Currently reading: Next Peugeot 508 to get fastback rear and second-gen i-Cockpit

Upcoming BMW 3 Series rival will feature a swooping roofline as part of its image makeover

Peugeot’s next-generation Peugeot 508 will arrive next year with a drastically altered look to the current model, as shown by these new spy pictures.

The four-door will swap the conventional saloon bodyshape of its predecessor for a fastback design, giving it a sportier look.

Although dressed in camouflage, the recently spotted development car demonstrates the swooping roofline of the future model as well as what looks to be a slightly longer wheelbase.

Peugeot’s second-generation i-Cockpit system will also feature, adding a 12.3in TFT display, 8in touchscreen and just eight main buttons on the car’s centre console.

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The system, which is the brand’s answer to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, will drastically improve perceived quality and also give the cabin a driver-centric layout, which will be enhanced with the fitment of Peugeot’s smaller steering wheel.

These changes should boost the 2018 car’s chances in its fight against increasingly stiff competition from the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport. The more premium Peugeot will also challenge the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4.

Peugeot has refrained from revealing any details for the future model, but the car is expected to use a familiar range of turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engines for the bulk of its line-up, with a hybrid at the top of the range.

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Peugeot and its sister brands of the PSA Group recently announced plans to ditch diesel hybrid drivetrains for petrol hybrid ones. This switch is likely to be applied to the next 508's range-topping model.

The same plans also confirmed all-electric ambitions, suggesting a zero-emission drivetrain could be integrated into the 508 later in its lifecycle, should demand for electric four-doors increase sufficiently.

The current 508 costs from £25,045 in the UK, which ranks it among its more premium German rivals. Expect the next-generation 508 and its higher quality image to continue this trend.

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ianp55 15 June 2017

Peugeot 508

As it's so different from it's predecessor.why isn't it the 509 as the 508 has not been such a great success has it?
streaky 16 June 2017

I think it is purely that

I think it is purely that they are running out of numbers!
odie_the_dog 15 June 2017

With that roofline, it would

With that roofline, it would surely be more sensible to make it a 5 door a la Audi A5.

That would be a bit of a departure for Peugeot who's family car offering has never been a hatchback (508, 407, 406, 405 etc).

artill 15 June 2017

That roof line looks very

That roof line looks very poor for rear seat headroom, i do hope there is an Estate version too solve that issue. Of more concern is Peugeot's button free interior. The poor engine range of the current model needs vastly expanding too. And as the new car will use the platform from the 308 they will need to do a lot of work on that to make it suitable for this market. I really worry about the direction Peugeot continue to go, away from their roots of elegantly styled, and driving dynamics focused cars such as the 405 and 406, towards a tech fest of screens and little else. Fingers crossed i am wrong.
michael knight 15 June 2017

artill wrote:

artill wrote:

I really worry about the direction Peugeot continue to go, away from their roots of elegantly styled, and driving dynamics focused cars such as the 405 and 406, towards a tech fest of screens and little else. Fingers crossed i am wrong.

I think you might be. 3008 is a class-leader and will be a huge seller for them. The i-cockpit, whether you like it or not so much, is the biggest interior architectural change since screens were introduced, and will be emulated by others. And they do have buttons - a row short-cut keys to go to menu items.
Pugs were never brave, but they have to be now simply to stay alive..and that's a good thing.
The point is that enthusiast cars, mainstream cars that handle..these will be in the history books. Kids don't care about that in their future cars..and if you do you'll be able to hire a track-car and have some fun on a circuit. No-one would buy the 406 if it were updated and on-sale today...

Mini2 16 June 2017

Back to their best

artill wrote:

That roof line looks very poor for rear seat headroom, i do hope there is an Estate version too solve that issue. Of more concern is Peugeot's button free interior. The poor engine range of the current model needs vastly expanding too. And as the new car will use the platform from the 308 they will need to do a lot of work on that to make it suitable for this market. I really worry about the direction Peugeot continue to go, away from their roots of elegantly styled, and driving dynamics focused cars such as the 405 and 406, towards a tech fest of screens and little else. Fingers crossed i am wrong.

3008 is a very highly regarded car, proving that Peugeot are back to their best. I'd say that their styling is the best it's been since those cars you mentioned, and a far cry from the wallowy depths of the 207s and 308s of the naughties. Button free interior of the 3008 is far more thought-through than the one in the smaller 308, and does at least have hot keys for key functions. Heating/ventilation controls on a touch screen however, does not make sense - and I'd love to challenge Peugeot's designers on this as an expert in the field myself.