine pumping out 98bhp. 0-100km/h may take slightly longer than a week or so as even the pre-facelifted 1.6liter (non-turbo) which I occasionally drive feels slow and cumbersome.

I do think that the new front end reins in the excess in the 308. The newer nose is slightly more rounded and it makes the 308 look like it has a smaller overhang up front. It also makes the car look more balanced overall. The old 308 looked like it had David Coulthard's chin and Jennifer Lopez's rear end. The facelifted Pug has the same rear end but the chin has got a reduction.

Peugeot's new corporate styling is now slightly more sensible. Less is more and I can't wait for Peugeot to facelift the 3008 (pic above). I believe that crossover vehicle is the ultimate expression of the ridiculous toothy grin that has now been removed from the 308. The 3008 truly reminds me of a hippopotamus' toothy grin. And I do believe that Peugeot should facelift the 3008 immediately even though Peugeot only launched that 'car' quite recently.