Will there be a surprise? Peugeot might unveil the new 508 at the Geneva Motor Show... and it won't be an SUV

In recent times, the vast majority of manufacturers have been betting on innovation in SUVs, and one of those that has done so most intensively has been Peugeot, which was one of the first to build one of the most complete ranges of this type of model.

But launching a complete SUV line-up does not mean abandoning the traditional lines of certain segments, such as the C segment, the compacts, and the D-E segment, the saloons, where the lion brand has always played a prominent role with its successive 300, 400 and 500 series. And everything suggests it will continue to do so, as rumours point to Peugeot possibly showing the new 508 at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

According to various media reports, Peugeot will present at the Geneva Motor Show the new generation of its mid-size saloon. To many this may seem nonsensical, especially considering the marked drop in sales that the mid-size saloon segment has recorded due to the strong momentum of the SUV trend. But the truth is that Peugeot could be preparing a saloon quite different from anything seen from it so far.

To do so, it would start from a new platform, which would be the same already used by the 3008 and 5000, from which the brand’s engineers and designers could have taken somewhat more risks than usual to present a bolder and more dynamic new design, seeking to attract buyers back to the segment.

The starting point for this could well be the Instinct Concept that the French manufacturer showed a year ago, precisely at the previous edition of the Geneva Motor Show. A model that drew plenty of attention and garnered a high level of favourable comments from show visitors, especially for the Shooting Brake style it adopted, which would allow it to open new avenues in one of the market’s most traditional segments.

Beyond the innovative, elegant, dynamic, attractive and decidedly sporty style that the Instinct Concept offers, what is certain is that the car would come loaded with new and innovative technologies, many already known from its SUV siblings and others still unreleased that the new platform enables it to incorporate. It would also feature the most advanced edition of the sophisticated i-Cockpit, the driving position that Peugeot that continues to receive so much praise.

The new 508 would offer diesel and petrol engines and, following the current trend towards electrification of ranges, would also have various hybrid powertrains.