2011 Peugeot 508 Officially Launched In Malaysia

Nasim has launched the 2011 Peugeot 508 in Malaysia for an attractive price of RM 169,888 (on-the-road with insurance). Unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the 508 is the successor to the D-segment 407 and the more upmarket 607, a car not sold in Malaysia, bringing with it Peugeot's new design language, a familiar powertrain and loads of standard equipment.

Instantly identifiable as a Peugeot, the 508 looks to be a modern take on the 407's aging styling, boasting better body proportions (most apparent from the side profile), a neater front end featuring a “floating” grille, a new logo and circular LED daytime running lights, as well as a classier rear end framed by sleeker LED tail lights and a horizontal chrome stripe running the length of the bootlid. The large 18" wheels, wrapped in 235/45 tyres, enhance the 508's presence, too.

The Peugeot 508's interior, which feels more current than the 407's thanks to higher-quality materials and more modern instruments, is equipped to the maximum. Heading the list is a colour head-up display (HUD) unit, eight-way electric-powered front seats, leather upholstery, four-zone air-conditioning, push-start ignition, electronic parking brake, steering wheel-mounted audio/cruise control switches, and a 7" colour LCD screen. There is even a 10-speaker JBL audio system coupled to a 500-watt surround sound amplifier and Arkamys audio processing!

Built on the same platform as the Citroen C5, the Peugeot 508 is driven by the familiar 1.6-litre BMW-PSA Prince engine that generates 156 PS and 240 Nm from a low 1400 rpm, thanks to twin-scroll turbocharging and direct injection. A six-speed automatic transmission, controllable via paddle shifters, directs the drive to the front wheels. Performance is reasonably good: the 508 sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. On paper at least, the 508 is environmentally-friendly too, with an official fuel economy of 14.1 km/litre and carbon emissions of 164 grams/km.

The five-star EuroNCAP-rated Peugeot 508 comes with six airbags, full braking controls (ABS, EBD, Emergency Brake Assist), Anti-Skid Regulation and Dynamic Stability Control. Preventing an accident is illumination provided by bi-xenon headlamps with automatic height adjustment and a Smart Beam function that automatically switches between high and low beams based on lighting/traffic conditions. Moreover, a Hill Assist system helps in descent from higher grounds, and an Available Space Measurement (ASM) system aids in parking. View the official gallery of the 2011 Peugeot 508 below!