Code name P54: The brand new Peugeot will see the light of day soon. We are in Sochaux, it was last February, just one month before production began. We are in the middle of the Pilot factory: A small series where all the assembled processes of future design are tested. It’s 1pm, so a special meeting starts …
Oulala, it started badly, we don’t understand anything … But, obviously, it will talk about flaws. The meeting is a daily one and is chaired by the project director, Emmanuel Lafaurie.
Everything is checked, small quality defects, minor docking defects, nothing seems to avoid them.
Aim therefore zero defects, in this model. It is a Peugeot 408. A brand new car in a variety of styles, but also a completely new architecture … . Divided? Maybe. But a strong and calculated bet, so much so that the pregnancy was longer than average … Desire to break the rules, focus on new lines, unusual silhouette. The 408 is the starting point for an international offer that could upset the sedan and SUV world.
4 years of development. But a study that started more than 7 years ago with this model of the founder, which lays the foundations and dimensions for this 408 … 4.69m long.
Focus Blue: Launch tint, a tint called Dichroic: two colors in one, blue and green to emphasize the car lines.
Designed on the technical platform 308, 408 is located on the C-section, that of the compact salon, but in a very attractive posture, but above all a much larger space than that of the coupé SUV.
Morphology, the starting point of white paper 408. So we went back to Sochaux, to meet Jean François Mougin. He’s a 408 Architect. Yes, you heard right, architect, which is also in the car. His work? Explain the morphology of a car in its large quantity, while respecting the interest in style and technical details.
Indeed, Jean François starts from a simple model that equally anthropometrically, men / women together, to a world average of 1.76 m.
Determining the dimensions of his car, he works on two quick references: the eyes that the field of vision must enter the best angle for all the inhabitants of the world, but not just. The challenge for the 408 was also to design a roof that flows towards the trunk, known as a “fastback”, while preserving the ability to sit back. It is not easy. Because generally the run line starts from the front seats.
So it is not a cutting edge sedan or SUV.
We took advantage of our Sochaux presence to see it drive, on Belle Champ’s very secret website: And of course, in genes, it’s Peugeot. The task was above all to adjust the moisture and running gear to its unique silhouette. Despite its 20-inch wheels, a ground clearance elevated by 24 cm wide tracks compared to the standard sedan, the 408 is a powerful car.
Although it uses the 308 dashboard, it has 30 of the latest generation of driving assistance systems, provided with information by 6 cameras and 9 radar.
Finally, note that it will have two Plug in Hybrid engines known at frequencies, 180 and 225 hp. It will provide an entry level gasoline engine and in the future a 100% electric version. Released in China by Mulhouse, a newcomer will arrive at our market in early 2023.
Keyword: New 408, Peugeot has broken code