ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE STYLISH NEW PEUGEOT 408

Peugeot has for some time been producing a range of very stylish and practical cars and the theme continues with the new 408, a fastback at the top of the C segment of the market. This new model, with a unique design and stance and engineering excellence, is focused very much on effiency and intelligent electrification and with cutting edge technologies which are dedicated to creating a good drive experience; something we all look forward to and enjoy with our car.

The newcomer stands out from the crowd with its dynamic fastback style and the feline stance is fairly typical of the latest models from this French carmaker, with its sharp lines and colour coded grille, the latter blends in very well with the front end and shows the new company emblem. The front of the 408 features a distinctive fang shaped light signature which brings this new model in line with the rest of the family, as do the three claw LED lights at the rear and an inverted cut out in the rear bumper also gives the profile a very distinctive look. In this modern age, style is very important when in the business of selecting a new car. Height at 1.48m, length 4.69m and a long wheelbase at 2.79m, this provides spacious second row seats with 188mm of knee room and the boot is also generously sized with a maximum volume of 536 litre, which can be increased to 1,611 litres with the rear seats folded down; this clearly displays the practical side of this new Peugeot.

For all who travel in the 408, there is the latest generation i-Cockpit (above), the compact steering wheel, which I must admit I like as it gives a racey feel to the cabin and I know many do not like the size of this steering wheel. Quality of the interior space and on connectivity with the latest technology makes driving and the travel experience more rewarding. This newcomer has six cameras and nine radars, a suite of 30 advanced driver assistance systems to deliver peace of mind and above all safety. Highlights include, Adaptive Cruise Control, with Stop and Go Function, Night Vision, which warns of animals etc. before they appear in the high beam, Long range blind spot monitoring (75 metres) and Rear Traffic Alert, which as the name suggests warns of potential hazards when reversing. There are a range of powertrains, for good customer choice, including two rechargeable plug-in- hybrids with 180 and 225bhp as well as a PureTech 130bhp petrol version and all three mated to an eight speed EAT8 automatic gearbox and an all electric 408 will eventually follow. In bringing the 408 to market efficiency was as key concern for the design team since the combination of efforts in terms of aerodynamics, weight reduction and low emission engines means that the 408 can now boast remarkably low average energy consumption, both for the two hybrids as well for the petrol engine.

However, you will have to wait until early next year to take the wheel of this new Peugeot and it will be available first for the European market with build taking place at the Mulhouse facility in Eastern France. Of course it will be a global offering with production in China at the Chengdu facility.

Ian Lynas