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√Peugeot 508 petrol axed despite outselling $80,000 hybrid six-to-one

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French car maker Peugeot has axed the petrol version of its flagship liftback and wagon – despite the plug-in hybrid variant that remains accounting for just 15 per cent of 508 deliveries, and being outsold three-to-one last year by Rolls-Royce.

Peugeot 508 petrol wagon.

The price of the cheapest 2023 Peugeot 508 has climbed by more than $18,000 to nearly $82,000 plus on-road costs with the axing of regular petrol versions – even though they account for 85 per cent of sales.

The Australian distributor for Peugeot announced this week the 508 will now use plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power only, and regular petrol versions will be axed – following the introduction of a hybrid version of the 508 wagon, to join the 508 PHEV liftback launched last year.

It is despite the standard petrol variants accounting for 85.2 per cent of Peugeot 508 sales over the past 18 months, and outselling the plug-in hybrid – which costs $17,000 to $18,000 more, starting from $81,610 plus on-road costs – by 5.8 to one.

Peugeot 508 Sportswagon plug-in hybrid pictured in white throughout.

Peugeot has reported just 27 508 plug-in hybrids as sold since the start of 2022, compared to 156 petrol versions. Only eight of those PHEVs were sold this year, compared to 45 petrols.

Over a third of that time – the first half of 2023 alone – million-dollar luxury-car specialist Rolls-Royce almost matched that tally, reporting 21 deliveries in Australia.

Last year Rolls-Royce reported three times as many luxury-car deliveries (60) in Australia than Peugeot did 508 plug-in hybrid liftbacks (19).

“The launch of the electrified 508 Sportswagon also signifies a new era for the 508 in Australia, with the range refined for [Model Year 2023] to offer exclusively plug-in hybrid powertrains,” Peugeot Australia says in its media release.

Sales of all Peugeot 508 variants are down 38 per cent so far this year (53) compared to the first half of 2022 (86), and it is the company’s second-slowest seller, ahead of the Boxer full-size van (32 deliveries reported).

The distributor of Peugeot vehicles in Australia told Drive last month it is “here to stay”, despite declining sales – and has announced plans for a broader range of plug-in hybrid and solely-electric vehicles.

The Peugeot 508 GT ‘Fastback’ plug-in hybrid has been joined from this month by a wagon version, officially marketed as the Peugeot 508 Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid.

It is priced from $82,915 plus on-road costs – $17,258 more than the defunct petrol version ($65,657 plus on-road costs), and $1305 dearer than the plug-in hybrid ‘liftback’ sedan ($81,610 plus on-road costs).

The plug-in hybrid 508 wagon in showrooms now is the pre-facelift model, not the updated vehicle unveiled in Europe earlier this year – which has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, but arrival timing is yet to be announced.

It is powered by the same 133kW/300Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and 81kW electric motor as the hybrid liftback, developing 165kW and 360Nm combined.

Power is sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivers 55km of claimed driving range in European WLTP lab testing.

Standard features in the Peugeot 508 plug-in hybrid wagon include 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating, semi-automatic parking, and a suite of advanced safety features.

Buyers can pay $2500 extra for a sunroof, bringing the price beyond $85,000 plus on-road costs – or close to $90,000 drive-away.

The 2023 Peugeot 508 Sportswagon plug-in hybrid is in showrooms now.

2023 Peugeot 508 Australian pricing

  • 508 GT Fastback petrol – $63,431 (AXED)
  • 508 GT Sportswagon petrol – $65,657 (AXED)
  • 508 GT Fastback Plug-in Hybrid – $81,610
  • 508 GT Sportswagon Plug-in Hybrid – $82,915 (new)

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

2023 Peugeot 508 PHEV liftback/wagon standard features include:

  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Peugeot i-Cockpit interior layout (with small steering wheel and high-set instruments)
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument display
  • 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, embedded satellite navigation, FM/DAB digital radio, Bluetooth
  • Focal 10-speaker premium sound system
  • Wireless smartphone charging
  • Keyless entry and start
  • Dual-zone automatic climate-control air conditioning
  • Leather steering wheel with copper-coloured stitching
  • Nappa leather seat upholstery with copper-coloured stitching
  • Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, massaging, driver memory
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • 180-degree reversing camera with top-down view
  • Semi-automatic parking
  • Keyless entry
  • Six airbags
  • Autonomous emergency braking
  • Lane-keep assist
  • Lane following assist
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
  • Traffic sign recognition
  • Tyre pressure loss indicator

The post Peugeot 508 petrol axed despite outselling $80,000 hybrid six-to-one appeared first on Drive.

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