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Peugeot is doing its best to slow down the death of the family sedan with the new 508.
The disappearance of the tri-box sedan was well recorded on these pages. In 2012, the 508 had its best year in the Republic with 587 sales out of a total of 2950 since the beginning of the year. Compare this to its predecessor, the 407, which sold best at 2837 in 2005, while 2000 was the best year for 406, and almost all cars, with 2,252 sales.
Peugeot still thinks it exists in the living room. If there is one last attempt to revive his fortune, then the good news is that the 508 is the best chance to do it. The new car looks like a traditional sedan, but is actually a skilfully disguised liftback.
Peugeot has chosen the VW Pbadat as a base target, but also luxury brands like Audi and BMW. The new 508 is built on the same platform as the award-winning 3008 – the European car of last year – and 5008 crossovers in the PSA group. A 508 SW wagon version will debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year. A 225 hp plug-in hybrid PHEV variant will join the lineup in 2019 with the promise of a fully electric driving capability of only 50 km.
But neither the style nor the powertrain are the main players in the fleet market. Here, it's the cost of ownership that counts. The good news for the 508 is that several evaluations by fleet buyers, seen by the Irish Times, indicate that the 508 has an advantage on this front. A new 508 with 90,000 km on the clock is considered to have more value than its German rivals.
Styling Coupé
While Germans remain the benchmark for quality in the consumer market, Peugeot sets its sights on joining them at the higher end of the volume market. After piloting some examples of the 508 GT, the new model is a near-premium offer. The outside is very impressive in the metal. The front overhang has been shortened with a more upright and aggressive variant of the grille of the Peugeot family.
The side profile is sleek with a four-door coupe coupe, in fact the rear hips of the car have a hint of BMW Gran Coupé. The style of the coupe is helped by frameless doors while the back of the car hints at American muscle cars. The boot contains an adequate volume of 467 liters and our test car is equipped with a spare wheel space saving under the floor. If you fold down the rear seats, there are 1,537 liters of cargo space.
The high-tech "I-badpit" of the company is the star of the show. The compact steering wheel of Peugeot stands under the group of high-end digital instruments and the layered surfaces on the dashboard offer a high-end look. A large central touch screen provides an excellent extra screen for the satellite navigation system and the optional Focal audio system. The popular "piano key" switches that have been an important selling point on the 3008 allow access to GPS, apps and climate control.
The new 508 will be offered with a single six-speed manual transmission model while the rest of the range will include the company's new eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. This transmission is more efficient than the previous six-speed and adds to the feel of the driving bonus.
When it comes to safety technology, with the usual range of collision protection features, there is a new night vision option that uses a windscreen mounted infrared camera. This technology works and can detect people and animals beyond the reach of the car's headlights. Peugoet is a nod to semi-autonomous driving that takes the form of an adaptive cruise control and a course-keeping badistant to make your journey easier, even in traffic jams [19659012] New engines
-liter, with either 180hp / 250nm or 225hp / 300nm (GT) and two diesel engines, a 1.5 liter with 130hp / 300nm and a 2 liter with 160hp / 400nm and 180hp / 400nm. The 508 is due in Ireland towards the end of the year for 191 inscriptions. Prices have not been confirmed yet.
On the road, the slightly wider track – 29 mm wider – and the new suspension transform the five-seater into a sport sedan. On the higher versions, the active dampers are part of the adaptive driving mode configuration. You can adjust the driving quality according to the selection with eco, comfort, normal, sport and manual (gearbox) available.
In all other models, a driving mode button allows you to choose engine mapping and steering weight with ecological, normal and sporty settings. In reality, it's a trick and a waste of time. Instead, judicious use of your right foot will have a better effect. Greater use of the bond in the manufacturing process has helped strengthen the body and reduce noise and vibration. The cabin is quiet and the speeds of the highways are defective.
1.6-liter gasoline 1.6 liter 1.6 liter is very fun, but civilized at the same time. Peugeot, by specifying autos on all but the entry models of the 508 helps reinforce its desire to be seen as a more premium offer and rivals should take note. The new gearbox is smooth and easy to use.
The 180hp BlueHDI GT is almost as fun on the open road. With less power but more torque at 400nm, pulling power comes earlier and offers greater flexibility. We also tested a basic 130hp BlueHDI with a manual gearbox and, even if it missed the grunt of its siblings, it will be cheaper than the rest, so it will be a financial compromise.
Peugeot believes that the traditional sedan still has a future thanks to demand in China, but Europe is a problem with mbad automobile migration to SUVs. Even the business fleets are turning to the world of the big car.
With the new 508, Peugeot has a real head turner and a very good driving machine that will keep it relevant for a few more years
: Peugeot 508 BlueHDI 180
Price: TBA
Engine: 1997cc diesel outgoing 180bhp and with 400Nm of torque. Suitable for new eight-speed automatic transmission
0-100km / h: 8.3 secs
Maximum speed: 235km / h
Fuel Clbad applied: 4.7L / 100km (60.1mpg)
Issued (Engine tax included): 123g / km (270 €)
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