As promised, Peugeot presented its new 408, a model that debuts fastback bodywork, which is a novelty in the history of the brand. Destined to win a place at the “top of the C segment”, the new model stands out for its aesthetics with personality and promises, from now on, to establish itself as a reference in terms of aerodynamics and low consumption.
Due for market launch early next year, from the French plant in Mulhouse, the new 408 is a kind of Citroën C5 X with the Peugeot emblem. This means that this new proposal will share the EMP2 mechanics and architecture with the “bro”, on the other hand offering greater refinement, all in order to compete in a superior position with rivals such as the Renault Arkana and the Cupra Formentor.
Larger than the 5008 and with a ground clearance of 18.9 cm, the French crossover measures 4.69 meters long, 1.85 meters wide and 1.48 meters high, which places the wheelbase in 2.79m. This allows the brand to claim a second row of seats with plenty of legroom (18.8 cm). The trunk is another of the arguments of the new model, announcing 536 liters in the version equipped with the well-known 130 hp PureTech gasoline engine (471 liters in the plug-in hybrid versions). But the volume of the boot can grow to 1,611 liters by folding down the rear seats. However, any of these values places Peugeot in a position of advantage over its rivals, since the Arkana has a maximum of 513 liters and the Formentor 450 litres. The C5X goes a little further, starting at 545 liters and reaching 1,640, but it is larger (4.80 m long).
In addition to the 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, the Peugeot fastback will offer two plug-in hybrid versions (PHEV), all associated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The PHEVs always mount the same 81 kW/110 hp electric motor, coupled to the EAT8 box, and the same battery, with a capacity of 12.4 kWh, the power difference being due to the gasoline engine. Thus, in the 180 hp PHEV, the thermal engine delivers 150 hp, while in the 225 hp PHEV the power of the combustion engine reaches 180 hp. The accumulator should allow to homologate a range in electric mode of 55 km, but this data is still a mere estimate.
The truth is that the on-board charger that is proposed as standard is 3.7 kW, which means that in a standard socket, at eight amps, it will take about seven hours to reach a full charge. In a connection with double the amperage, the recharging time drops to 3h50. Alternatively, the customer can optionally pay more for an extra 7.4 kW charger that will allow them to ‘top up’ the battery in less than two hours. Later, an exclusively electric version will be introduced, leaving diesel completely ruled out.
As for the interior, the new Peugeot 408 replicates the solution already shown by the 308, which will bring more advantages than disadvantages. Among the first, the quality of the materials and finishes stands out as an asset, accompanied by the rigor in the construction of the usual dose of technology, which ranges from the digital instrument panel to the central screen, both 10 inches. The potential downside is that the design trade-offs required by the i-Cockpit will mean that not all drivers can find the ideal position behind the wheel with relative ease. But we will have to wait for a first contact with this new model to see if Peugeot has achieved, at this point, that the style does not override the function.
As for on-board comfort, the lion brand is once again betting on electrically adjustable seats and AGR certification, a “muminho” that until recently was exclusive to Opel. In the field of security, there is a wide range of driver assistance systems (ADAS), supported by six cameras and nine radars. The ADAS available on the new 408 include features usually only found on earlier segments, with an emphasis on cruise control adaptive with adjustment of the distance in relation to the preceding vehicle, traffic alert in the rear, blind spot monitoring in a range of up to 75 meters and night vision system, which identifies at night, or in conditions of poor visibility, to pedestrians and animals beyond the radius reached by the high beams.
Subsequently, the Peugeot 308 can be equipped with the package Drive Assist 2.0, synonymous with greater peace of mind at the wheel, especially on longer journeys on fast roads. This is because it will already enable semi-automatic lane change between 70 and 180 km/h, combining the cruise control adaptive with Lane Keeping Assist.
Source: Observadora
