The Impressive New 508

by Ian Lynas

For a saloon to succeed in what is a very difficult and diminishing market it has to be very special and offer a total package- the new Peugeot 508 fills the bill. Perhaps when it comes to style the chosen launch location was Monaco and I do have to say that the newcomer did blend in extremely well as style is one of the hallmarks of the new 508. With a sleek design there are echoes of the 504 Coupe; however as one would expect there is a high level of technology included in the package; yes today there is a seemily ever expanding appetite for connectivity. In bringing this flagship model to market Peugeot has taken the German brands as a benchmark and after having driven the newcomer with its coupe-like styling I have to say it is right up there with the very best and could it offer a challenge to the premium brands; time alone will provide the answer. How does it rate with past and present? Well from a personal point of view, the best from the brand I have driven to date. At the press launch the good folks from Peugeot were describing their new offering as radical. It has all the qualities of a saloon but clothed in a most attractive body. Style and elegance are hallmarks of the French and that has travelled down to the 508; it has a strong on road presence and today buyers want the total package. At the forthcoming Paris Motor Show the 508 SW will make an entrance, again very stylish with that added practicality that such a vehicle can deliver, with the saloon not on sale until November the SW will probably appear at a later date. The inspiration as is often the way came from an earlier concept car and with technology that inspiration came from the DS7 Crossback. A group which benefits in that it can share, the end result, the best for he customer. The Italians are passionate about their cars and how they show it; on many occasions while test driving one of theirs in Italy, they have not concealed that passion. A measure of the style of this new Peugeot came as I drove through the many small villages and indeed cities in the South of and on one occasion a group of bystanders cheered as the new car approached. To me that speaks volumes for the new 508. More good news, a choice of petrol and diesel engines; this will be welcomed by many here in Northern Ireland that Peugeot still has faith in the and it was a 180bhp version which I sampled in the South of France and not only did it deliver sporty performance accompanied by low noise levels and with a very efficient automatic motoring was truly a joy. When I first entered the new 508 I immediately focussed on the premium instrument panel and the very latest version of the i-Cockpit. This first appeared in 2012 and has proved extremely popular with such models as the 3008 and 5008. All of the controls fall easily to hand and full marks for the fitment of the large ten inch screen. One feature which I have come to like with recent Peugeot models is the compact steering wheel surrounded by a variety of controls, not just as many as found on a Formula One car; however all designed to deliver that reassuring quality of drive. Over roads high above the Med coastline I was able to enjoy the handling of the new 508, in fact very much like a sports car but with that addition of quality and the ride was superb. No doubt the more powerful petrol version with 225bhp will even enhance that sports-like drive. I had to make a quick dash to catch a flight from Nice Airport and alas I did not get to try the 225bhp version; power outputs start at 130bhp and of course trim levels that we now expect from Peugeot. The earlier this year and a First Edition model was announced with a limited run, a model with many exclusive features, not forgetting the advanced technologies including fully automated parking, a 360 degree camera and night vision which is unique in the D segment. There is little doubt that the new 508 will prove extremely popular in France and then will follow Spain and the UK and China is a very important market. I aim to be able to spend more time with this exciting new Peugeot on home tarmac and to deliver a much more comprehensive test drive; this is just the starter course. Prices will be announced at a later date. driven June 2018