Peugeot’s new Sport Engineered division has unveiled the Peugeot 508 PSE as the brand’s most powerful production car yet.
As the first in a line of hybridised performance models to be sold under the PSE banner, the hot new 508 acts as a “technological showcase”. It also arrives as Peugeot gears up to make its landmark return to top-flight motorsport with a Le Mans hypercar entry in 2022.
The 508 PSE production car is available in both saloon and estate guises and holds predominantly true to the aggressively styled Peugeot 508 PSE concept shown at the Geneva motor show in 2019.
Its bright green exterior accents and brake calipers are a nod to the electrified underpinnings and – together with bespoke 20in performance alloy wheels, aerodynamically enhancing front winglets, a gloss black diffuser and black contrasting trim details – set the PSE apart from the standard Peugeot 508. Three colours will be available: Perla Nera Black, Pearl White and Selenium Grey.
The PSE arm’s ‘Kryptonite’ claw-style signature, inspired by the rear light design of the historic Peugeot 504 Coupé, has been applied to the front wings, rear window panel and steering wheel.
The 508 PSE’s hybrid powertrain combines a 197bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder with a pair of electric motors – one with 109bhp on the front axle and one with 111bhp at the rear – sending a combined 355bhp and 386lb ft to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
That 133bhp boost over the Peugeot 508 225 GT plug-in hybrid means the PSE can hit 62mph from rest in just 5.2sec and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
Its 11.5kWh lithium ion battery – which does not reduce cabin space or boot capacity – offers an electric-only range of 26 miles and can be fully charged in two hours using a 32-amp wallbox. The 508 PSE achieves 139mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, emitting 46g/km of CO2.
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A Peugeot with 5.2 sec to 100 is slow?
It surprises me. One thing I am sure is that Peugeot never overstate their performance figures to paste on a glossy magazine. In fact most of their models seem able to shave at least a second off the officially declared figure.
What is going on at Peugeot?
What is going on at Peugeot? Once I was a huge fan of their cars. MI16, 406V6. Both quick, comfy, subtle looking.
This thing has lurid green all over it. 20inch wheels! Halford style crappy winglets on front and rear bumpers, and whilst quick, its not 355BHP quick, so is it the weight of a small moon? It even has ugly kid glass to complete the naff add ons.
I think the decent 508s will exist at the bottom of the range, but in truth you still cant have it with a manual box and a petrol engine, nor pure electric, both of which would have far more appeal than this thing
That was 25 years ago..
That was 25 years ago...things have moved on a little.
michael knight wrote:
It was, they have, but not for the better sadly
SW please
The wagon version of this instantly tops my 'want' list. Reckon it'll be £50k though, probably too punchy for a Pug to succeed.