Peugeot reveals hot new 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered

THE European performance scene has had another label added to its ranks this week after Peugeot debuted its new ‘Peugeot Sport Engineered’ (PSE) performance arm while simultaneously revealing its new entrant, the 508 PSE.

Much like BMW and Mercedes-Benz’s respective M and AMG performance arms, PSE will be responsible for creating the brand’s most potent vehicles, starting with the 508 sedan and sportwagon.

Already taking the crown as the most powerful Peugeot to date, the 508 PSE is motivated by an as-yet-undetailed plug-in hybrid powertrain good for a combined 268kW/520Nm.

Drive is sent to all four wheels, resulting in a 5.2-second dash from 0-100km/h, 24.5-second standing kilometre and electronically limited 250km/h top speed.

To help haul the big four-door up again, engineers have fitted 380mm front brake rotors which are clamped by a set of four-pot callipers – rear brake specifications, much like the powertrains, have not been detailed yet.

Under the skin, three-way adjustable suspension – comfort, hybrid and sport – helps keep things comfortable and tightens the dynamics, the latter further aided by 24mm-wider front and 12mm-wider rear tracks.

The whole package then rolls on 20-inch alloy wheels shod with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

“508 Peugeot Sport Engineered embodies the very spirit of Peugeot’s road handling know-how,” the brand said in a statement.

“The adjustments to its chassis are fine-tuned here by Peugeot Sport engineers for ever greater driving pleasure. Cornering manoeuvres are precise thanks to ultimate steer tuning.”

Five driving modes are on offer to match any driving situation – electric, comfort, hybrid, sport and 4WD – with them all doing essentially what is written on the tin.

When under full-electric power, Peugeot says the 508 PSE will cover up to 42km under the WLTP cycle and cruise at up to 140km/h.

If the battery goes flat while on the move, the ECU will automatically swap over into one of the petrol driving modes with hybrid mode swapping between electric and internal combustion power depending on the driving circumstances.

When the time comes to recharge the battery, Peugeot says it can be recharged in “less than two hours” when using a 32amp wall box, four hours when using a 16amp reinforced plug or in “less than seven hours” on a standard domestic socket.

When all is said and done, the brand quotes a 46g per 100km CO2 emission rate, “the equivalent of 2.03L/100km fuel consumption”.

As you would expect of a performance flagship, the 508 PSE brandishes a series of enhanced visual cues over the standard versions including more aggressive front fascia, three ‘Kryptonite’ claw – the PSE signature – badging, sports body kit, black exhaust outlets, black rear diffuser and aforementioned 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin there is an abundance of straight lines and sharp angles with the dashboard itself taking on a layered appearance with all of the interfaces oriented towards the driver.

A new take on Peugeot’s i-Cockpit digital instrument cluster is mounted high up, seemingly rising above the top of the compact steering wheel while a 10-inch infotainment screen is mounted low down on the centre fascia.

The interior itself follows a largely “Tramontane” grey colour scheme, offset by the contrasting Kryptonite green stitching.

The comfort-fit seats are wrapped in a mix of Alcantara, leather and 3D mesh while other key standard features include a Focal Hi-Fi audio system, driver’s head-up display, night vision, adaptive cruise control with Stop and Go function, lane departure warning system and automatic emergency braking.

Despite the plug-in hybrid drivetrain, Peugeot says the 508 PSE boasts all of the same interior space and cargo capacities as its standard – internal combustion engined – stablemates regardless of body style.

At this stage it remains to be seen if the 508 PSE will make it to Australian shorelines where, if it does, it will inevitably have to do battle with the similarly sized and powerful Kia Stinger GT as well as the mid-to-upper reaches of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 ranges.

GoAuto has contacted Peugeot Citroen Australia to confirm if it is interested in offering the 508 PSE here.

So far this year ending August, Peugeot has shifted 1392 new vehicles across its nine-model line-up, 240 units down on the 1632 units it sold over the same period last year.