April, the Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered, the first product of a new era of sports cars of the brand will arrive at dealerships, which will be born in collaboration with Peugeot Sport and which will have the particularity of taking advantage of hybrid technology to achieve the maximum performance.
In this case, the combination of a 1.6 gasoline and two electric engines, one on each axle, are responsible not only for high performance but also for remarkable efficiency. The 200 horsepower of the combustion engine, added to those that can be used when they work together with the electrical mechanics (which separately give 110 CV for the front and 113 CV for the rear), yields a total power of 360 horsepower.
This allows the sportier version of the 508 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.2 seconds while managing to homologate an average consumption that barely exceeds 2 liters per 100 kilometers traveled, which is equivalent to emissions CO2 of 46 g / km.
Developed By The Brand’s Racing Department, It Is The Most Powerful Series-production Model In Peugeot’s History.
From an aesthetic point of view, the first thing that makes this 508 easily recognizable is the details in the kryptonite that we find both on the exterior and in the cabin. In addition to the three claws of the logo created to distinguish the models with the Sport Engineered signature.
This tonality is present in the front air intakes, in the brake calipers, or in the numerous contrasting stitching that gives a distinctive touch to the interior. The bucket seats, upholstered in a mix of leather, 3D fabric, and Alcantara, are another particular feature of this variant of the range.
Its sporty appearance is contributed by a chassis that lowers the body height by 10 millimeters at the front and one at the rear, along with wider tracks on both axles (2.4 centimeters in front and 1.2 in rear), some aerodynamic appendages at the ends of the bumpers and a large rear diffuser in black, with tailpipes in the same tone on each side.
Fine Turning Technically,
The Peugeot Sports specialists have placed particular emphasis on the suspensions, where shorter and stiffer springs work together with dampers of variable hardness to achieve a good compromise between sportiness and comfort.
The brakes are another point of improvement, with ventilated discs of 380 millimeters in diameter and four-piston calipers for the front wheels. The 20-inch wheels, on which Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are mounted in sizes 245/35 R20, complete the special characteristics of this 508 that is offered with saloon and station wagon bodywork.
As a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the new Peugeot has an electric range of up to 42 kilometers and can drive without the petrol engine running at a maximum speed of 140 km / h. Apart from this electric model.
It has four more selectable through a button located on the center console: hybrid, in which the car itself decides autonomously how to combine the interaction of the three engines to obtain the most adjusted consumption comfort, where the smooth ride is prioritized; sport, which allows for a sporty driving style.
Making the engine react faster to throttle actions, as well as seeking a firmer suspension, more direct steering, and more immediate gear changes in the eight-speed automatic transmission; and finally, 4WD, in which the electric motors always move the respective axles to obtain an all-wheel-drive system that improves stability on slippery surfaces. In sport mode.
The gasoline engine always keeps the battery sufficiently charged so that full power is available on request. Also, that battery is charged to 100% in seven hours if we plug the car into a domestic outlet, but the time is reduced to four hours if we charge 3.7 kW with 16 amps or less than two hours if the point of load is 7.4 kW and 32 amps.
Lemans With This Sport Engineered Version
Peugeot wants to revitalize a segment, that of the large sedans, which is clearly on the decline in sales and also intends to associate the new model with the experience acquired by the brand in the different types of competition in which it has participated throughout its history.
In fact, the car is launched shortly after Peugeot announced its return to the World Endurance Championship in 2022 and is presented precisely on the French circuit where the most prestigious race on the calendar is held, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French manufacturer has won this test three times, the last of them with the Spanish rider Marc Gené sharing the wheel with Brabham and Wurz in the winning 908 HDI.
Despite everything, this Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered cannot be said to be a true sports car. Its weight exceeding 1,850 kilos and its dimensions do not make it excessively agile when we roll hard. Its aesthetic and technical touches will be appreciated by the most dynamic and experienced drivers, but it is still a stately car with a few wise nods to sportiness.
On the other hand, the technological load that it incorporates, the quality of the materials, and the good finishes are necessarily translated into prices where it will already have to compete for face to face with the premium German models, which take most of the cake. in this parcel of the market. In Spain, the version with the saloon body costs 62,200 euros and the station wagon goes up to 63,400 euros.
