Will high-performance PHEV Peugeot 508 come here?

Peugeot says the new plug-in hybrid version of its 508, the Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE), is the most powerful road car it has ever marketed.

Whether it will be sold here has yet to be announced.

It’s the first car in the French brand’s new high-performance Peugeot Sport Engineered range. Peugeot says it is considering other PSE models and isn’t ruling out a version of the 208.

The 508 PSE is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 147kW and 300Nm driving through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and two electric motors which give the car all-wheel drive capability.

The front electric motor develops 81kW and the rear 83kW, giving the car a combined petrol/electric output of 265kW and 520Nm.

Peugeot quotes 0-200kim/h acceleration of 5.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The car gets tri-mode adaptive dampers, wider front and rear tracks and 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

There are five drive modes: Comfort, Hybrid, 4WD, Sport and Electric which disables the petrol engine at speeds of up to 140km/h.

The car has a 42km all-electric range on the WLTP test cycle.

Peugeot says the PHEV system’s 11.5kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged in less than seven hours using a 240-volt household wall socket, in under four hours using a 16-amp reinforced plug, and under two hours using a 32-amp wall box.

The 508 PSEs have a unique grille, restyled front bumper with air intakes, side skirts, a redesigned rear diffuser and aerodynamic attachments on front and rear bumpers.

Peugeot begins taking orders for European markets next month.