The new (right) and the old.
PETALING JAYA: Local Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd has launched the new 508 line-up last month, which now sports a shift towards a more elegant styling.
We got our hands on the new 508 THP (turbo high pressure) sedan variant for a comparison with the previous 508 Premium year model 2013.
Externally, the French carmaker has adopted a few aesthetic changes – moving from the previous feline looks with a gaping “mouth” for a more serious or corporate appearance.
The new car now gets a more horizontal hood and grille styling.
Also, the lion logo which used to sit at the edge of the bonnet has been re-positioned on the grille.
Other updates are the Bi-xenon headlights on the old 508 which has been superseded by full LEDs (low, high, signal) in a new signature housing.
The new 508 now gets a fancier the daytime running lights and the newly refined rear light-clusters.
The trunk chrome strip, previously located above the lion logo and is now found as visual garnish on the bottom corners of the rear bumper.
Running down the new 508’s flanks, there’s nothing out of the previous model and the new 508 still maintains its 1,456mm-height and 18-inch wheels.
But, unless a measuring tape was lying around, spotting the increase in front (+16mm) and rear (+22mm) overhang would have been hard.
The new 508 still has a 2,817mm wheelbase, but its front track is now 25mm narrower at 1,828mm and its rear track has been widen by 4mm to 1,552mm.
The car may be a little longer now, but it doesn’t mean more space is available inside, since the boot still measures 545 litres and the cabin hasn’t gotten any roomier.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine has been tweaked to deliver 163bhp at 6,000rpm and 240Nm of torque from 1,400 to 4,250rpm while mated to the same six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters, Tiptronic and sport mode.
The new 508 dash and the old one (below).
Although there’s an increase of 7bhp, the 508’s performance and efficiency is similar to the old 508’s still
emitting 164g/km of carbon dioxide, consumes 7.1 litres/100km on the combined cycle and sprints to 100kph in 9.2 seconds – just like its predecessor.
Those familiar with the previous 508 would find the current interior similar with the same dashboard, steering wheel, paddle shifters, head-up-display and gear shifter lever.
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This time, Peugeot has chosen to omit the control knob that was previously mounted just ahead of the armrest / stowage compartment and have instead integrated some of its controls into the centre console.
New buyers would be happy to note that the 508 now comes with an 8Gb Jukebox hard drive for your personal media files and to top it off, satellite navigation, reverse camera, blindspot sensor system have been thrown in.
Previously, the 508 was deemed feature-packed with good handling dynamics for a European make and now priced at RM175,000 (estimated), returns with a few more add-ons that would definitely tickle the fancies of many.
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