Peugeot Pulls The Covers Back On Its New 408 C-Segment PHEV Crossover!
Sedan Will Continue On In China...
Peugeot has pulled back the covers off of its all-new 408 – a C-segment crossover featuring a fastback silhouette. The newest Peugeot combines a unique design and feline stance with engineering excellence focused on efficiency and intelligent electrification, with cutting-edge technologies dedicated to creating an instinctive driving experience.
At the front, are distinctive fang-shaped light signatures bringing the 408 into line with the rest of the new Peugeot family, as do the three-claw LED lights at the rear. An inverted cut-out in the rear bumper also gives the profile a distinctive look.
With a height of 1.48m (58.2 inches), a length of 4.69m (184.6 inches), and a long wheelbase of 2.79m (109.8 inches), the new Peugeot 408 provides a spacious second-row with 188mm (7.4 inches) of knee room. The hatch is also generously sized, with a maximum volume of 536 liters (18.9 cubic feet), which can be increased to 1,611 liters (56.9 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded down.
For its driver and passengers, the new 408 offers the latest generation of Peugeot i-Cockpit®, recognizable by its compact steering wheel, which is dedicated to driving pleasure and controlled agility. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the interior space and on connectivity, with the latest technologies making the driving and traveling experience more intuitive and rewarding.
Powered by 6 cameras and 9 radars, a suite of 30 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) provide peace of mind and safety. That includes…
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go function
- Night Vision (which warns of animals, pedestrians, or cyclists in the lane before they appear in the vehicle’s high beams)
- Long-Range Blind-Spot Monitoring
- Rear Traffic Alert (Rear Cross Path Detection)
Efficiency has been at the heart of the new Peugeot 408’s design and development to minimize fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Particular attention was paid to the 408’s aerodynamics. Every body part was optimized thanks to close collaboration between Peugeot’s designers and aerodynamics engineers, from the bumpers, hatch, diffusers, to the body pillars, mirrors, and underbody screens. Even the design of the wheels allows for superior aerodynamic efficiency and contributes significantly to the car’s overall performance. These measures, combined with its low stance, contribute to a reduced frontal area (SCx) of 0.654 m2 and a low drag coefficient of 0.28.
Body rigidity has been optimized by bonding the structural elements to improve vibration comfort. Driving pleasure is part of the new Peugeot 408’s DNA, with exemplary road holding, top-of-the-range ride comfort, rewarding driving dynamics and perfect handling in town, made possible by a compact turning radius between curbs of 11.18m (36.6 feet).
Wheel sizes are offered from 17 to 20 inches while the tires are Class A rated to improve efficiency by reducing rolling resistance, without sacrificing Peugeot’s instinctive handling and benchmark road holding.
Under the hood, the 408 will be offered with three engine choices, including two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. The PHEV systems will be offered with front-wheel-drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission, coupled to an electric motor producing 109 horsepower (81 kW). What sets them apart is the turbocharged 1.6-liter PureTech engine as it has two different outputs, 150 horsepower (110kW) or 180 horsepower (132 kW). Both engines make 360 Nm (265 lb.-ft.) of torque.
The Li-ion battery on both PHEVs has a capacity of 12.4kWh and an output of 102kW. Two types of on-board chargers are available: a 3.7kW single-phase charger as standard and an optional 7.4 kW single-phase charger.
Estimated charging times are as follows:
- From a 7.4kW Wall Box (32 A) with the optional 7.4kW single-phase on-board charger – fully charged in 1 hour 55 minutes
- From a 7.4kW Wall Box (32 A) with the standard 3.7kW single-phase on-board charger – fully charged in 3 hours 50 minutes
- From a European 3-pin socket using an accessory charging cable and with the standard 3.7kW single-phase on-board charger – fully charged in approximately 7.5 hours
There is also a 1.2-liter PureTech inline-three-cylinder gasoline engine available. It complies with the latest Euro 6.4 emissions regulations and combines with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Engine Stop/Start (ESS) system. The engine produces 130 horsepower and is mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission.
For a decade, the Peugeot i-Cockpit® has been refined and improved with each new generation. The new Peugeot 408, it sets new standards for ergonomics, quality, practicality, and technology using a new infotainment system – Peugeot i-Connect®.
A compact steering wheel is a feature of the Peugeot i-Cockpit® and increases driving pleasure by enhancing the sense of agility and providing precision of movement. The steering wheel of the new 408 has been ergonomically optimized to accommodate controls for the multimedia system (radio, telephone, music playback) and selected driving aids, and is available with heating for ultimate comfort in cold conditions.
Located close to eye level, just above the steering wheel, the new digital instruments incorporate a 10-inch digital screen from Allure level. In GT trim, it is available with 3D technology. The digital cluster can be fully customized and has several display modes (TomTom Connected Navigation, Radio/Media, Driving Aids, Energy Flow, etc.) that can be changed directly from the control panel, so drivers can personalize the driving experience to suit an individual journey.
The construction of the new Peugeot 408’s dashboard is based on a “high wind” architecture, which places the air vents in raised positions, at face level, to improve comfort.
This architecture also allows the central 10-inch touchscreen, which is positioned slightly lower than the digital instruments, to be brought closer to the driver. The system features fully configurable i-toggle switches, which are arranged below the central screen like an open book and provide an aesthetic and level of technology unique in the segment. Each i-toggle is a touch-sensitive shortcut to climate settings, a phone contact, a radio station, or an application launch – these can be set to the user’s preference.
One of the objectives of Peugeot’s Interior Design team when designing the passenger compartment of the new 408 was to balance the space between the two front occupants. The Peugeot i-Cockpit® is faithful to the principle of a “driver-oriented” central screen, which optimizes driving ergonomics without excluding the passenger.
The new Peugeot 408 will hit showrooms at the beginning of 2023 and will be sold in global markets. Initially, it will be produced for the European market, at the Mulhouse production facility in France, and subsequently in the Chengdu factory, in China, for the local market.
The Chinese market will also get a sedan version of the crossover, which has been highlighted on Peugeot’s China website. We will have more information at a later date.
What do you think of the new Peugeot 408 crossover? Let us know in the comments below or in the MoparInsiders.com forums.
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