Two concept cars shown today by Peugeot could preview a successor to the 508 estate and a new flagship that sits above the 5008 SUV.
Unveiled at the Beijing motor show, the Concept 6 and Concept 8 “demonstrate our vision for a bold new future for the brand”, said Peugeot CEO Alain Favey.
The company added that the concepts were “more than design studies” that “shape a new generation” of Peugeot electric vehicles.
The production versions of the two concepts will go on sale in China first – a market Peugeot has previously said it has earmarked for expansion. As such, they are expected to be built through the brand’s partnership with Chinese car maker Dongfeng, which means they would sit on Dongfeng platforms and be built in China. Dongfeng has made China-market cars for Peugeot previously, such as the long-wheelbase 508L.
However, Favey has said they are also bound "for our global market", suggesting exports are planned too. While not confirmed, this is expected to include Europe.
The Concept 6 is a “vision of a bold new generation of large sedans”, said the firm, and combines the “elegance” of a saloon with the “dynamism” of a shooting brake to preview a new grand tourer estate.
Autocar recently reported that Peugeot was mulling a successor to the 508 as it considered expanding its line-up into new segments beyond its current hatchback and crossover offering. "We are exploring what's next after the SUVs," Favey told Autocar at the end of last year.
He added that “you feel that something else has to come in the future”. Asked if that means the firm could return to estates, he replied: “Why not?”
The 508 was launched in 2010 in fastback and estate forms as a rival to the Volkswagen Passat and Volvo S60/V60. The second-generation version was withdrawn from sale in the UK 14 years later due to slow sales, before production stopped for good in 2025.
Concept 8, meanwhile, previews the largest SUV that Peugeot will bring to market. It “announces the next chapter of Peugeot’s SUV ambition”, said the firm.
This aligns with what Favey told Autocar at the Brussels motor show in January, where he explained that the brand is “thinking about” launching a model above the flagship 5008.
He added that for it to be successful “it would need to be something really different”, which the dramatic design previewed by this concept suggests it will be.
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Hopes and aspirations,90% of concept ideas never make it to reality, a concept won't cope with bad roads as is which is a shame but, would you buy one based on the condition of your roads?
That's why they're called ... CONCEPTS
I said concept ideas, tell me, is public opinion at shows listened to?