The upcoming Peugeot 408 ‘coupe SUV’, which seemingly further muddies the distinction between crossovers and liftbacks, has been teased once again before its confirmed June 22 global reveal.

    Once it launches it will bring the fight to fellow Stellantis rival the Citroen C4, as well as the Renault Arkana.

    Building on a recent teaser image that showed off the front grille, Peugeot has uploaded two cropped images of a camouflaged 408 prototype that show parts of the front and rear.

    It’s hard to make out what design features the Peugeot 408 will have exactly but it appears it will have the ‘claw effect’ daytime running light signature and a steeply raked rear window.

    Peugeot describes the 408 as a “dynamic fastback saloon with an elevated body and large wheels”. It’s also claimed to have a “feline stance” that’s familiar across the range.

    Despite the subtlety on Peugeot’s behalf to discretely show off parts of the 408, we already know what the outside looks like thanks to a spied prototype.

    Although it may have its own badge, the Peugeot 408 is essentially a high-riding take on the 308 hatchback.

    It’s believed to be built on the same EMP2 platform, and is likely to be offered with the same range of petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.

    Given it hasn’t yet been revealed, the 408 Cross hasn’t been locked in for Australia. The 308 on which it’s based, however, will come Down Under.

    Peugeot has confirmed the new-generation 308 range will now arrive in the second half of 2022.

    Government approval documents show the 308 range will be available with a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine in Allure and GT Sport trims, and a 1.6-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid petrol four.

    Local pricing and specifications have yet to be announced. Peugeot says a full outline of its launch plans will be released soon.

    Peugeot says it started meticulous part and module testing of the 408 coupe SUV “a little over a year ago”, and claims that test cars have driven a total of around 1.1 million kilometres in “all possible conditions”.

    Prototypes without camouflage have also been tested in laboratories and in wind tunnels, according to Peugeot.

    Once the Peugeot 408 launches it will complicate the French automaker’s SUV naming scheme, with its traditional car styles given an x08 name, where the x is a number denoting the car’s size.

    Peugeot’s crossover vehicles on the other hand currently adhere to the x008 naming structure, again where the x is a number specifying the car’s size.

    It is worth noting that in China the Peugeot 408 will be called the 408X as there’s already a sedan version of the previous-generation 308 called the 408 sold there.

    MORE: Peugeot 408: New coupe SUV to debut end of June
    MORE: 2023 Peugeot 408 PHEV spied

    Jack Quick

    Jack Quick is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne. Jack studied journalism and photography at Deakin University in Burwood, and previously represented the university in dance nationally. In his spare time, he loves to pump Charli XCX and play a bit of Grand Theft Auto. He’s also the proud owner of a blue, manual 2020 Suzuki Jimny.

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