The first car of the House of the Lion that boasts the brand has been unveiled PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED: this high performance version of the 508, hatchback and station wagon, is the first to express the new concept of performance, the Neo Performance, that is high performance and eco-sustainability. It is also themost powerful series car ever built by the brand transalpine: 360 CV overall and 520 Nm of maximum torque thanks to the combination of thermal and electrical energy, but approved according to the WLTP protocol with suns 46 g CO2/km.
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Here she is 508 SPORT ENGINEERED: anticipated by a concept seen at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, we had it then glimpsed on the occasion of the announcement of Peugeot’s return to the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, led by the CEO of the brand Jean-Philippe Imparato, and now we finally know every detail of the model that paves the way for a new range of high performance electrified models.
Difficult to confuse it with the other 508s: the bodywork is equipped with distinctive elements of this version, starting from the front, with the sharp grille, the redesigned front shield and the side conveyors, in addition to the air intakes and the Kryptonite yellow monogram , which refers to the new identity of PEUGEOT SPORT.
Looking at it from the side you can see the three specific claws, positioned on the third upright of the hatchback version and on the front wheel arch of the station. At the rear, the central glossy black extractor and the black exhaust terminals obtained by electrolytic treatment give it a great grit. The most attentive will have already noticed that it is wider, 24 mm in front and 12 behind, and characterized by a specific lowered trim compared to the standard versions.
Confirming his temperament are 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/35 high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and 380 mm front discs with six-piston Kryptonite-colored PEUGEOT SPORT brake calipers.
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Under the hood a four-cylinder 1.6 turbo petrol with 200 horsepower and then two electric motors, one front and one rear powered by 11.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, for a total of 360 cavalli of power and well 520 Nm of couple. This new plug-in hybrid is a true sports car, capable of flying from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5.2 seconds, making the transition from 80 to 120 km / h in just 3 seconds and burning 1000 meters with start from a standstill in 24 ”5. The top speed is 250 km / h and is electronically self-limited.
SPORT ENGINEERED, which has a 8-speed automatic transmission with paddles on the steering wheel, it just emits 46 grams of CO2 per kilometer and, if necessary, it can proceed with zero emissions for 42 kilometers and up to 140 km / h. There 4-wheel drive promises to discharge all available power and optimum traction to the ground in all weather conditions.
It seems that the PEUGEOT SPORT engineers have obviously not forgotten that driving pleasure has always been at the heart of the brand’s DNA: for this reason they have calibrated the chassis to give it an optimal balance and a dynamic behavior up to expectations, also capable of to offer a level of comfort expected from a car in this segment: the suspensions can be set to 3 modes, Comfort Hybrid e Sport.
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The driving mode There are five selectable, starting with Electric: to travel in 100% electric mode, with a range of 42 km according to the WLTP homologation protocol.
- Comfort: Hybrid driving mode (with thermal and electric engines working in synergy) with suspensions set to guarantee maximum comfort.
- Hybrid: like the previous one but with a suspension setting that guarantees ideal dynamic behavior. In this mode, the thermal or electric propulsion or the synergistic action of both will be selected automatically and according to the traffic conditions, the route and the performance required of the car, thus optimizing consumption.
- Sport: it is the one that delivers the maximum system power to exploit its full potential. Acts on steering, shock absorbers and responsiveness of the accelerator pedal. In this mode, the heat engine ensures a battery charge that allows the car to always make maximum power available.
- 4WD: it is the one that guarantees constant traction of all four wheels to ensure maximum traction on surfaces with the lowest grip.
They say that the setup of its chassis has been taken care of to ensure maximum driving pleasure and great road holding; they also promise great steering responsiveness. We reserve the right to try it, even though we know they know very well how to create effective frames and we had also tried it during the test with the 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport. We will certainly not have the disappointment that is sometimes felt in tests with certain hybrids or electric that promise high performance, where the only thrill is acceleration on the straight …
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The safety is at the top because in addition to four-wheel drive, it can count on all FENNEL present on the French flagship: from Night Vision to adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, to lane positioning assist to keep it perfectly within its own lane, then continuing with automatic emergency braking, and many others.
The standard equipment it is of a high standard and places it at the top of the 508 range: the now famous i-Cockpit it is enhanced by a compact steering wheel with three Kryptonite yellow claws and a 100% digital instrument cluster. The graphic animations of the latter and the central 10-inch HD screen exclusively adopt the brand’s new signature.
The saddlery it is specific and is a sporty mix of leather, 3D textured fabric and Alcantara. THE sports seats they have been designed to be able to contain the body even in the most demanding driving, while maintaining a high level of comfort. The passenger compartment is distinguished by double stitching in North Gray and Kryptonite Yellow. A valid Hi-fi audio system from FOCAL is standard. This car was designed from the outset to also be equipped with plug-in hybrid propulsion and does not impose any sacrifice in terms of space on board and in the luggage compartment, because it is the same as the thermal versions above the loading surface.
The bodywork will be available in three different colors: Selenium gray (the one in the photos and exclusive to this version), Pearl black and Nacré white. There it can be recharged in less than 7 hours connecting it to a standard household socket e in less than two hours connecting it to a Wall Box or a public column.
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The 508 SPORT ENGINEERED benefits from the experience gained by the French company with the new hybrid models, such as 3008 HYBRID and HYBRID4 or 508 HYBRID, and from that made with the development of concepts such as 208 FE and 308 R HYBRID. Without forgetting the one gained with racing hybrids.
Not everyone knows that Peugeot boasts an incredible sporting experience and an extraordinary palmares, from victories in Indianapolis to those in African rally, from Dakar al WRC, from Pikes Peak al World Rallycross, up to the endurance races and the mythical 24 Hours of Le Mans, won three times.
It is a heritage which is a source of great pride, which together with passion and their know-how, pushes them to face this new challenge: to create cars capable of great performance and fun behind the wheel, but also very efficient. This is the new concept of Neo Performance: the perfect combination of sportiness and technology, with record CO2 emissions per km.
The list price is not yet known, however the new 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED will be orderable in Italy from December and the market debut will take place in April 2021. It is the first chapter of a new era, of a new range of electrified models. High performance.
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