Peugeot 508 Touring unveiled

When the Peugeot 508 large sedan broke cover in February 2018 it pushed into premium territory and presented a stylish new alternative to cars like the imported Holden Commodore.

Now the wagon version has been unveiled and is also generating a lot of lust.

Although the sleek new Peugeot 508 Touring wagon has not yet been confirmed for the Australian market, where large cars and wagons have been usurped by SUVs and utes, the local Peugeot importer believes there's a market for the svelte new Frenchie Down Under.

Peugeot Australia's PR and corporate affairs manager, Tyson Bowen, said there was plenty of opportunity in the segment for a chic French wagon, particularly one that's bristling with technological wonder.

"It's surprising how much demand there is a for premium wagon in the private market," said Bowen.

"We believe it’s a worthwhile model and absolutely we want it."

Essentially the same car as the 508 sedan, albeit with a larger boot, sculpted roof line and reshaped rump, there is now 530 litres of boot space, up on the sedan's 487-litre capacity.

The powered tailgate can be operated hands-free and when the rear seats are folded flat 1780 litres of space is liberated.

There's also a 'magic flat' function that, contrary to logic, doesn't give you sporadic flat tyres, but allows the entire rear seat row to be folded flat via a pair of switches in the boot.

By comparison, the new German-built Holden Commodore wagon has slightly more boot space with back seats in position (560 litres) but less cargo space when folded flat (1665 litres).

Although he wouldn't be drawn over whether or not it's a competitor for the Commodore, Bowen observed that since the Peugeot 508 sedan was revealed earlier in 2018 there's been "a huge amount of interest" in the stylish new model.

"The whole large car segment is under reinvention. Of course in terms of size it's a Commodore competitor but the next 18 months will see an evolution of the large car segment," he said.

"We'll never sell Commodore numbers but this car is more about private buyers, not fleets. Our buyers go for high end models, all the bells and whistles, and that's what they'll get."

The new EMP2 platform ushers in an evolutionary interior concept with more LCD screens than a JB Hi-Fi catalogue. The instrument panel features a customisable 12.3-inch digital display right in front of the driver's eyes while the central infotainment screen is a 10-inch capacitive jobbie designed to reduce the amount of buttons and dials.

Wireless phone charging, four USB ports and enough Alcantara, Nappa leather and aluminium to make prestige car buyers take notice round off the upmarket cabin. Oh, the front seats have a massage function too.

There'll be every electronic driving aid under the sun on offer, from auto steering, acceleration and braking via lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, along with pivoting LED headlights, AEB, night vision and traffic sign recognition.

Based on Peugeot's lightweight EMP2 platform, the new model will be around 70kg lighter than its predecessor and measures 4780mm, will be offered with a new eight-speed auto and is likely to get a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and/or 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, mirroring the Peugeot 5008 range in Australia.

Power output from the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol is 134kW or 168kW depending on tune, while the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit churns out between 100kW and 134kW.

The exterior design will be a big drawcard for the car – and the brand. In true flamboyant French style, Peugeot's design director Gilles Vidal describes the 508 Touring as "…a wonderful object of desire that makes a clear statement regarding its ambitions."

The all-new Peugeot 508 sedan is tipped to arrive in Aussie showrooms in the first half of 2019 and, if it gets the nod, the wagon will follow shortly afterward.