Australian homologation data reveals reduced and electrified-only line-up for updated French sedan and wagon
It seems Australia’s Peugeot 508 line-up will shrink when the facelifted mid-size sedan and wagon arrives here in the next 12 months or so, with recently published homologation data revealing just two variants have been approved for sale in our market (so far).
According to the federal government’s ROVER database, the facelifted 508 range will comprise solely of a plug-in hybrid sedan and a matching plug-in hybrid Sportswagon – a move reflective both of Peugeot’s local electrification strategy and the ever-declining passenger car market.
This is the first concrete indication we’ve had of the new model making an appearance Down Under, given Peugeot Australia is yet to officially announce in any sort of timeline for our market, but we do know the sleek mid-sizer is earmarked for a mid-year release in Europe.
Other Peugeot products typically take between six and 12 months to arrive in Australia following their European rollout, and so an early- or mid-2024 local launch would be feasible, especially so given the pre-facelift Peugeot 508 GT Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid is still at least a few weeks away from entering showrooms.
Nevertheless, the homologation data reveals the facelifted 508 will be powered exclusively by the familiar 165kW/360Nm 1.6-litre plug-in system as seen in the current 508 GT PHEV, which combines a 133kW turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with an 81kW electric motor and an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery.
An eight-speed automatic takes care of transmission duties.
Little else about the new model is divulged in the data beyond its revised kerb weights, the optional availability of 19-inch alloy wheels and the heart-bleeding absence of the flagship 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered.
Peugeot Australia has long said the high-performance hero model is under study for our market but has never officially locked it in, despite the overwhelming demand for mainstream performance vehicles – a dying breed – these days.
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Keyword: Facelift to shrink Peugeot 508 range