Peugeot and Citroen announce key new models

The wagon version will join the so-called Fastback models of the 508, which goes against design trends of Peugeot’s more recent large cars by being a five-door liftback and not a conventional sedan.

First deliveries of the 508 begin in France this week, but it will be the latter half of 2019 before we see the Fastback and Touring in Australia.

Although retaining the 508 badge, they are new from the ground up and use the PSA Group’s EMP2 platform to produce a car that is up to 70 kilograms lighter than its predecessor.

More than that, the new Peugeot 508 is decidedly more stylish with a roofline around 40mm lower than its predecessor, plus it is shorter and wider for more attractive proportions.

Peugeot Australia has confirmed two engines, both of them 1.6-litre turbo petrol units producing either 168kW or 133kW and both mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. With sales of diesel passenger cars on the slide in Australia, no oil-burner will be offered, at least initially.

The C5 Aircross will arrive in the year Citroen celebrates its 100th anniversary and gives the brand its first stab at the wildly popular mid-sized SUV market.

As with the Peugeot 508, specification and pricing of the C5 Aircross haven’t been determined although Citroen promises its SUV will have at least one quality for which the brand has been historically famous, and that’s comfort.

To that end the C5 Aircross gets suspension featuring Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions, essentially a damping system with hydraulic bump-tops allowing for a soft ride but for suspension control over sharp bumps.

The rear seat is split into three separately sliding sections allowing for variations in rear leg or luggage room, the latter of which varies from a credible 580 litres to fully 720 litres with the seats in their forward-most position.

The C5 will join its smaller C3 Aircross sibling in what amounts to a re-launch of the brand in Australia under new distributors Inchcape, who are also reducing the number of dealers from 72 sites nationwide to just 34, with both Citroen and Peugeot being represented at each.