Large executive saloons, once the staple of the business user have lost their appeal in recent years, particularly to SMEs for reasons such as size, running costs, company car taxation and so on.
This has led to an uptick in quality in the segment (called D-Segment in industry speak) where even mainstream models from volume manufacturers have now been piling on the luxury and technology in a bid to improve their company car appeal.
Peugeot is looking to raise the bar with its all-new 508. which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.
Breaking the mould of the traditional, three-box saloon, there is a radical new aerodynamic look combining a bold new low coupé design with the enhanced practicality of five doors.
The Peugeot 508 features sharp side window design, elegant frameless doors and alloy wheels designed to fill the wheel arch housings. It showcases an integrated rear hatch, offering a significantly larger opening to the generous 487-litre boot.
Inside Peugeot promises a better appointed, premium interior and the very latest generation of the Peugeot i-Cockpit, and includes full grain leather trimmed steering wheel, large 10-inch capacitive touchscreen angled towards the driver and a 12.3-inch head-up digital instrument panel. It also features i-Cockpit Amplify, which enables the driver to choose between two levels of ambience – ‘Boost’ and ‘Relax’.
Available with a range of six petrol and diesel engine and transmission combinations, covering 130 to 225hp, the new 508 is also equipped with high levels of advanced driver assistance systems, including a night vision system, which is new to the segment and uses an infrared camera with the ability to detect pedestrians at night and in cases of reduced visibility.
Peugeot chief Jean-Philippe Imparato, said the brand is looking to “shake up the market” with the new model.
He added: “It’s an outstanding new car that can compete with the best. And, for the D segment, we are talking about the best car manufacturers in the world and we continue to establish Peugeot as the best ‘high-end generalist’ car manufacturer in the market.”
The all-new 508 will be available to order from summer 2018.
