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The compact 306 has been the cornerstone of Peugeot's increasing world-wide popularity through the 1990s and is Automobile Peugeot's best performing export model with just over 70 percent of production shipped to 145 countries.
In fact the two millionth example built, a Diablo Red Cavriolet, was recently given away, in Australia, as part of a special promotion to celebrate that milestone.
The 306 is manufactured at three Peugeot factories - Poissy in France (where Australian cars are built), Ryton in the UK and Villaverde in Spain.
The production total has already crept over 2.2 million and will continue to be an integral model in the Australian Peugeot range.
IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1999
The 306 has been the recipient of numerous upgrades in its six years on the market. Constant improvements to performance, safety and quality have seen it keep pace with a host of new competitors in the hotly contested Australian small car market.
For model year 2000 (MY2000) a number of significant technical improvements and design changes have again added value to the 306 equation.
The 306 now features smooth-glass, double parabola main headlights with H7 high-pressure halogen globes which give a "diamond effect".
The side indicator repeaters now have a clear "crystal" lens and the XT four door sedan features a new tail light cluster with horizontal chrome inserts. And the boot lid Peugeot Lion badge is now expressed in high relief.
Many parts of the 306, including bumpers, door sills, door mirror shells and lateral protection strips are body coloured. The Cabriolet retains its characteristic black strips.
Inside the 306 has been given a metallic makeover with a brushed metallic finish on the top of the gear knob, parking brake release button, ventilation direction controls and the automatic gearbox control fascia.
The dash and central console panel highlight are painted in grey metallic and the instrument cluster has a new layout with revised graphics and white needles.
A range of new velour and woven cloth trims has been introduced across the range. And a high frequency (ultra-sonic) transponder, replacing the previous infra-red system, means remote central locking is more reliable and operates from a greater distance.
SOME 306 HISTORY
The original 306 (N3) was launched in Australia in early 1994 with the Pininfarina designed Cabriolet adding some extra individuality later that year.
Local sales were strong from the beginning with Peugeot Concessionaires Australia (PCA) selling more than 2,000 in the first twelve months of the model's life.
The 306's sleek design available in a range of body styles, engine options and trim levels attracted a broad range of new devotees to the Peugeot brand over the next three years.
The 306 appeared in its current second generation guise in mid-1997 and the addition of standard features such as a passively armed engine immobiliser, major body structure reinforcements and new engines have helped the model maintain competitiveness in the hotly contested small / medium segment.
And since its launch the 306 has been the recipient of a long list of local and international awards.
Having been named Car of the Year by What Car? magazine in the UK and picking up the Golden Steering Wheel Award in Germany, the 306's arrival in Australia was greeted by the NRMA, Motor Magazine and RACV's 1994 Best Small Car awards.
In 1996 and 1997, against more recently released competition, the 306 was judged the Best Small Car in Queensland's QCAR Awards (run jointly by The Courier Mail and RACQ) and the RACT's Best Cars of '96 and '97.
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