2018 All-New Peugeot 508 World Debut – Radical Redesign, New Petrol Engines

Seeing as how pictures of the all-new 508 D-Segment sedan has been widely circulated online, ahead of its intended Geneva Motor Show debut, Peugeot has released full details of the new 508 model, which sports a radical new design, new engines, and a substantial leap in technology and build quality.

To create a unique identity for its new D-segment sedan, which Peugeot explains has been a stagnant market segment, amidst the current appetite for SUVs – designers opted to move away from the conventional boot-lid, four-door shape and towards a five-door fastback coupé-saloon body style.

In terms of dimensions – the new car measures 4.75 meters, 8 cm less than the predecessor and some 11 cm less than Volkswagen’s Arteon, making it among the most compact saloons in its class. The width, at 1.84 meters is 2 cm wider than the outgoing model, and the new car also sports a low-silhouette, measuring just 1.40 meters in height, some 6 cm less than the predecessor.

This low-built body structure is made possible by inclusion frameless doors, which Peugeot claim does not sacrifice headroom.

The front and rear overhangs have been reduced in size to improve agility, both on the road and when manoeuvring. The wheelbase – at 2.79 meters – has been shortened by 2.4 cm to maintain a level of practicality.

At the front the Peugeot 508 takes its cues from the Instinct Concept cars: the front headlights are full-LED items, which intersect with vertical opalescent LED daytime running lights. Spanning the rear end is a glossy black horizontal strip, as seen on newer models such as the 3008, flanked by full-LED rear lights.

The Peugeot 508 is underpinned by the company’s EMP2 platform, which achieves a weight-reduction on average, of 70 kgs less, compared to the previous model. Peugeot also implemented a new body-welding technique which is strengthened with (24 meters of) structural adhesive, to provide greater body rigidity and acoustic insulation.

There are two new petrol engines and four diesel engines offered, each of which is compliant with 'Euro 6.c' regulations. The two petrol engines are based on the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, and offers two power output levels, dubbed PureTech 180 and 225, although official power and torque figures have yet to be released.

The four diesel variants likewise are based on the company’s 1.5- and 2.0-litre turbodiesel “Blue HDi” family of engines. Depending on the market: Blue HDi 130, 160, and 180.

With the exception of the BlueHDi 130, which is also offered with a manual six-speed, the rest of the variants are fitted with the new eight-speed ‘EAT8’ 8-speed automatic which was co-developed with Aisin.

A Plug-In Hybrid petrol drivetrain is also in development for the 508, which is slated to go on sale in Q4 of 2019.

On the inside, the Peugeot 508 features the latest version of the Peugeot i-Cockpit, which is highlighted by the new compact steering wheel, large 10-inch wide HD touch-screen and head-up display unit with a 12.3-inch digital screen.

The interior also features a ‘wide-opening’ panoramic sunroof and a premium audio system by Focal.

The Peugeot 508 also includes the i-Cockpit Amplify system, which augments the car’s ambient settings, such as the lighting, audio and seat massage functions to offer greater comfort to passengers.

The i-Cockpit Amplify system also controls the car’s driving modes and suspension setup for variants that are equipped with electronic suspension.

The 508 also comes packed with the company’s latest driving aids. The common array of Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring system and Traffic Sign Recognition is further updated with Active Safety Brake which works up to 140 km/h, and a Night Vision system, a first for the segment.

The Night Vision system uses an infra-red camera to detect living beings, within a 200-250 meter range in front of the vehicle in low-visibility conditions.

In terms of connectivity, the new Peugeot 508 offers MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The new Peugeot 508 will be produced in the Mulhouse plant in France, while the French sites of Trémery and Douvrin will provide the powertrain.