This Peugeot 408 Fastback is more that just a designers dream car.

Peugeot has just released a brand new 408 and it is no longer a boring looking sedan. Instead it is a fastback that looks more like a motor show concept car.

We were surprised that Peugeot kept the ‘mundane’ 408 name-plate, but it looks like Peugeot product planners know that the negative effect of the 408 name is just in ASEAN countries where the 408 was never a popular model.

Meanwhile, this is a new fastback silhouette at the top of the C segment. This new age Peugeot combines a unique design and feline stance with engineering excellence focused on efficiency and intelligent electrification, with cutting-edge technologies dedicated to creating an instinctive driving experience.

PRESS RELEASE: The mould-breaking Peugeot 408 stands out first and foremost for its dynamic fastback silhouette and unmistakable style.

The feline stance 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 Peugeot emblem.

At the front, a distinctive fang-shaped light signature brings the 408 into line with the rest of the Peugeot family, as do the three-claw LED lights at the rear. An inverted cut-out in the rear bumper also gives the profile a distinctive look.

With a height of 1.48m, a length of 4.69m and a long wheelbase of 2.79m, the new Peugeot 408 provides spacious second row seats with 188mm 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.

For its driver and passengers, the new 408 offers the latest generation Peugeot i-Cockpit®, recognisable by its compact steering wheel, which is dedicated to driving pleasure and controlled agility.

Emphasis is placed on the quality of the interior space and on connectivity, with the latest technologies making the driving and travelling experience more intuitive and rewarding.

Powered by six cameras and nine radars, a suite of 30 advanced driver assistance systems provide peace of mind and safety. These include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function
• Night Vision, which warns of animals, pedestrians or cyclists in the lane before they appear in the high beam
• Long-range blind spot monitoring (75 metres)
• Rear Traffic Alert, which warns of potential hazards when reversing

The Peugeot 408 will be available with a range of powertrains, including two rechargeable Plug-in Hybrids with 180 and 225hp respectively, as well as a PureTech 130 hp petrol version.

All three are coupled to an eight-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox. An all-electric 408 will follow.

Efficiency was a key concern for the designers of the new Peugeot 408, since the combination of efforts in terms of aerodynamics, weight reduction (from 1396kg) and low-emission engines means that the vehicle can now boast remarkably low average energy consumptions, both for the hybrids as well as for the 130bhp petrol version.