2018 Geneva Motor Show: Peugeot’s Holden Commodore fighter makes early debut

THE Peugeot 508, the car that will spell the end for the Holden Commodore as we now know it, has leaked online ahead of its official Geneva Motor Show reveal.

The single image of the MkII 508 sedan’s rear, posted on a Peugeot enthusiast page on Facebook, shows the Holden Commodore rival will adopt the three-claw tail-lights first flagged in last year’s Instinct Concept, a futuristic self-driving wagon.

Most notably, the Geneva-bound 508 shows a marked improvement down the rear, although it comes via four-door coupe styling. The thick C-pillar appears to have been replaced with a more slimline one, giving the new mid-sizer much more muscular rear haunches.

Some of the traditional 508 hallmarks remain, though, in the short boot with its integrated lip spoiler on the trailing edge.

The new 508 is also expected to have its interior overhauled to add the i-Cockpit digital dashboard similar to that introduced to the 3008 small SUV.

Spy images show the 508 could also adopt a toned-down version of the headlights previewed on the Instinct Concept, although it appears Peugeot plans on replacing the LEDs used on the concept with more traditional lenses.

Despite it quietly being withdrawn from the Australian market late last year, we can probably expect the new 508 to arrive here late this year in both sedan and wagon form, and powered by a 2.0-litre turbo diesel sending drive to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. This new generation could also reintroduce a diesel-electric hybrid model, but whether it will come to Australia is questionable given our lack of government support for the technology.

Last year, Holden’s owner General Motors sold its struggling Opel European car-making division to Peugeot’s owner, Groupe PSA. Groupe PSA has recently announced that it will need to accelerate its plans to move Peugeot, Renault and Opel models to common platforms and engines in response to concerns over meeting tough new emissions standards with Opel’s current mix of products. The move has also flagged that it will need to quit Insignia production early to make the switch.

It means GM will need to find a new source for Holden Commodore-badged vehicles within about five years.

The 88th Geneva Motor Show starts on March 6. Visit WheelsMag.com.au for all the latest new car news and reveals as they happen.