PEUGEOT

408: In Europe an SUV Coupe, in China a sedan

The Chinese market is very different from the rest of the world, and one of the proofs of this is the new Peugeot 408. The car will be presented in Europe as an SUV Coupe, but in China it will still have the sedan body. It has just been revealed there and will be an exclusive model for the Asian giant.

Even if the European model has a different body, the Peugeot 408 sedan helps to understand what the SUV Coupe design will look like. The previously released teaser already shows a front similar to that of the Chinese car, such as the grille shape, the lower air intake on the bumper, the new company logo and the '408' emblem right after the hood.

The basic design is the same, but it has some differences. The grille, for example, uses vertical and horizontal bars, while the Chinese 408 has the dotted scheme of other releases by the French brand. It is expected to keep some other parts, such as the shape of the headlights and the vertical LED lighting, which Peugeot calls the 'lion's claws'. It is able to also maintain the shape of the taillights, very thin and that pass through the entire rear.

Inside there's no surprise, using the i-Cockpit with a digital instrument cluster and a floating multimedia center. Even the small flat-bottomed steering wheel was kept for the new 408. The engine will be formed by the 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder block, combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power has not yet been disclosed, but it should be around 170 hp as in the previous model. The sedan measures 4,750mm in length, 1,820mm in width and 1,490mm in height, while the wheelbase stands at 2,730mm. The model that appears in the images shows 17-inch alloy wheels. Peugeot describes the new 408 as “very original in its shape, it uniquely combines the characteristic details of an SUV with the dynamic profile of a fastback”. The French manufacturer has not disclosed much about the car, because the global presentation will take place at the end of June, when we will see the difference between the Chinese 408 and the European model.

The Peugeot 408 Sedan will only be sold in China, while Europe will have the SUV Coupe. The brand has not yet commented on the possibility of launching the car in other markets. It could be an option for Brazil, due to the fact that it is a type of bodywork that is still practically restricted to premium brands.

Autonews