Peugeot 308 SW wins CarBuyer award for best estate car 2015

• The new PEUGEOT 308 SW has strong credentials that make it an outstanding and capable winner
• Award salutes the best identified cars available to buy
• The PEUGEOT 308 is an award-winner having won the coveted Car of the Year in 2014

The PEUGEOT 308 SW has again been chosen for a special accolade – this time as Carbuyer’s 2015 ‘Estate Car of the Year’. This is the fourth year of Carbuyer’s awards and for 2015 the online website, from Dennis Publishing, has put more emphasis on what buyers actually search for and as such, has based the awards on the 20 biggest questions buyers ask.

Carbuyer’s Editor, Stuart Milne, commented; “The 308 SW offers more space than you'd believe given its compact size, but it's a range of efficient engines and a low price that cement the SW's position at the top of this class.”

Stuart continued by saying “As our Plain English Crystal Mark proves, our concise, easy to understand buying advice is jargon free - and includes in-depth reviews and entertaining videos. We have backed this up with the very best technical data available – which comes direct from the manufacturers themselves.

“Carbuyer receives 1.4m unique users a month, viewing more than 5.5m pages. Videos on our YouTube channel are also successful, with more than 282,000 subscribers and 118m video views to date. Our reviews are the most accurate, in depth and up-to-date available and are written with the car buyer in mind. 

That means we focus on the things that really matter to new car buyers, such as; running costs, practicality and reliability. We listen to the questions car buyers ask, which is why you’ll find features about the best economical cars, the safest cars and best cars for less than £150 a month among more familiar features outlining the best SUVs or hybrids. All of which puts real car buyers on the front foot when it comes time to negotiate the best possible deal when they replace their car.”

Citroen celebrates with a number of commercial vehicle awards.

Citroën LCVs have just scored a hat trick at the Business Van of the Year Awards 2015, presented by Business Vans, in association with Low Cost Vans. Announced at a ceremony in London earlier this week, Citroën LCVs were honoured with:

Van of the Year- Berlingo HDi 75 manual L1 625 Enterprise

Best Heavy Van- New Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise

Best Small Trades Van- Berlingo HDi 75 manual L1 625 Enterprise

Ralph Morton, Business Vans’ Editorial Director, remarked; “Citroën is to be congratulated for its major success in the Business Van of the Year Awards 2015, presented by Business Vans. Winning three of these prestigious awards reflects the exceptional range of benefits that the Berlingo and New Relay offer van operators. 

The Business Van Awards are recognised industry-wide, thanks to the strict operational and financial criteria laid down by the judging panel, which this year included directors and senior managers from three major leasing companies; the FTA; Glass’s BCA and our sponsors Low Cost Vans.”

Jeremy Smith, Citroën’sHead of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, commented; “To win one of the prestigious Business Van of the Year Awards is an achievement, but to win three is exceptional. The double win for Berlingo is a reflection of the great all-round capability and versatility of our best-selling LCV, which recorded its highest-ever annual sales in 2014. 

We are also delighted that the New Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise impressed the judges sufficiently with its exceptional range of operational, financial and load carrying benefits to win the ‘Best Heavy Van’ prize. The New Relay is also winning new customers, with sales of this model up by over 35% in 2014.”

“The Citroën Berlingo is smart, practical and versatile, plus it's affordable to run - no wonder it's perfect for trades wanting a small panel van. It is a great all-rounder, supported by a network that understands the requirements of small business van operators. If you only need one van, this is it: our Business Van of the Year,” comments Ralph Morton.

Winning the ‘Best Heavy Van’ Award against tough competition, the New Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 6-speed manual Enterprise convinced the judging panel of its strong combination of operator benefits. These include load carrying practicality, driver safety, comfort and convenience. There are also low whole life costs to consider, thanks to very competitive contract hire rates, long service intervals (up to 30,000 miles) and excellent combined cycle fuel economy of 38.2mpg. 

This model also provides the highest payload (1,525kg) in its class and a very practically laid out load compartment. Other New Relay features noted by the judges were its high levels of standard equipment, such as air conditioning, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth hands free and USB connectivity, Teletrac Smartnav satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking. 

The judges commented that the Berlingo HDi 75 manual L1 625 Enterprise won the ‘Best Small Trades Van’ Award, as it suits all trades wanting a compact van and has excellent built-for-business specification. This Berlingo model offers operators low contract hire costs, excellent fuel economy, in-service reliability and low emissions. 

It also has strong driver appeal with high levels of standard equipment, including Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and air conditioning, as well as the unique Citroën Teletrac telematics package. As with the New Relay, this includes Smartnav intelligent satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking for additional productivity, cost savings and safety gains.

TMW - Citroen C4 Cactus - Buying Online, is it really as good as they say? FINAL UPDATE 22/3/15

With the advent of the Internet some years ago, it soon became the place to go to, to shop, and shopping online these days comes in at many billions of pounds, from your loaf of bread, to computers and holidays, and everything else in between.

But for some reason, buying a car online has not been the surefire hit that it could and should be, companies have come and gone, from big names like Jam Jar and Virgin, to current companies like Carfile.net, Broadspeed and a number of others.

So when i decided that it was time to get something new, and shiny, i wandered off to our local Citroen dealer, as both, my partner and I, had taken a shine to the C4 Cactus, Especially in the Obsidian Black, with Gloss black wheel, and black air bumps, I am sure from here you can tell we like black, it looks rather mean doesn't it ?.

So, off we toddled to the our local Citroen dealer, only to be told the only Cactus they had, they allowed the Salesman to take it on a "Day Out", so off we went to the next one, they did not have ANY Cactus on demonstration, just one in the showroom, but we did spend some time looking over the car, and checking it out.

The salesman was very helpful, and gave us lots of info that we had not known before, but was unable to advise if, and when they would ever get a demo car in, so, after a quick "ask google", whoever invented that should be given a rather HUGE pay rise, we found another dealer 40 miles the other way, so off we went.

The dealership, Rawlinson of Bury St Edmunds, was a real eye opener, we entered the showroom and found the cactus on display, and started to have another good look around, we were then greeted by a rather young lad that enquired if he could help, we asked if they had a car to test, only to be told that NO, they did not, and they probably would not have an Auto on demo anyway, he then refused point black to discuss what deal might be available for someone that wished to pay for the car outright, and again he stated quite categorically that they would not offer any discount whatsoever.

This  person was  rude, curt  and not  what is to be expected from  anyone  in  a  sales  environment,  anyway,  this  same dealer had a Renault outlet in the same building, so we went in there and  were greeted by a rather  knowledgeable chap, that was shocked to  hear what we had to  put up with, now, considering  he   was  in   Renault   kit,   he   very   helpfully, answered any questions with full knowledge, and was happy to  help,  he  took our  details  and  said  that  the  main man would contact us the following day, which he did.

It turned out that they did in fact have the exact model we were after, as part of their demo fleet, and after some persuasion he eventually got us to go back for a test drive, and we were so glad he did, we were well impressed with the car, the comfort, space, economy and technology, so we agreed it was a no brainer, we would be getting a Cactus, as long as the price was right, I have never paid full price for a car, ever, and i do not intend to start now.

However, he would not budge, he said he would throw in some mats (which are standard equipment anyway) and "some" fuel, so not really any deal to be had, so we went back home and had a check on line, and we found a few sites that were offering decent deals on new Cacti, we emailed a couple and got a quote from one, for just over £18k, so we thought about going back to the first dealer, that had sent their salesman on a day out in the only Cactus they had, we never advised of the price and asked them to give us their best price.

This particular dealer chain, Marshall's, i really don't like dealing with, they tend to bully you, talk down to you and generally are not that good at customer service, in my opinion, and as suspected, that's exactly what we got, we advised them at the end of the price we had managed to get a car for this particular price, and all they could do is slag off the company, and do everything possible to try and bully us into having a car from them, well, it did not work, they were very rude, and said that there was no way that we could ever get a car for lower than their prices.

How wrong they were, we got home, well hacked off, and i started to search again, I then received my weekly email from What Car, and as usual they had a piece on cars that they stated they could locate at vast discounts, so i popped on and followed a link to carfile.net, and started to have a poke about, they seemed to have some rather tempting offers, so I thought, there is no harm is enquiring, so we located the Cactus on this site and placed the bits and pieces that we wanted onto their base price, it came in at under £18k, we were surprise and impressed, and curious.

We placed an enquiry, and this is where it started to fall apart, emails went back and forth, then the dealer, sent one saying the price was wrong, and increased the price, OK we thought the price was different on carfile.net compared to Citroen, so we agreed to that price, and then the next email, he put it up again, which then took it some hundreds of pounds over the advertised price, and none of the questions that i had asked in the previous email, had been answered, so i decided not to take the risk, and sent an email advising of such.

I was then emailed by Carfile.net, and a dialogue opened up, he was unaware of the second increase, but after checking, the increase was not correct, and so it came back down to the proper price, a few more emails passed, and i felt that maybe a second bite at the cherry should be offered, and we went forward, the deal was back on.

Due to the nature of the sale, it seems that the car is devoid of all the fripperies, like showing the customer how the car works, apparently there is only a 30 - 40 handover, which is far more than i have had elsewhere in the past, so that's not an issue, i have only one request and that's to have the car handed over, indoors, the showroom or workshop, as collection will be in January, you can imagine the weather will be far from ideal, to spend time going around the car checking for any possible issues, I requested this, and got an answer that seemed like I was asking for the resurrection.

So, where do i go from here, well, nowhere, i should receive the paperwork by the end of this week, once double checked and signed, i will send that back, and then i just need to await a date from them when the car will be delivered.

I will do updates as and when i know anything, and hopefully all will go swimmingly, and come January a nice new Cactus, called Spike, will be gracing our home.

30th November 2014 - UPDATE.

Well, I wouldn't say that the relationship between dealer and customer was good in our case, and it took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago, i received a call from the dealer when i was out and about doing the now, obligatory Christmas shopping, with my mother-in-law, and that's stressful enough.

It now turns out that the car is being delayed, no reason was given, even when asked, and no date was given for when we could expect to know of it's arrival, and i find that extremely hard to believe, having already purchased a lot of new cars between us both, we have always been given a date of build, and expected arrival at dealership, even if has been months away, so why can't Citroen.

I have also asked Citroen UK a few questions on their Facebook pages, which they seem unwilling at answer,  just simple ones, like "how many sets of keys come with the car" and another, is one that really made me angry, we wanted to add a service plan to the purchase price of the car, its simple enough, so I asked the dealer, who stated quite clearly that Citroen UK deals with it, so I contacted them, who quite clearly said the dealers deal with it, i went back to the dealer, who passed me back to Citroen UK, I still don't have a clue.

Added to this, the sheer vast amount of complaints that we are reading on their Facebook pages from customers about many different issues, it is really making us re-think the purchase, can they really be as bad as many different people say they are, can CUK really be as ignorant of the products and customer service, as they seem to be, and can the dealer, be as vague as he appears to be, well, only time will tell, and we will make our final decision in the next week or so.

22nd February 2015 - UPDATE

Well, we collected our car on the 6th of February, a longish drive up to Bristol Street Motors to see our car for the very first time, and there he sat, in the showroom, resplendent in its darkness, it looks evil, and it looks great, but I digress, firstly, the weeks leading up to the collection of the car involved a number of messages to CUK, as I had been told many times, that the dealership does not have anything to do with service plans, i wanted to get info from CUK, but again, the passing back and forth was evident.

So, i contacted a couple of other dealerships in the county, and managed to get some figures, i asked for a Citroen service plan, and i was quoted nearly £800, which to be honest was a joke, my Jaguar was less that that, in fact other service plans we took out were all less than that, so i called another to get three individual prices for services 1, 2 and 3, and again that came out at, again, nearly £700, so, i contacted CUK, and stated that the i was shocked that the Cactus was supposed to be a car that's saving people money, that the serving was so expensive.

Then low and behold, they gave me a price of a three year service plan, £440, why the hell they couldn't just give me that in the first place, i have no idea, so i contacted my local dealer, to enquire about buying one, so again, I asked for the costs of a three year Citroen service plan, and they quoted me £770, i said that i had ASKED for the Citroen service plan, not there own, he got quite aggressive and rude, and then stated that the £440 was for two services only, and the third year they just "look at it", so my question was if i am paying for a three year service plan, why would i then need to pay again, for a third year service.

Again he was rude, and i ended the call, I can't see how it is acceptable that you pay good money for a three year plan, yet you have to pay for a third year service on top of the plan, surely that is something that trades description would need to look into, but that's for another day and another person to follow up on, I have lost all confidence in CUK, their total lack of customer service, their failure to be able to answer questions and to palm it off to the dealer, the complete lack of interest they have in the customer, that, after all, has paid their wages by buying their products, shows what contempt they have for the paying customer.

The dealership experience was not as we would have liked, and the excuse that "because you pay Internet prices you do not get a proper hand over" is a very very poor and dreadful one, to not be shown the car, and how it works properly, can be in some cases dangerous, and surely the dealership has a duty of care, to ensure that its customers are in full knowledge of how the car works, yes we are not thick, but even after a couple of weeks and lots of reading the handbook, we still are getting used to the touch screen system, and still we are getting confused, so to not be given a proper tutorial by the dealer, when you have spent the best part of £18.5k is dreadful.

Anyway, back to the car, and here fortunately we have a big plus point, it is great, and the fuel consumption we have achieved so far is amazing, and not just the indicated on the screen, we did the full tank to full tank figures and on our journey home we managed an exceptional 77mpg, and about town we are getting mid to high 50's, and that's great, at this rate, we will only need to fill the car up 4-5 times a year, with our limited mileage, it is by far the most comfortable car we have had for sometime, and it is so easy to drive.

What does concern us is the Eco button, this turns off the start stop system, sometimes you have to press it many many times for it to activate, and should you forget, the car has a habit of cutting out whilst still moving, albeit slowly, like when you're creeping at a roundabout, or junction, that's really the only thing i am very unsure of, i don't think it is that safe to have a car cut out when it is still moving, the rear camera/reversing sensors are spot on, and make reverse parking so easy, likewise the front sensors, they are very good, and although they get you close, they never get you too close as to worry.

Another concern is the gear change, we are fully aware that the car is not a manual, or an automatic, it is both, it has a manual gearbox which changes gear automatically, so whilst driving along, unlike in other auto cars, you will hardly notice a gear change, in this there is a distinct, and rather large pull back, the dash screen indicates that there will be a change, about a second before it changes, you then feel the car slow, before it goes into the next gear and off you go again, in some cases, you can time it just right, that you wont notice it that much, but if you are on a busy roundabout, or junction, and you need to pull away quickly, the sudden slowing down from 1st to 2nd, can be very alarming, and on my first roundabout after leaving the dealership, it did this, and it frightened the hell out of me, i had forgotten how noticeable it was from our test drive back in October, this is not a criticism, but an observation, and i suspect over time and further advances, this gear change may be adjusted to be more smoother, but that is something for Citroen to deal with, if they feel it necessary.

The park assist is amazing, and fun, we have not used a car with this facility before so we tried it out, and we found what we thought was a very small spot, and to be honest it is not one i would have even considered, before, but we pressed the button, and abide by the instructions on the screen, we passed the spot and got told to stop, put the car in reverse, and allowed the car to go back on its own, without me using the accelerator pedal, i allowed it to go back on tick over revs, as it went back, the steering wheel suddenly turned and as it went back, it made adjustments, and as we neared the car behind, we stopped, put it in forward, and again allowed the car to move forward on its own tick over revs, again the steering wheel whizzed around on its own and parked us perfectly.

Getting the car out of the space is the same, just allowing the car do the manoeuvre itself, and again it did this swiftly and perfectly, whether we use it again, is something that we will see, but for now, it is another thing that we have had to work out for ourselves. The bumps or Airbump®, are great fun, and we have had no end of people poke them, just to see what they are and what they do, i think that we picked the right combination of colour, well, all black, it just looks evil, aggressive and in your face, and that's not what we set out to achieve, but i have had a few black cars, as black is my favourite shade, so it was a no brainer really. 

The iPod connectivity is perfect and plays the songs, but it is not easy to operate, you can not go from radio to iPod or back using the steering wheel buttons, you have to go to the touch screen, which can be quite difficult, as the button size on the screen for the audio/media controls is quite small, so you have to be very accurate with the press, which means taking your eyes off the road to press that button, it is the same for any of the the section buttons situated either side of the screen, but once you're there, then it is fine.

The buttons on the steering wheel on the right, do the controls for the radio/audio with volume and phone, a roller makes the display screen move up or down to the next song in the list, or onto another radio station, or in the phone book onto another person, as I have mentioned the phone, it would be prudent to say that the connectivity for my phone, a Samsung Ace 3, is just spot on, it connects first time every time, and is one of the easiest, i have come across, and far superior to the MINI Countryman we owned a couple of years ago, which would only ever connect after you forced it to pair.

The ride is sublime, very smooth and reasonably quiet, at higher speeds there is noise around the side mirrors, but then most cars have that, the car takes most potholes well, unless it is bigger than average, then it does crash and thump, but i do tend to try and avoid them, the car is not a sporty car, it does not have very firm suspension, so if you take a corner slightly faster than normal it will frighten you, but it will get you around, but the Cactus is not a car that you treat like a, say, DS3, the C4 Cactus is a car that takes you back to the late 70's, when cars were comfortable, and this is definitely that, it runs nice and economically, it is easy to drive, if not use, we will still be working out the touchscreen this time next year.

But the few foibles have definitely been smashed with the positive points, I just hope that this car, which we intend to keep for about 5-7 years, the longest we will keep a car for some considerable time, will be reliable, as a quick look on CUK's Facebook page clearly shows that the number of very unhappy people seriously outweigh the positive comments, by a massive margin.

Being unable to drive any great distances, i found that i was not enjoying driving anymore, when i used to adore it, i have found that because this car is so easy to drive, get in and out of, is economical, and a real pleasure to be in, i have been out for a "drive" a few times, and i have enjoyed them, whereas before driving was a chore, and literally a pain, lots of pain, I am not saying that the Cactus has turned into a medical miracle, far from it, but it makes my driving far more comfortable, and whereas before i would not do the driving, i find i am not giving the keys to my significant other, because i am enjoying too much.

So in conclusion, well, there are a number of points for and against

FOR

• It looks awesome
• It is so comfortable
• It is very economical
• It is easy to drive
• It is modern and up to date, yet harks back to an era that Citroen seemed to forget about
• It rides very well
• Has loads of gadgets
• We love the top box, loads of room.

AGAINST

• Dreadful dealer experience
• Exceptionally poor handover
• Dreadful Citroen UK customer service
• Over priced servicing costs
• Lack of close able/hidden cubby holes
• Dangerous Stop/Start - Unable to permanently disable
• Complicated touchscreen system
• Gear change could be smoother

The sublime driving experience makes up for the poor service we had from Bristol Street and CUK, but the buying experience from Carfile, albeit a little awkward to start, was perfectly adequate, polite and informative, and something that should be considered when buying a new car, however, if you prefer to be near a dealer, and speak with them face to face, this maybe not be the way forward for you, the endemic attitude from all but Carfile shows how little Customer Service is thought of, and for me, this Citroen will most probably be the first and last car we buy from the French brand, and that is a shame, because they are making some great looking cars, but everything else is just so bad, maybe Citroen France should be looking into why there are so many complaints, and out of these complaints why so many are not being dealt with in a polite, swift manner.

• CAR - 100%
• DEALER - 30%
• INTERNET - 80%
• COLLECTION - 40%
• DRIVE ABILITY - 100%
• COMFORT - 100%
• ECONOMY - 100%
• TOTAL - 78%

A score that looks good, but could have been so much higher, shame on you Citroen, take heed, the buyer is always right, even if they are wrong, and people will walk away if they feel that you don't give a toss about them.

If anyone has any questions or has an opinion to offer, that i can add, then please feel free to message me.

--------------------------

TMW - Jon Mower. 

All thoughts and comments are from my own experience, and are reproduced here as an opinion, it is not to be confused with any other opinion, or reported piece located elsewhere, the pictures are my property, and  are not to be used without permission, the Carfile Logo is shown, and an indication of where to go to online for further information, the TMW has no connection with carfile, apart from being a customer, and it is on that basis that the report above is based, from our experience at all points.

Restyled Peugeot 508 get betterlooks, advanced infotainment an cleaner engines.

• Re-styled 508 range gets smart new design language, advanced infotainment and cleaner engines
• Even more refined and capable, now features all-new diesel-only RXH model
• Wide choice now includes Euro 6 powerplants with impressive environmental performance

Smart and sophisticated, the PEUGEOT 508 has been significantly updated to keep it at the cutting edge of the executive car segment. Featuring major changes in exterior and interior styling, the latest state-of-the-art technological content – plus new cleaner engines – this stunning ‘grand tourer’ embodies the Brand’s move up-market like nothing else.

The PEUGEOT 508 proudly displays a bold new front grille, emblematic of future models, and is fitted with new equipment such as a touch-screen infotainment system with reversing camera and blind spot sensors. It also benefits from economical and efficient Euro 6 engines, such as the 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 diesel with six-speed manual transmission. With CO₂ emissions of just 109g per km, it’s the class-leading vehicle with this level of engine power in the segment.

Available in three body styles since 2012 – saloon, estate and RXH – the 508 family is growing with the introduction of a new version that will widen the model’s appeal. The RXH will be available with a diesel-only powertrain for the first time. The 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 six-speed automatic RXH will join the rest of the 508 range in making its public debut at October’s Paris Motor Show, and will be on sale soon after.

Projecting image and cost-effectiveness

The D-segment of grand tourers is one in which PEUGEOT has been present for many decades. The reputation of the Brand has long been based on the success of the 4 and 5 series models. In Europe, this segment represents close to 1.5m vehicles a year, of which 45% are saloons and 55% estate cars. Available as a Saloon and an SW estate from its launch in early 2011, the PEUGEOT 508 climbed to its position at the head of the mainstream models in the segment. This is a sector traditionally dominated by the premium brands, but nevertheless strongly contested by the mainstream brands which now represent 50% of volumes in Europe.

In 2012, the PEUGEOT 508 RXH HYbrid4 arrived to expand the range. What was still just a niche with the RXH body silhouette is today developing rapidly with the arrival of new models. The PEUGEOT 508 RXH HYbrid4 remains unique for its innovative use of a diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain, rugged posture, versatility in use and environmental performance.

The youngest range in PEUGEOT’s history

Topping PEUGEOT’s new ‘8’ range, which now becomes the youngest in its history, the PEUGEOT 508 embodies the Brand’s ambition in moving up-market, its expertise in producing high quality products and the enhancement of its image throughout the world. Built in France and in China, to date more than 370,000 units have been sold since launch. In China, which since 2013 has become the biggest market for the PEUGEOT 508, it represents more than 36% of sales.

More assertive exterior styling for more character

The original styling of the PEUGEOT 508 showcased a robust vehicle with exceptional build quality. PEUGEOT’s designers have built on these qualities to produce something with even more technology, presence and character. The new grille is an essential element of the PEUGEOT 508’s styling; more upright and now including the PEUGEOT Lion at its centre, it is a clear acknowledgement to its illustrious predecessors in the 5 series. It also allows the new PEUGEOT 508 to introduce a corporate style at the front that is more self-assured and which will be deployed on the Brand’s future models.

New proportions to create a new balance

The bonnet has been redesigned to make it more horizontal, giving the 508 a more contemporary look. The Saloon’s rear end is more structured, with a redesigned bumper which is distinct from the boot while enhancing its protective function. This model is now 38mm longer, 16mm of which is in the front overhang (the same for SW) and 22mm in the rear overhang. The integration of the new front end on the PEUGEOT 508 RXH required an increase of 5mm in its front overhang, bringing its length to 4.828m. Boot volumes remain unchanged.

A new lighting signature

On the top-of-the-range versions (RXH, GT & Allure), the front of the vehicle is characterised by new lighting. Headlamps, daytime running lamps, direction indicators and fog lamps are all created completely from hi-tech LEDs. The headlamps are made up of three modules of four LEDs each, to which are added three additional LEDs for the cornering lighting function. This technology allows the lighting to be fine-tuned and also accentuates the vehicle’s feline look. The small size and very structured lenses enhance the distinctive and technological aspects.

Each car’s visual signature – a curve on the Saloon and the SW, claws on the RXH – is created by the daytime running lamps built into the bumper as standard. The direction indicators comprise four LEDs following the form of the daytime running lamps. The front foglamps – standard on Allure models – are installed in the ends of the front bumper in a chrome insert. In total, there are no less than 44 LEDs making up the look of the new PEUGEOT 508.

For Active models, the new PEUGEOT 508 introduces halogen headlamps with excellent photometric performance. The other lamps – daytime running lamps, direction indicators and side lamps – are identical to the top-of-the-range versions (RXH, GT & Allure). Entirely LED, they provide the same lighting signature.

The rear lamps on the Saloon have also been redesigned to make them more horizontal than before, whether viewed from the side or from directly behind. Each contains 36 LEDs arranged in three claws and their opalescent red layout provides a lighting signature that is strongly identifiable and technological.

With their lighting signature in the form of a curve, the rear lamps on SW and RXH remain unchanged.

Higher technology content for greater modernity

The interior of the PEUGEOT 508 has been significantly enhanced during this mid-life refresh. The dashboard now includes, as standard from the entry trim level, a seven-inch touch-screen grouping together most of the vehicle’s functions in an intuitive way. Shortcut buttons for the main menus – navigation, air conditioning, radio, connectivity, etc – are accessible at all times in the dashboard central panel. Integrating this new technology has allowed the central area to be redesigned to include fewer buttons and a new closed storage box.

Positioned in front of the driver, the instrument panel is backed up by a colour Head-Up Display (RXH & GT models) of driving and navigation information. It is viewed on a retractable smoked screen.

Additional features include Peugeot Open&Go Keyless Entry and Start, automatic electric parking brake, automatic headlamp dipping, electro-chrome interior mirror, tyre pressure warning, front and rear parking sensors, quad-zone automatic air conditioning and JBL-badged audio system. To this comprehensive list of equipment can be added two new systems: Blind Spot Detectors and the reversing camera, providing a colour image in the touch-screen.

Enhanced driving pleasure for more dynamism and efficiency

The suspension system on the PEUGEOT 508 offers a dynamic yet exceptionally comfortable ride. Comprised of a front pseudo-MacPherson strut or double wishbone decoupled hub (on the more powerful diesel versions) and a multi-link set-up at the rear, the car continues to offer a remarkably composed performance.

Exceptional diesel range expanded further by BlueHDi technology

Several of the 508’s existing Euro 5 engines are carried over, with the addition of new Euro 6 units.

The following versions remain part of the range:

• 1.6-litre e-HDi 115, available with a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed electronically controlled manual ETG6 gearbox. Very economical, it has official CO₂ emissions as low as 104g /km.
• 2.0-litre HDi 140, with a six-speed manual gearbox.
• 2.0-litre HDi 163, available with a six-speed automatic gearbox.
• 2.2-litre HDi 200, with a six-speed automatic gearbox. An offer specific to GT versions, this latest generation of the 2.2-litre diesel engine delivers a high specific output (above 93hp per litre). It has a single turbocharger with a turbine made of aluminium titanate, allowing particularly agile pick-up due to its low inertia.

New to the 508 range is the Euro 6 BlueHDi technology, represented by two efficient versions available from launch:

• 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 six-speed manual, which has CO₂ emissions of just 109g/km for the Saloon and 110g/km for the SW. These make it the best offer in the segment for this level of engine power.
• 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 Automatic EAT6. This version has CO₂ emissions of just 119g/km for the RXH, constituting one of the best compromises between power and fuel consumption in the segment.

The latter of these powertrains will be available in the RXH body style from November 2014. It will meet the growing demand in the segment for all-road vehicle, and will have CO₂ emissions of 119g/km and combined fuel consumption of 61.4mpg.

A unique proposition in the segment, the HYbrid4 technology is carried over to the new PEUGEOT 508 Saloon and the RXH version. It provides customers with the best environmental performance in the segment. As a result of its extended availability on the PEUGEOT 3008, 508 and 508 RXH, the Brand can claim 2^nd place in the sale of hybrid vehicles in Europe.

UK range and specification summary:

508 ACTIVE     

Saloon priced from £22,054, SW from £23,245

Engine and gearbox combinations:

• 1.6-litre e-HDi 115 micro-hybrid Stop & Start System six-speed manual – CO₂ 111/112g/km (SW)
• 1.6-litre e-HDi 115 micro-hybrid Stop & Start System six-speed ETG gearbox – CO₂ 104/105g/km (SW)
• 2.0-litre e-HDi 140 six-speed manual gearbox – CO₂ 119/120g/km (SW)

Key features include:

Satellite navigation, 7-inch multi-function colour touch-screen, dual zone air conditioning, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking aid, folding door mirrors, LED daytime running lights, halogen headlamps

508 ALLURE

Saloon priced from £24,895, SW from £26,295

Engine and gearbox combinations:

• 1.6-litre e-HDi 115 micro-hybrid Stop & Start System six-speed manual – CO₂ 111/112g/km (SW)
• 2.0-litre e-HDi 140 six-speed manual gearbox – CO₂ 119/120g/km (SW)
• 2.0-litre BlueHDi 150 six-speed manual gearbox – CO₂ 109/110g/km (SW)
• 2.0-litre HDi 163 six-speed automatic gearbox – CO₂ 140/144g/km (SW)
• Diesel-electric HYbrid4 2.0-litre HDi 163+37hp electric – JUST CO₂ 91g/km

Key features include:

Front and rear parking aid, Peugeot Open and Go system (keyless entry with Start/Stop button), automatic electric parking brake with Hill Assist, reversing camera and panoramic glass roof (SW only)

508 GT

Saloon priced at £30,645, SW model at £32,045

Engine and gearbox combinations;

• 2.2-litre HDi 200 six-speed automatic gearbox – CO₂ 140/144g/km (SW)

Key features include:

Colour head up display, 19-inch alloy wheels and nappa leather

508 RXH

Exclusive model using the SW silhouette priced from £30,295 (508 RXH with HYbrid4 is £34,645)

Engine and gearbox combinations:

• 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 six-speed automatic gearbox – CO2 119g/km
• 2.0-litre HDi diesel-electric HYbrid4 (163+37hp electric) – CO₂ 104g/km

Key features include:

All of the features above plus LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights and LED fog lights, half-leather trim, electrically adjustable seats and panoramic glass roof