The new Peugeot 408 in its hybrid version was presented last Wednesday in Paris. Its unique silhouette, dubbed the “fastback sedan”, is designed for motorists tired of the omnipresence of SUVs. Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Peugeot (a brand of the automotive group Stellantis) unveiled the 408 in Paris last Wednesday, a new car with an unprecedented silhouette known as the “fastback sedan” aimed at motorists tired of the omnipresence of SUVs.
The interior of the new Peugeot 408. The car will go on sale in early 2023. It will be available with petrol and hybrid (gasoline-electric) engines, later it will be available in a purely electric version. Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Models derived from 4x4s have been steadily gaining popularity for several years, reaching a record 46% of new car registrations last May in France, now linked to classic sedans. This enthusiasm is also reflected in the standardization of vehicles on the roads, to the chagrin of buyers looking for originality. Some buyers of the new Peugeot 408 “want a more original and innovative silhouette than a compact SUV that they consider too conventional or too family-friendly,” the brand explained.
The new Peugeot 408 in its hybrid version was presented last Wednesday in Paris. Its unique silhouette, dubbed the “fastback sedan”, is designed for motorists tired of the omnipresence of SUVs. Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Significantly lower and longer than the Peugeot 3008 SUV, the car has a very sloping coupe rear that contrasts with current codes. Recognizable from the rear by its cat ears, two aerodynamic lugs and a wide, sloping glass tailgate, it combines the elegance and sportiness of a van with the virtues of a station wagon. “This is a new look in the automotive industry. From whatever angle we look at it, we discover unexpected shapes,” said Matthias Hossanne, Peugeot Style Director. But if it’s not an SUV, the 408 still retains some of the trimmings that remain popular with buyers: higher ground clearance, bigger wheels, and black plastic guards around the fenders, sides, and rear bumper. “It’s a bit of the best of both worlds,” sums up Mikael Trouve, Head of Design for the brand.
The new Peugeot 408 in its hybrid version was presented last Wednesday in Paris. Its unique silhouette, dubbed the “fastback sedan”, is designed for motorists tired of the omnipresence of SUVs. Benoit Tessier/Reuters
The car, made in Mulhouse in France, will be launched in early 2023 in Europe and then from mid-2023 in China, where it will be assembled in Chengdu. Available with petrol and hybrid (gasoline-electric) engines, it will later be available in pure electric mode as well.
Source: Reuters.
Source: L Orient Le Jour
I’ve been working in the automotive industry for over a decade, writing about everything from reviews to industry news. I’m currently an author at World Herald News and cover a wide range of topics relating to automobiles.
