Despite what you
may initially think, this isn’t just any ordinary Peugeot 508. Instead, it is a
long-wheelbase variant that is aimed at the Chinese market.
Images of an undisguised test vehicle were recently shared on the Worldscoop
forum and depict a sedan that is almost indistinguishable from the existing 508
hatch.
The front half of
the upcoming Peugeot model appears unchanged from the 508, but there are some
minor changes in the rear half, where the rear side windows have been stretched
to match the longer wheelbase. While hardly visible from these images, info
suggests the 608 (name unconfirmed) will have a traditional trunk rather than
the hatchback-style of the regular 508.
It remains to be
seen how much longer the Peugeot’s new saloon will be compared to the 508, but
it doesn’t appear to be extremely longer. This increase in length
and wheelbase will result in a useful amount of additional legroom for
rear-seat passengers, something Chinese customers truly appreciate.
The 608 (508 II) which is expected to launch in early 2019, will
be sold with the same powertrains as the 508 and 508 SW. Consequently, we’ll
see up tp six different engine options – two petrol and four diesels.
These engines will
vary in displacement from 1.5-liters to 2.0-liters and offer up between 130 hp
and 225 hp, although it’s unknown if all of them will be available in China.
Regardless, they will be paired solely to an eight-speed automatic transmission
and, shortly after it launches, a plug-in hybrid variant should join the
lineup.
