Peugeot 508 – engine, transmission and technical details
Three-cylinder and four-cylinder petrols comprise the standard range, with the Peugeot Sport Engineered range-topper featuring a more potent plug-in hybrid powertrain
Where once we might have found a hearty V6 in a mid-range repmobile like the 508, today it’s all about three- and four-cylinders. None are too mean for the job of motivating the Pug, but some are stronger than others, and strongest of all is the 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid found in the Peugeot Sport Engineered model.
Pairing this turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder with a motor on each axle, the range-topper sends a strong 355bhp and 386lb ft of torque to all four wheels, considerably boosting the 197bhp pure-combustion output. This engine is also found in the middling 225 plug-in hybrid, where peak power is quoted as 222bhp at 5500rpm with peak torque at 221lb ft.
The option for both a diesel model and a manual transmission have been taken away from the range for now, with a 1.2-litre pure-combustion three-cylinder powertrain the entry point. Paired with the eight-speed automatic as standard, it produces a very modest 129bhp and 170lb ft of torque, almost a third the output of the range-topper. While these sound like very low output figures, its 1455kg weight figure makes it a whole 432kg lighter than the PSE...
Front suspension is via struts, with a multi-link rear axle, and GT trim cars get adaptive damping which is otherwise optional in lesser models. Fastback and estate (SW) versions are available with estates being slightly heavier than their fastback counterparts.
