There are rumours for the upcoming locally-assembled Peugeot 408 to feature Civic-rivalling prices.
With Stellantis itself being back in the driver’s seat to run Peugeot over here, it seems that this particular French lion is rearing to roar again in Malaysia. And the loudest instance of that thus far is the imminent local launch of its hot new 408, which is soon to shake up the C-segment market in a big way.
Those who have had the privileged opportunity to take this large lion out for a spin are after all already waxing lyrical about how well it drives (with a first drive impressions incidentally to be up on automacha.com very soon). But even just by the act of seeing it already has many thinking twice already about getting a Civic or Corolla, especially with this 408’s exterior and interior being leaps and bounds above what anyone in the segment is currently offering.
Though what will probably turn that thought of buying this Peugeot into action will probably be its rumoured selling price. Such is as if the rumours are to be believed, this locally-assembled 408 could be landing over here with price tags starting just a bit more than what its common Asian competitors.
From the best whispers on the grapevine, Peugeot is apparently set to launch three variants of the 408 locally: Allure, Premium and GT, with the base-trim being rumoured to be priced at around the RM 140k – RM 150k mark, in order to serve as a compelling alternative against the mid-spec versions of the Civic and Corolla.
The mid-tier Premium trim of this French fastback meanwhile is currently being estimated to target the top-end Asian alternatives, with a rough price tag of RM 165k. The top-end flagship GT variant on the other hand is aiming to court even prospective BMW 218i and Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan buyers, with all its space and sexiness to be had for a whole lot less, with its current guesstimated retail price of RM 179,888.
This mould-breaking 408 easily stands out among its current competitors, thanks largely in part to its dynamic fastback silhouette and sexy exterior aesthetic. Its feline stance that looks ready to pounce is typical of the latest Peugeot models, with its sharp lines and colour-coded grille, the latter of which blends in perfectly with the front end and showcases the new chiseled lion emblem.
Other lion-inspired design details on its outside includes a distinctive fang-shaped light signature, as well as its three-claw LED rear lights. An inverted cut-out in the rear bumper further gives its rump a distinctive look, with its overall look actually not too far from being a Lamborghini Urus that has been slightly squashed (which is no bad thing really!).
Now with a height of 1.48 m, a length of 4.69 m and a long wheelbase of 2.79m, this large French fastback is positively palatial within, especially in the second row with a generous 188 mm of knee room. The boot is also generously sized, with a maximum volume of 536 litres, which can be increased to 1,611 litres with the rear seats folded down.
As for lies on the other end, under the hood of the Malaysian 408 will be a PureTech 1.6 litre turbo four-cylinder packing a decent 218 hp and 300 Nm. Said power will be delivered to the the front pair of its 18-inch wheels (20s on the GT trim) via an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Finishing up with a quick look at the highlights what could be expected within the 408, among the cool tech includes the Peugeot i-Cockpit 10-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-inch central infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. The flagship GT spec will supposedly bring along with it too a 3D setting for its instrument cluster 10-speaker Focal sound system, massaging front seats and a configurable Peugeot i-Toggle row of haptic buttons on its centre console.
