Peugeot 508 renewed: new face and new plug-in

Highlight Peugeot 508

• Revamped face, first model with Inception influences
• New 180 hp plug-in hybrid
• 360 hp PSE version returns

You may remember the moment when Peugeot presented the current 508. The second generation 508 broke with its predecessor with its slick lines. The 508 is now five years old and a lot has changed in terms of design at Peugeot. Younger models like the 308 and 408 are overloaded with significantly more visual drama, so the Peugeot 508 gets a facelift to bring it more visually in line with its more recent siblings.

The Peugeot 508 before the facelift (non-PSE).

The Peugeot 3008 and 5008 – Peugeot’s oldest passenger cars – already ended up on the cutting table in 2020 and, just like those two SUVs, the new Peugeot 508 also gets a grille that extends far below the headlights. However, we find a big difference with the so-called ‘tusks’, the LED daytime running lights that still consist of a few LED strips in the 3008 and 5008. With the new Peugeot 508, these have become three spurs for each headlight. That is striking and important. The Peugeot 508 is the first of the Peugeot family to receive a design element from the Inception Concept. The Inception Concept indicates which design path Peugeot will take in the coming years, so the 508 is certainly not the last Peugeot with such a light signature on the front that refers to claws. So you can probably already imagine what the facelifted versions of the 308 and 408 will look like in a few years.

The facelifted Peugeot 508 (non-PSE).

But there is more news in the field of lighting. For example, the actual headlights are a lot flatter than before, with the result that the Peugeot 508 looks a lot hungrier into the world. By the way, they are copies with matrix LED technology. Peugeot also adjusts the lighting at the rear of both the Peugeot 508 Berline and 508 SW. The light units retain their shape, but have a different layout. For example, the diagonal LED stripes are now to the right, just like on models such as the 308 and 408. In addition, the rear indicators are of the ‘dynamic’ type. Peugeot gives the 508 new bumper work at the front and the PSE version of the 508 and 508 SW also gets a new bumper at the rear. The old Peugeot logo disappears from the grille and makes way for the brand’s new retro logo. The old Peugeot logo also disappears from the black strip that connects the rear lights. There is no logo in its place. Instead, Peugeot will write its brand name here from now on. Peugeot also introduces new alloy wheels, 18-inch large ones called Epherra.

Interior Peugeot 508

A wind of innovation is also blowing in the interior of the Peugeot 508, although the novelties may not be clear at a glance. The 508 gets an infotainment system with a 10-inch screen and with new software. In addition, the traditional selector lever of the automatic transmission makes way for a smaller selector lever as you see in more recent Stellantis products. You will no longer see the old Peugeot logo in the Peugeot 508 either. The well-known retro logo now adorns the steering wheel. Behind the wheel you will find a 12-inch digital instrument panel.

Interior renewed Peugeot 508.

Engines: new plug-in hybrid option

Both the Peugeot 508 Berline (Sedan) and 508 SW will soon be available with a 130 hp 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder, a machine that, like all other engines available in the 508, is tied to an automatic transmission with eight gears. Dieseling is possible elsewhere with a 130 hp 1.5 BlueHDi four-cylinder, but that machine is not supplied in the Netherlands.

Plug-in hybrid powertrains were already familiar to the Peugeot 508, but a new variant is being added. The plug range will now start with a plug-in hybrid variant with a system power of 180 hp and 360 Nm. This has a 150 hp and 300 Nm strong 1.5 four-cylinder that works together with a 110 hp electric motor. The 12.4 kWh battery enables an electric range of up to 64 kilometers (508 SW: 62 kilometers). A step above that is the well-known 225 hp and 360 Nm strong plug-in hybrid flavour. This has the same electric motor as the less potent version, but has a more powerful petrol engine that kicks it up to 180 hp.

Once again, the absolute top version is called the Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE), four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid with a system power of 360 hp and 520 Nm. The Peugeot 508 PSE shoots to a speed of 100 km / h in 5.2 seconds. At 52 kilometers, the electric range is smaller than that of the milder plug-in versions. The 508 PSE does have a 7.4 kW on-board charger as standard. This is an option with the other plug-in hybrid powertrains. You can recognize the 508’s PSE from the front, of course, by the other bumper, but also by the glossy black finish of the grille.

The Peugeot 508 will go on sale in Europe in June.