Peugeot Australia adding more Euro 6 engines, 2.0-litre 508 GT up first

Debuting locally in March, the refreshed 508 line-up brought new looks and an overhauled feature list, along with the addition of a heavily revised 1.6 litre petrol engine.

Today, Peugeot Australia distributor Sime Darby has confirmed that the top-shelf 508 GT models will come in for another update, this time swapping its carry-over 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine for a less powerful but more frugal 2.0-litre unit, drafted from the diesel version of the smaller 308 GT.

In their current forms, the 508 GT sedan and wagon models offer 150kW and 450Nm of torque, with the Euro 5 diesel listing fuel use at 5.3 and 5.5L/100km respectively.

Switching to the 2.0 litre engine brings Euro 6 emissions compliance, along with a drop in fuel consumption to 4.0L/100km.

Although less thirsty, the new engine is also less powerful, with 133kW and 400Nm. This means the 508 GT is also slower to 100km/h, its sprint time climbing from 8.2 to 8.6 seconds.

The deficit is not expected to deter many buyers, however, with driving range and towing capacity believed to be of greater importance among 508 GT owners.

Speaking with CarAdvice today, Peugeot Australia communications manager Tyson Bowen said that although the updated package’s local homologation process is still to be completed, the combination of a new engine and its 72-litre fuel tank could see the 508 GT’s effective driving range grow from 1200 kilometres to around 1700 kilometres.

Likewise, the updated model’s braked towing capacity is expected to stay close to the current model’s 1800kg limit.

For most buyers, Bowen believes, those factors will far outweigh the changes in power and acceleration numbers.

“The change in 0-100km/h will be basically imperceivable, it’s a small change. Most of the people that purchase the [508 GT] cars do so for the ‘long-legged’ touring abilities of the car,” he said.

“Yes they steer better, but what it will also give them is a longer effective range as well. The change in its fuel use, if anything, it will probably increase interest in the model.”

“We’re still one of the only touring [wagon] models out there with quite a significant towing capacity and, again, this change will make that car more ‘long-legged’ in terms of its ability to eat up the miles,” he added.

Pricing and further details for the updated 508 GT will come closer to launch, which is set for a late third-quarter date, although exact timing is likewise still to be confirmed.

More Euro 6 engines coming to more Peugeot models

Peugeot Australia has also confirmed that more models will gain Euro 6 emissions-compliant engines in the near future.

Timing for those updates is still to be confirmed, although the carmaker says all coming model-update and new-generation launches will come with a Euro 6 engine upgrade.

Models already compliant with Euro 6 include the 1.2-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel models in the 308 range, while its 1.6-litre petrol engine is currently Euro 5.

“The Peugeot 308 range was the first to receive PSA’s awarded PureTech and BlueHDi range of drivetrains in Australia and they are proving to be winners with customers, with over 85 percent of all 308 vehicles sold specified with the Euro 6 drivetrains,” Peugeot Australia general manager John Startari said today.

All models in the 208 hatch and 3008 SUV lines are Euro 5, however, meaning that Euro 6 upgrades are on the way for both.

More: 2015 508 pricing and specifications