Peugeot Australia has announced the funky 408 coupe SUV will only be available with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain when it arrives in Australia in late 2023.
The company has now opened expressions of interest for the 408.
The PHEV powertrain consists of a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 132kW, with an 81kW electric motor and a 12.4kWh battery pack. Total system output is 165kW of power.
Peugeot claims a WLTP electric-only range of up to 67km and says it can be charged using AC power at a maximum rate of 3.7kW, with the option to boost this to 7.4kW.
This is the same PHEV powertrain as found in the recently introduced Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV hatch. A 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is also available in other markets.
Australian pricing and specification will be announced closer to the 408’s launch later this year.
Recent government approval documents, listed three separate variants: Allure and GT models with a 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder, and a flagship turbocharged plug-in hybrid GT.
It’s not unprecedented for a car company to get models certified for sale in Australia that aren’t in turn put on sale, though this move opens the door for Peugeot to introduce more affordable versions later.
According to the documents, a sunroof will be optional on GT grades, with the latter also boasting standard “high level lighting” – likely matrix LED headlights instead of the LED units of the Allure.
A choice of 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels will be available.
Should Peugeot follow the same strategy with the 408 as its other models, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will only be offered in top-spec guise.
In the UK market, 408 models come standard with LED headlights with automatic high-beam, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and power-folding exterior mirrors with approach lighting.
The GT also receives keyless entry and start, colour-adjustable ambient lighting, Alcantara and leather-effect upholstery, and “full 3D” LED tail lights.
Lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) are standard, and the latter is camera-based on petrol models but also includes a radar on PHEV models.
Additional safety equipment available in the 408 includes adaptive cruise control with stop/go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-positioning, and front parking sensors.
All 408 models come standard with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Unusually for this segment, the 408 can also be had with night vision.
Peugeot has previously confirmed it will introduce an electric version of the 408 “a few months after” the combustion and plug-in hybrid models. It’s unclear whether this will be offered here.
The Peugeot 408 measures 4687mm long, 1848mm wide, and 1478mm tall, with a 2787mm wheelbase.
For context, the Peugeot 308 SW wagon is 51mm shorter than the 408 and the 508 liftback is 63mm longer.
The boot with the second row of seats upright measures in at 536L, which can be expanded to 1611L with the rear seats folded.
While we don’t yet know how it will be priced in Australia, in the UK the 408 retails around £4000 (A$7000) higher in the UK compared with the related 308 hatchback.
For reference, the 308 range in Australia is priced from $43,990 before on-roads, but opens with a GT trim instead of a price-leader Allure.
MORE: Everything Peugeot 408
