Peugeot has unveiled a brand new model for the UK range - the ‘dynamic’ 408 fastback.
The 408 is an interesting car - and tricky to pigeonhole.
Vehicles wearing the ‘408’ badge have actually been sold in emerging markets like China for the best part of a decade but they’ve never actually reached western Europe.
Now, though, that’s all changing - because this new 408 is hitting Europe first before going global at a later date.
The design of the 408 is eye-catching to say the least. It appears to marry the best of all worlds, being part SUV, part saloon, part hatchback.
In style terms, you could put it in the same bracket as the DS 4, the Polestar 2 or the Citroen C5 X.
And the good news for lease customers is that the 408 will be available as a plug-in hybrid, with power of up to 180hp, while you can still also opt for a more traditional 130hp petrol engine.
Linda Jackson, CEO of Peugeot, enthused:
“With its unique looks, innovative fastback silhouette and unbridled elegance, the new 408 is the perfect expression of Peugeot’s philosophy and inventiveness. Unexpected from every angle, it has been designed for lovers of cars and of life, who want to break free from the traditional while seeking responsible pleasure.”
Besides the marketing blurb, let’s get down to what the 408 actually offers.
Firstly, there’s space. At 4.69m in length, it’s the same size as a Skoda Octavia estate and there’s plenty of knee room in the back. A large 536 litre boot is useful, too. For comparison, the smaller Peugeot 308 has a boot that’s just 412 litres in size.
The plush cabin boasts a fully-connected infotainment system with a 10 inch touchscreen and natural voice recognition tech.
The 408 also gets a high-end Hi-Fi system from French audio specialist ‘FOCAL’, which promises a ‘fully immersive sound experience’.
You can enjoy Peugeot’s ‘i-Cockpit’, which includes a compact steering wheel for better ‘driving pleasure’, as well as a suite of 30 driver assistance systems, aided by six cameras and nine radars.
You can expect adaptive cruise control, ‘Night Vision’ that can spot dangers lurking in the dark, long-range blind spot monitoring and rear traffic alert.
When it comes to the plug-in electric hybrid powertrains, you can choose the 180hp ‘225 e-EAT8’ or the 150 hp ‘180 e-EAT8’. Both versions use a 12.4 kWh battery and can be had with a 7.4 kW single-phase charger.
Using a 7.4 kW wallbox - and a 7.4 kW charger - you can expect a full charge in just under two hours. Find out more here!
Meanwhile the 408 continues Peugeot’s ambition to have an electrified variant for every model in the range by 2024.
Further details, including pricing, will be announced later this year while the 408 will hit the roads in 2023.
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