IN AN announcement this week, Peugeot has resurrected the 408 nameplate and it will likely be right here quickly (subsequent 12 months), filling a spot within the medium passenger automotive class with a fastback-on-stilts physique, not a sedan within the accepted sense.
The nice-looking French automotive will initially be accessible with a selection of three engines, two petrol-electric plug-in hybrids and one typical 1.2-litre turbo-petrol, then, down the observe, a completely electrical model.
Provided that the medium sedan automotive market is sort of kaput, it’s no shock Peugeot is betting every means with the quasi-SUV stance of 408 and a fastback no much less. Maybe they know one thing no person else does…
Peugeot isn’t going into this by half measures and can little question supply the brand new 408 in a variety of apparatus grades doubtlessly giving clients a selection of as much as six or extra autos after the EV arrives. The Australian line-up will definitely be restricted to probably solely a few variants, however the EV shall be on Peugeot’s brief checklist right here.
All three engines within the advance guard run an EAT8 (Environment friendly Automated Transmission 8) eight-speed auto that may cut back gasoline consumption as much as seven per cent in comparison with the EAT6. It provides improved cease and begin response, introduces a particular ECO mode with free-wheeling (from 20 to 130 km/h), weighs much less and is extra compact.
The EAT8 supplies extra driving consolation in operation due to a extra comfy shifting of gears made potential by optimised exchanges of torque between engine and gearbox and the transition to eight speeds. The latter helps cut back the soar between gears at every shift.
Each day, the brand new EAT8 supplies comfy driving when departing from a parked place and for parking manoeuvres.
The transmission drives the entrance wheels solely.
The 2 hybrids, badged because the 180 and the 225, share a 1.6-litre low-boost turbo-petrol engine with a single in-line electrical motor connected to spice up efficiency and assist gasoline financial system. Each will be plugged in to cost the battery which additionally recharges dynamically.
The 180 (hp) is nice for 133kW cumulative energy whereas the 225 (hp) is nice for 165kW cumulative energy and each obtain a most 360Nm of torque from as little as 500rpm as much as 2500rpm.
No efficiency or gasoline financial system particulars have been offered by Peugeot suffice to say any medium dimension automotive that weighs round 1400kg with 165kW and 360Nm on faucet goes to ship loads of efficiency. Not a lot within the lesser mannequin clearly.
The entry degree 408 PureTech 130 (hp) runs a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine good for 96kW and 230Nm outputs. Because the lightest weight 408, efficiency shouldn’t be cringeworthy. It scores the eight-speed auto as effectively.
The hybrid expertise utilized in 408 is pretty generic by right now’s requirements and is analogous to what’s utilized in quite a few different autos…. not ground-breaking in different phrases. Peugeot appears to be hedging its bets by providing the 2 hybrids as plug-ins with, presumably, restricted EV vary and lengthy recharge occasions.
No particulars in regards to the EV model can be found suffice to say the automotive will possible leverage EV powertrain expertise from throughout the Stellantis group which now owns Peugeot.
Some options within the new 408 embrace the most recent technology of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit with a attribute small steering wheel. Peugeot says the cockpit “locations an emphasis on high quality and connectivity, with the (very) newest applied sciences to make the driving and travelling expertise extra intuitive and rewarding.”
The automotive boasts six cameras and 9 radars to run its driver help programs and to “present peace of thoughts and security.”
The standard array of driver help options contains adaptive cruise management with Cease & Go perform, night time imaginative and prescient, which warns of animals, pedestrians or cyclists forward earlier than they seem within the excessive beam, long-range blind spot monitoring (75 metres) and rear site visitors alert, which warns of a possible hazard when reversing.
The standout function of the brand new 408 is its excessive using fastback silhouette that’s each engaging and a spotlight grabbing.
The form is accentuated by sharp strains, a brilliant aggressive toothed grille (new to Peugeot) varied chrome garnishes and LED lighting and is claimed to be aerodynamically environment friendly however no figures are quoted at this level.
Within the cockpit, the emphasis is on high quality and connectivity, with the very newest applied sciences to make the driving and travelling expertise extra intuitive and rewarding.
The brand new 408 will arrive in the marketplace at the start of 2023 popping out of Peugeot’s manufacturing unit at Mulhouse, France, for the European market after which, quickly afterwards, out of the Chengdu manufacturing unit in China for the native market.
