Peugeot’s all-new 508 PSE is one of the first cars to come out of the factory since the brand, which was established way back in 1896, went under the knife for some serious cosmetic surgery and you have to say – it has worked.
Most powerful Peugeot ever
The 508 is spearheading the new PSE – Peugeot Sport Engineered – division and comes equipped with a a meaty 200bhp, 1.6-litre, petrol engine with twin electric motors – one on each axle – to generate a combined 355bhp and 520Nm of torque. Certainly enough to push you back into your chair.
Unsurprisingly, that makes the 508 PSE Peugeot’s most powerful production car ever built and it will take just five seconds to reach 60 mph before reaching a peak of 155mph.
Because of the electric motor positioning, it also means the car is all-wheel-drive, too, which helps with grip in slippery conditions and makes the car more versatile, too.
More than just power
And there’s much more to the 508 PSE than just outright power. A lower and stiffer suspension setup reduces body roll through the corners while four-piston Alcon brakes give you plenty of stopping power. The French theme continues with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres fitted as standard .
The brake callipers are coloured to give it a sporty feel, the badging and front air intakes have had some cosmetic surgery too, and when you couple those changes with its large 20-inch alloy wheels and large rear diffuser it’s easy to see why this car is raising eyebrows.
Low running costs
Despite all of this performance, it’s not going to cost a fortune to run.
The 508 PSE is also equipped with a rechargeable 11.5kWh battery, which allows for 26 miles of electric driving. When charged up, Peugeot claims it returns 138.9mpg and low CO2 emissions of 46g/km will make this of interest to company car drivers.
Interested? We don’t blame you.