Sell-out success for Peugeot 508 RXH Frankfurt special

PEUGEOT offered 300 early adopters a limited edition of its high-riding, all-wheel drive, diesel-electric 508 RXH wagon as part of its production launch at the recent Frankfurt motor show – and sold them all in just three days.

Priced at €48,950 ($A67.700) in the French market, buyers of the exclusive RXH are promised early delivery and a high specification including “high-end” Calern Brown paint finish and special interior trim comprising alcantara leather seats featuring copper-coloured stitching, heating and electric adjustment with memory.

The dashboard also receives copper trim highlights with a numbered aluminium plaque and occupants are treated to four-zone climate-control air-conditioning plus a JBL sound system upgrade.

Further standard features include “hands-free ignition”, Xenon headlights, motorised tailgate, front and rear parking assistance and 18-inch forged alloy wheels revealing black-painted brake callipers.

The HYbrid4 drivetrain of the RXH links a 120kW 2.0-litre diesel engine driving the front wheels with a 27kW electric motor on the rear axle for a combined 147kW with 450Nm of torque and is shared with the 3008 crossover due to launch in Australia mid-2011.

Left: Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4.

Performance of the RXH should be comparable with the 2.2-litre diesel-powered 508 GT flagship, but with CO2 emissions below 109 grams per kilometre compared with 150g/km of the GT.

None of the special-edition RXH wagons are destined for Australia but Peugeot Australia is “investigating” a local launch for the vehicle in the third quarter of next year.

If the technology-packed RXH does get the nod for Australia, expect it to top the range above the GT, which is priced from $52,990 plus on-road costs.

Similar high-riding wagon entries in the mid-size wagon-based compact SUV class include the Subaru Outback, priced from $38,490 to $55,990 and the Skoda Octavia Scout, costing between $39,990 and $43,990.

As GoAuto has reported, both Peugeot’s 308 and 508 ranges will be bolstered in October by the addition of 82kW 1.6-litre diesel variants with ‘e-HDi micro-hybrid’ idle-stop technology, which is said to reduce urban fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 15 per cent.

National marketing manager Richard Grant said advancements in diesel and hybrid technology are “taking the company and our customers another step closer to achieving that fine balance between personal mobility and environmental responsibility.”

Peugeot Automobiles Australia director Ken Thomas told GoAuto at the 508 launch in July that the company regards its HYbrid4 models as essential in moving the brand forward in Australia and avoid falling behind the likes of Toyota, Nissan and Renault – that have all begun vehicle electrification programmes.

Peugeot sales in Australia are down 4.9 per cent to the end of August, against a backdrop of a market that has shrunk 4.4 per cent. The brand sold 3682 vehicles, with the small-sized 308 range being the top seller, with 1217 units sold.

Sales should begin to pick up again with the introduction of a facelifted 308 and the new 508 mid-sizer.