Meet Peugeot’s High-Performance Plug-In Sedan & Wagon:

While the sedan market continues to shrink as the automotive industry continues its move towards more crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, there are still a few exciting sedans left on the market. The Dodge brand of course has the Street & Racing Technology (SRT) developed four-door Dodge Charger Scat Pack, Hellcat, and Hellcat Redeye muscle cars. Chrysler also continues to build its beloved 300 Series sedan, packing HEMI power under the hood. But there is another performance sedan in the Stellantis portfolio that many North Americans don’t know about it.

Like the Street & Racing Technology (SRT) lineup under the Dodge brand, Peugeot has its own performance line called PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED. Peugeot’s high-performance division wants to establish a new type of performance by building machines with electric power that creates new sensations and driving experiences.

The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED is the brand’s first performance vehicle in five years. Based on the Peugeot 508 sedan (also available in a 508 wagon configuration), this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) aims at taking on offerings from German automakers Audi and BMW.

Under the hood is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, combined with a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) creating 360 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft. of torque. Putting the electric motors on each axle means that this car is all-wheel-drive (AWD). The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED comes standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission which provides fast and crisp shifts, allowing for the French performance sedan to 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2-seconds and an electronically limited 155 mph top speed.

While the car is AWD, the rear wheels are driven only by the rear axle-mounted 113 horsepower electric motor. According to Peugeot, the car defaults to electric-only upon start-up and runs mostly on the rear electric motor (or rear-wheel-drive). On electric power only, the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED is good for about 26 miles (or about 42 kilometers). 

To put the additional power to the ground, Peugeot engineers have lowered the suspension by 4mm, made the car stiffer by 50%, and added three-mode adjustable damping to the mix. Both the front and rear track of the car is wider than the standard car, while Alcon high-performance four-piston brake kit painted in the car’s signature Kryptonite color. Carbon-fiber-looking 20-inch EXXAR cast-aluminum wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires also help the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED to grip the road.

The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED features several design elements that help make the performance-oriented offering stand out over the standard 508. There is the exclusive black grille featuring a Dark Chrome Peugeot lion logo and a “floating blade” pattern. Large air inlets in the front fascia are highlighted by the Kryptonite color, help provide better engine cooling. The PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED three Kryptonite-colored claw marks (which look similar to a certain energy drink company’s logo) adorn the quarter panel inserts of the sedan and on the front fenders of the wagon. The claw marks are also found after the 508 texts located in front of the hood and the rear of the car.

Inside, the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED features a very stylish and modern interior. There is a 12.3-inch digital cluster that is customizable making it possible to display the tach and/or energy flow to better follow the modes of the electrified powertrain. A 10-inch HD touchscreen also puts audio, climate, and other various functions in reach of the driver. Both screens offer PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED specific graphics.

For Audiophiles, there is a FOCAL-branded 10-speaker audio system that includes 4 tweeters, 4 woofers, and a subwoofer to provide occupants with premium Hi-Fi sound.’Comfort fit’ seats are optimized for adjustment, heating, and massage are outfitted in a combination of Alcantara, fabric, and Mistral Nappa leather. Seats are finished with a double hemmed stitching with Kryptonite and Tramontane colors. There is also a special sport steering wheel wrapped in perforated grain leather with double-flattened Kryptonite stitching, featuring a black insert at the bottom with the signature Kryptonite claws.

While we won’t be seeing the 508 or the Peugeot brand in the North American market. The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED gives us a preview of the possibilities of an electrified future for brands like Dodge and Chrysler and the next generation of passenger cars.

The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED sedan and wagon are currently on sale in France. The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED sedan has a starting price of €66,640 (or about $81,000 USD), while the wagon has a starting price of €67,940 (or about $82,500 USD) making them the most expensive models in the Peugeot lineup.

2021 Peugeot 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED Image Gallery:

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