Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis has confirmed the svelte new 408 fastback will be marketed in the country but says the distributor has yet to confirm specification and arrival timing.
The new C-segment 408 fastback has been revealed to global markets and will be available with one internal combustion engine (ICE), two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and a battery electric vehicle (BEV).
The PHEV models offer a 180bhp or 225bhp powerplant, while the ICE is a 130bhp petrol. All three are paired with an 8-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox. The all-electric version will follow a few months later says the manufacturer.
Efficiency was a key concern for the designers, since the combination of efforts in terms of aerodynamics, weight reduction (from 1396kg) and low-emission engines means that the vehicle can now boast remarkably low average energy consumptions (under homologation), both for the hybrids as well as for the 130bhp petrol version.
Peugeot says the sharp lines of the new 1.48m high 408 brings a new silhouette to the brand. The grille is the same colour as the bodywork to blend in perfectly with the front end, and it wears the new Peugeot emblem with the head of a lion.
The 408 sits on 20-inch rims which feature a disruptive geometric design. At the front, the light signature perfectly integrates the 408 into the Peugeot family, as do the three-claw LED lights at the rear.
Thanks to a length of 4.69m, and a wheelbase of 2.79m, the new 408 has a remarkably spacious second row, with 188mm of legroom. The boot is also generous with a volume of 536 litres, which can be increased to 1.611 litres once the rear seats are folded down.
For the driver the 408 offers the latest generation of the i-Cockpit®, instantly recognisable by its compact steering wheel dedicated to driving pleasure and controlled agility.
In the cockpit, the emphasis is on quality and connectivity, with the very latest technologies to make the driving and travelling experience more intuitive and rewarding.
Powered by six cameras and nine radars, the driver assistance systems provide peace of mind and safety. They include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function
- Night Vision, which warns of animals, pedestrians or cyclists ahead before they appear in the high beam
- Long-range blind spot monitoring (75 metres)
- Rear Traffic Alert, which warns of a potential hazard when reversing
The new 408 will arrive in overseas markets at the very beginning of 2023. It will be produced at first in Mulhouse, France, for the European market and then, soon afterwards, in the Chengdu factory in China.
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