Yes, this really is the new Peugeot 508

We’re as surprised as you are. This really is the all-new Peugeot 508; a replacement for Pug’s ageing big saloon. And my, doesn’t it look… good?

It’s a more rakish take on the five-door hatch formula. In fact, it borrows quite heavily from Pug’s rather lovely ‘Instinct’ concept from last year’s Geneva Motor Show; a car we hoped would make it into production in some form.

Well, meet 'some form'. The front and rear borrows heavily from that shooting brake concept, ushering in a sleeker, lower coupe-ish profile. You even get frameless doors and, handily, “alloy wheels designed to fill the wheel arch housings”.

There’ll be six petrol and diesel engines of undisclosed capacity (1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels, 1.6-litre petrol, probably), the littlest one pumping out 128bhp, though the hottest one thus far tops out at 222bhp. An “exceptional” driving experience is promised. At some point in its life cycle, we’d also put money on a PHEV with even more power.

Peugeot tells us the new 508 gets loads of driver aids, along with night vision; not to live out your Batman delusions, but instead to better see pedestrians and other things at night, or reduced visibility.

All this feeds up inside to Peugeot’s latest generation ‘i-Cockpit’. You’re looking at the fancy end of a large 10in capacitive touchscreen, a 12.3in head-up instrument panel, lots of leather and an ambience selector. You choose between ‘boost’ or ‘relax’. Always boost, unless you want to relax. In which case, relax.

Oh, and it’s got a 487-litre boot. More than a BMW 3 Series saloon, and just seven litres shy of a 3 Series estate.

Peugeot boss Jean-Philippe Imparato wants this new 508 to “to shake up the market with an outstanding new car that can compete with the best.

“And, for the D segment, we are talking about the best car manufacturers in the world.”

Game on. You’ll be able to order one from this summer. We’ll bring you more news as we get it, likely at the car’s Geneva Motor Show unveil.