Peugeot’s 308 CC - A car for all seasons

Bond, the original all-female, multi-million selling electronic string quartet, have applied their unique sound to one of classical music’s most popular and iconic works - Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The modern interpretation of the Baroque masterpiece has been recorded by Bond exclusively for Peugeot to mark the launch of their new 308 CC which goes on sale on 1st June 2009, and features a first-in-class Airwave Neck Heating System that blows controlled temperature air around the front seat occupants’ necks, to give them the pleasure of a convertible all year round.

Bond’s new version of the Four Seasons is available to download exclusively from the Peugeot mini-site, opentoallseasons.co.uk before being released on the group’s forthcoming new album. In recording the Four Seasons, Bond were inspired by their good friend and colleague, Nigel Kennedy, and the genre-defying group aim to bring to Vivaldi’s timeless classic the modern rigour and panache that has become their musical signature.

BOND: “We were honoured to be asked by Peugeot to arrange and record our own interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This is a celebration of a great piece of music, but also a challenge to bring a new and free sound to the work – that is what Bond as a group is all about.”

This is also the first time that Bond unveils to the world their new member, Elspeth Hanson. Elspeth is the beautiful and talented violinist who played alongside David Beckham, guitar legend Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis at the British handover at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Elspeth was chosen to replace Haylie Ecker as a Bond violinist, from hundreds of applicants in late 2008 and is just one sign of Bond’s thrilling new sound, as they come back fresher and more dramatic than ever before.

The launch of the 308 CC compliments the Peugeot portfolio with its highly stylish profile and the ‘must have of the year’ for conscious style enthusiasts. The car’s four full-size seats capitalise on the renowned strength of the existing 308 range, while still embodying the spirit of its predecessor - the highly acclaimed 307 CC. Taking centre stage, the fully automatic retractable roof can transform in 20 seconds and its operation can be viewed on the colour display, turning the car into a dynamic Coupé or an elegant Cabriolet according to its occupant’s choice.

Peugeot offers all these pleasures to the occupants of the 308 CC, through its protective architecture, its intelligent air conditioning (which adapts its operation to the Cabriolet body shape), heated seats, its windstop and… its remarkable ‘Airwave’ system built into the front seats of leather trimmed cars, which acts like a scarf by diffusing warm air around the neck that can be adjusted for temperature and direction.

Bond will also be staging a string of live events as they accompany the Peugeot 308 CC road-show throughout the country. The shows will be free of charge to the general public and all promise to live up to Bond’s vibrant reputation for delivering a spectacular musical and visual performance.

Bond/ Peugeot tour dates are as follows:
9th May – Westfield Shopping Centre, London
6th June – Birmingham Bullring
20th June – Taste of London, Regents Park, London
27th June – Metro Centre, Gateshead
4th July – Silverburn, Glasgow