This is the new SW –...

This is the new SW – the sporty estate version of the firm’s forthcoming family hatchback. Making its debut at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, it will be revealed in the form of this concept, the Prologue.

At the front it has the same distinctive nose as the hatch, but the striking rear gets a kinked C-pillar, wraparound glass screen that opens independently of the boot and deep tail-lights which curve over the wings. Aluminium rails and a panoramic glass sunroof are further neat touches that

will appear on the production car.

Inside, the Peugeot is as clever as it is stylish. The second row of seats has

an individual sliding chair which can be folded flat or removed completely.

And two of them can be fixed into mountings in the boot area to give

passengers limo-levels of legroom. However, buyers can also specify two extra chairs, turning the car into a full seven-seater. The production model promises to be bigger inside than the 307 SW, thanks to a slight increase in body length to 4.5m.

While the Prologue’s brown leather centre console and two-tone seats are unlikely to make production, the SW will be available with a variety of trim options.

As well as the lifestyle-oriented SW, Peugeot will also launch a 308 Estate, which will have a solid steel roof and simple, 60:40 split/folding rear bench.

Both models will use the same range of engines as the hatchback, with the petrol and diesel line-ups topped by 150bhp 1.6-litre turbo and 136bhp 2.0-litre HDi units respectively. A hybrid version of the 1.6-litre HDi will be offered too.

Sales of the 308 SW start in the middle of next year, with the Estate likely

to arrive in the autumn.