NEW PEUGEOT 408
The new PEUGEOT 408 is unexpected because it’s different. It is the first of its kind, both in the history of the brand itself and in the car market as a whole. With the new 408, PEUGEOT showcases the creativity of its teams by offering a new ‘fastback’ body at the top of segment C. This new-age PEUGEOT has a feline silhouette, unique charm, and engineering excellence, focusing on economy and intelligent electrification, as well as the thrills of cutting-edge technologies, both in terms of driving pleasure and ease of use.
COMPARATIVE. The PEUGEOT 408 stands out first and foremost for its dynamic ‘fastback’ silhouette and unparalleled style, but also for the extent to which it challenges the status quo. The distinctive feline appearance is an element that now distinguishes the brand’s models. Its lines are sharp, the grille is in the same colour as the bodywork to blend perfectly with the front end, and it is adorned with the new PEUGEOT lion’s head badge. The inverted shape of the rear bumper gives the profile a strong personality. The new PEUGEOT 408 appears to tread resolutely on 720 mm diameter wheels, and the iconic 20-inch wheels present a subversive geometric design. At the front, the signature lighting with the now familiar ‘fangs’ ideally integrates the 408 into the PEUGEOT family, as do the LED tail lights with their three ‘fangs’.
At 4.69m long, and with a long wheelbase of 2.79m, the new PEUGEOT 408 offers enviable comfort for rear seat occupants, a fact attested to by the 188mm of legroom available for their feet. In the same vein, the dimensions of the luggage compartment are just as generous, offering a total capacity of 536 litres, a figure that can be increased to as much as 1,611 litres with the rear seats folded down. The new PEUGEOT 408 is 1.48 metres tall and stands out for its slim and sculpted silhouette, which also makes a decisive contribution to improving its aerodynamic performance.
For both driver and passengers, the PEUGEOT 408 offers the latest generation of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, which is instantly recognisable by its small-diameter steering wheel, and also helps to ensure driving pleasure and perfectly controlled agility.
Inside, and in particular in the driving position, the emphasis is on quality and connectivity, with the latest technologies available to make the driving experience more intuitive and interactive.
Thanks to the assistance of 6 cameras and 9 radar systems, the driver assistance systems provide the driver and passengers with peace of mind and safety. These include:
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function,
The Adaptive Cruise Control (Adaptive Cruise Control) with Adaptive Cruise Control (Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go) and Night Vision, which warns of the presence of animals, pedestrians or cyclists in the path of the car before they are illuminated by the car’s headlights,
Long-range blind spot monitoring, 75 metres,
Rear Traffic Alert, which warns of a potential collision.
The range of engines with which the new PEUGEOT 408 is equipped includes two plug-in hybrid versions with 180 and 225 hp, and a petrol version with 130 hp. All three engines are available with the 8-speed EAT8 automatic transmission. A few months later, the range will be completed with a purely electric version.
Economy was one of the main concerns of the PEUGEOT 408 designers. The joint effort in improving aerodynamics, reducing weight (from 1396 kg) and developing low-emission engines have resulted in the creation of a model that achieves extremely low average energy consumption (in the approval process), whether in its hybrid versions or in the 130 hp petrol version.
The new PEUGEOT 408 will be launched in early 2023. A car with international commercial career ambitions that will be built initially for the European market, in Mulhouse, France, and immediately afterwards, at the Chengdu plant for the local market in China.
“At PEUGEOT, we believe that life is better when there is charm. With its unique looks, innovative fastback bodywork, and stunning elegance, the new 408 is the perfect expression of the PEUGEOT brand’s philosophy and ingenuity,” says Linda Jackson, Managing Director of the PEUGEOT brand. “Unexpected from every angle, the new PEUGEOT 408 is designed for car and life enthusiasts who want to break free from conventionality in search of responsible enjoyment. It incorporates PEUGEOT’s demanding technological standards – controlled performance and a very high level digital experience – as well as the intense thrills of intuitive driving.”
The quest for responsible and modern pleasure: customers
With the new 408, the PEUGEOT brand completes its range in the highly strategic C segment. PEUGEOT has held a leading position in this segment in recent years, thanks to the success of the 3008 and 5008 SUVs, as well as three generations of the 308 saloon and 308 SW, the latter having just been launched. The PEUGEOT 408 completes the brand’s range and places it at the top of the C-Class.
The new PEUGEOT 408 reflects the values and concerns of a highly modernist audience: dynamic and connected, these customers want to contribute to the energy transition without having to sacrifice moments of pleasure. They seek innovation and appreciate the creativity and daring of new combinations that go beyond the conventional.
Most of the customers of the new PEUGEOT 408 will be couples, most of them with a thirst for life, with or without children, who use their car for personal and business purposes. A multitude of needs and desires, often complementing each other, guide their choice. Some wish to move to a purchase of a C-segment model and buy a larger and more spacious car. Others are looking for a more original look and an innovative shape compared to a compact SUV, which they consider too ordinary or too family-friendly. Finally, others simply appreciate the imposing body of a large car. All of them are looking for a very modern driving experience, either for everyday use or for long, comfortable and relaxed trips with passengers.
Unique MOTHER of a dynamic and innovative fastback body: the design
Combined with the feline stance of all PEUGEOT cars, the official language of the new 408 is perfectly in line with the innovative concept of the top fastback in segment C. It is characterised by the particularly sharp edges of the surfaces, which are most noticeable at the rear: at the roof trim, and at the base of the wings, and these sharp edges are designed to play with light.
The 408 has a distinctive exterior architecture. Based on the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform), a multi-option engine platform, the model with its long wheelbase of 2.787m offers excellent space for rear passengers. Its overall length reaches 4.69m and its width, with the mirrors folded, is 1.859m.
The wide tracks (1.599m at the front and 1.604m at the rear) confirm the car’s sure footing on the road, while the large diameter wheels (720mm) play the same role, as does the diameter of the wheels, which reach up to 20in. Although the body of the new PEUGEOT 408 is taller, it retains an extremely slim silhouette and a sporty profile thanks to its overall height of no more than 1.48m.
At the front, the long bonnet framed by raised wings, an element that characterises all the latest PEUGEOT models, stands out. This stylistic choice enhances the appearance of the front end while streamlining the profile, as the wing-bonnet joint is almost invisible. This construction principle also simplifies the outer bonnet line and enables the body parts to fit perfectly.
The Matrix LED technology used in the lights has contributed to the creation of these ultra-thin luminaires, while ensuring a top level of lighting efficiency. These headlights are also the hallmark of the new 408: a feature that says it is undoubtedly a PEUGEOT. The lighting signature extends downwards with two fang-shaped LED strips that penetrate deep into the bumper.
The grille is an integral part of the 408’s identity. It harmoniously surrounds the brand’s new badge that conceals the radar used by many of the driver assistance systems. The shade of the grille ensures that it is “hidden” by integrating it into the overall volume of the bumper – a characteristic feature of the generational change and electrification of the PEUGEOT range.
The large black air vents characterise the appearance of the front end, emphasising the look of the front end.