Gallic, better! 2023 Peugeot 508 facelift levels up to better take on BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, will it come to Australia?

Peugeot is moving its 508 mid-size sedan further upmarket with the official reveal of a heavy facelift that introduces new design language elements to bring the car inline with other new-gen Peugeot models.

Aside from the new face, the 508 has also been given a drivetrain refresh to introduce more electrification, including three plug-in hybrid variants.

A 110kW and 132kW version of the front-wheel drive PHEV engines have been revealed, with a 147kW all-wheel drive version topping the range, while three ICE engines (one of which is a diesel, unlikely to come to Australia) are also confirmed to carry into the update.

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The 508 launches in its updated guise in sedan, Sportwagon, and 'Sport engineered' versions, the latter being the only examples with the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid drivetrain available.

Each variant's engine is paired with the brand's eight-speed automatic transmission.

All hybrid versions of the 508 have a 12.4kWh battery, which can be charged from a 7.4kW wall box in one hour and 40 minutes.

CarsGuide has contacted Peugeot Australia for further details regarding local confirmation on timing and likely variants for the 508, and has been told "anticipated launch details for the Australian market will be confirmed in due course".

The 508 launches in its updated guise in sedan, Sportwagon, and ‘Sport engineered’ versions.

Even without confirmation it's highly likely the updated sedan will launch in Australia after it's released in key markets in Europe.

Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis told CarsGuide in late 2022 the brand's move to electrification and its distinctive design language are key to Peugeot growing its success in Australia.

"Electrification is at the top of our mind. People are embracing it. It's a topic that is hot on everybody's lips. It's in media everywhere. The question is, how does Australia start to build credibility within that space?"

"Electrification is inevitable and there's a shift in that thinking, and what's great for us is that at this point in time we'll have the choice of engines, be it ICE or electrification," she said.

Aside from the new face, the 508 has also been given a drivetrain refresh to introduce more electrification, including three plug-in hybrid variants.

"As we move forward, we've got… 508 with the PHEV. People are seeing that as a natural transition. It's not one brand, like us doing it, it's the entire industry."

Nothing's set in stone yet, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the plug-in 508 here in Australia in due course.

For Europe, the 508 launched in mid-2023, meaning if it launches here, it could do so in late 2023.