Peugeot has been known in the past for some very interesting sporty models but it does not plan to launch any more, instead focusing on electric vehicles (EV).
CEO of Peugeot, Linda Jackson told Top gear the brand has no plans to introduce an additional Peugeot Sport Engineered model to join the high-performance plug-in hybrid 508 PSE, which remains off the schedule for Australia.
“Now, we’ve stopped at 508,” Ms. Jackson said Top gear.
“It gives us the ability to have a flagship and be able to make links [between road and racing].
“Who knows what may happen in the future, but right now to be honest with you my biggest priority is to launch an electric vehicle. I never say no to the future, but that’s my focus now.”
With Peugeot focusing on electric vehicles and the PSE nameplate already applied to plug-in hybrids, it seems the logical step would be to introduce a high-output EV with the PSE name.
However, Ms. Jackson would not commit to such a move, informed top gear, “I didn’t promise yes and I didn’t promise no”.
“But we have to see where it goes. Right now, I have to make sure that I prioritize where my volume and profit opportunities are because it’s all about the business, and to be honest the 508 PSE is a great image maker, but it’s a limited segment. We have to find the right opportunity.
“Who knows what will happen, but there is no doubt that if we do something in the future, it will obviously have to be integrated into our electrification strategy. But we have no plans for now.”
Locally, it looks like Australia will continue to miss out on the 508 PSE, with Peugeot Citroen Australia managing director Kate Gillis confirming last year it was not currently available.
“PSE is quite limited in production volume, so at the moment we are not considering it for this market but if the time comes we will, we will,” said Ms Gillis.
“But it certainly won’t be here in the short term.”
Features PSE fastback and wagon a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain with a total system output of 268kW power and 520Nm of torque, good for a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds.
There are electric motors on each axle, providing PSE and one all-wheel drive 11.5kWh lithium-ion battery under the boot floor.
The claimed electric range is 42km.
The Sport Engineered also features tri-mode dampers, wider tracks than the standard 508 (24mm front and 12mm rear), 380mm front brakes with four-piston calipers, and 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, as well as various aesthetic tweaks sporty inside and out.
The 508 range in Australia currently consists of the front-wheel drive GT fastback, available with either petrol or petrol plug-in hybrid, and the petrol-powered GT Sportswagon. A plug-in hybrid version of the load carrier is coming this year.
As of the end of June, Peugeot had sold just 53 examples of its 508 range. That has seen it tied with the Jaguar XE, and dwarfed by the Genesis G70 (48) and Volvo S60 (70).
MORE: Everything Peugeot 508
