Nasim has launched the highly anticipated C-segment Peugeot 408 in new
Peugeot's Blue Box in Glenmarie. So are you feeling naughty or nice? If
you are feeling either one, there's good news because Nasim brought in
two variants of the Peugeot 408, a 1.6litre turbo engine and a 2.0litre
normal aspirated engine.
It's never a car show without girls! And the event has lots of them! :)
The VVIP of the night, (from left)
En SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin; YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry; Her Excellency Madame Martine Dorance, France’s Ambassador and Mr Jean-Yves Dossal, Sales Director for Asian Operations at PSA Peugeot-Citroen.
YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed signing the launching board.
"The all-new 408 is ideal for young professionals with families who are
looking for a car that offers space, performance and elegance," said SM
Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.
The Peugeot 408 is unveiled! Don in silver, the Peugeot 408 looks great from the side view, accompanied by gorgeous models.
The pricing for the 408 1.6 Turbo and 408 2.0 are RM125,888 and
RM109,888 respectively, both on-the-road with insurance. Some might say
why a 1.6 is more expensive than a 2.0? You'll have to read on to find
out! The sculptured lines on the steeply raked bonnet flows nicely to
the rest of the body, and the huge signature Peugeot grille goes along
well with the sharp looking front end.
The rear end reminds me of the older Peugeot 406 though. Would
appreciate the 408's rear design to be more adventurous like its front.
Below is the 1.6litre Twin Scroll Turbo High Pressure (THP) with Direct
Petrol Injection engine which can churn out 163hp at 6000rpm and 240Nm
of torque at 1400rpm. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed auto adaptive
transmission with Tiptronic and Sport mode. 0-100km/h in 9.2secs and
has a top speed of 215km/h, this is seriously not a car to be messed
with!
Right now, this 408 Turbo has the most powerful engine in its class. As a
comparison, Proton Preve has 136hp and similar 240Nm of torque, but 408
Turbo reaches its peak torque at a relatively earlier 1400rpm. The
closest one will be Volkswagen Jetta, which has 158hp and 240Nm of
torque from 1500-4500rpm.
The 408 2.0 makes 145hp at 6000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4000rpm.
What's interesting is the engine of the 408 Turbo is actually more
environmental friendly than the 408 2.0. The 1.6 Turbo has a more sporty
and stiffer suspension setup while the 2.0 is on the comfort side.
Looks like the 1.6 Turbo is on the naughty side while the 2.0 is on the
nice side :)
Future plan for a sport edition Peugeot 408?
Equipment wise, both the 408 Turbo and 2.0 come with "Follow Me Home"
and auto headlamps, auto wiper, dual-zone front air-conditioning and
cruise control with speed limiter.The 408 Turbo gains some extras like
premium leather seats, auto dimming rear view mirror and leather wrapped
steering wheel with aluminium inserts.
In the safety department, both variants has 2 smart airbags for driver
and front passenger, ABD, EBD and EBA while the 408 Turbo has additional
4 airbags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Anti-skid
Regulation (ASR).
The dashboard for 408 Turbo. Like every other Peugeot, the cabin felt solid and upmarket.
The dashboard for 408 2.0, notice the difference?
Peugeot claimed that the 408 has class leading rear legroom. With its
2700mm wheelbase, a person with 5 foot 7 frame like me has no problem
fitting into the back seat with the front seat adjusted to my comfort.
Rear headroom is ample, and the leather seats are plush and comfy, just
like any other Peugeot.
Rear air-cond outlet, a rare feature in C-segment! Right now I can only
think of Volkswagen Jetta which also has air-cond for its rear
passengers.
At 562 litres, the 408's boot space is also class leading, and I think
it even triumphs some D-segment cars! (sorry for the low-quality boot
shot)
It would be great if the media and bloggers are given a chance to test
the 408. I'll be glad to have a chance to put my hands on the 408 as I
would be able to compare it with a C-segment sedan that I usually drive.
In conclusion, I think the 408 Turbo is a more sensible choice due to
its more powerful powerplant, better safety features and more
equipments. The extra RM15k over the 408 2.0 worth every penny of it.
Besides, you can benefit from lower road tax, cheaper insurance and also
more friendly to the environment. However, if you are feeling nice, the
408 2.0 will be there for you.
Check out some official photos of the Peugeot 408: