The design of a new car is a story. It's the story of a pencil sketch that gradually changes from prototype to prototype, until it becomes a real car.
Here are the five main stages in the creation of the PEUGEOT 508, a process that lasted between three and five years. The chronicle of a conception put into images by the informed and curious eye of photographer Michel Setboun.
STEP 1: THE BIRTH OF A DESIGN
The making of a car begins with a true artistic creation. No digital technology, no technology other than the hand, the gesture: a drawing on a simple piece of paper. Line after line, the designer's imagination comes to life and the car takes shape as his or her inspiration grows.
The sketch then goes to the design team. Its role is to create a design that complies with the product and technical briefs. Expected performance, technical choices, expectations of the product team and customers: nothing is left to chance. At the end of this phase, two initial models are produced: a digital model and a physical model in synthetic clay.
The design team refines the design in the Virtual Reality Centre to study the feasibility of certain ideas.
Meanwhile, the Couleurs et Matières studio is working on the development of the body colours and interior harmonies.
STAGE 2: FROM DESIGN TO MANUFACTURING OF THE 508
Straight from the design team's various workshops and after a phase of convergence between the design and technical teams, the future car enters the industrialisation phase. The manufacturing process comprises five stages. Let's take a look behind the scenes of the fascinating production of the 508:
Stamping: a roll of steel sheet is used to produce the various bodywork components.
Stamping:
a roll of steel sheet is used to produce the various bodywork components.
Fitting:
the body takes shape with the assembly of sheet steel parts by laser welding. The 508 benefits from a technique used by certain premium manufacturers: welding reinforced by structural bonding. The aluminium parts are assembled by riveting or clinching.
Assembly:
this is the crucial stage during which the car really takes shape. Like a jigsaw puzzle, all the elements manufactured in different places are put together. This is the culmination of a long process: the magic happens, the car comes to life.
Quality control and leak test:
the new car undergoes a rigorous final quality control. The aim is to check that the construction specifications have been scrupulously respected.
STAGE 3: THE 508 IS TESTED ON THE ROAD AND BY COMPETITORS
This is the baptism of fire for the new 508! Over thousands of kilometres, the (camouflaged) vehicle is being tested on all types of roads, in all weather conditions, even the most hostile. This journey is also an opportunity to test the hybrid version of the 508 and to analyse the charging network in Europe.
Tests are also being carried out in parallel with models from other brands to assess high-speed behaviour.
At the PEUGEOT test centre, driving tests are carried out. In particular, the behaviour of the bodywork components and the ground connections are evaluated.
STAGE 4: THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE NEW 508
The 508 appeared in the spotlight for the first time in March 2018 at the Geneva Motor Show: "the place to be" for the presentation of any new vehicle. It was a successful debut as journalists were full of praise for the sleek design and boldness of the new top-of-the-range vehicle from the lion’s brand
The beginning of a success story that continued with a public presentation of the 508 estate and the plug-in hybrid version, in a world preview at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.
STAGE 5: 508 PSE HYBRID USHERS IN THE NEO-PERFORMANCE ERA
The 508 PSE is the most powerful PEUGEOT ever produced in series by the brand. With its rechargeable hybrid technology and its 360 bhp spread over three engines (one internal combustion engine and two electric engines), the design of the PEUGEOT 508 PSE is based directly on the research and technical advances developed by PEUGEOT SPORT. Indeed, the design of competition vehicles such as the PEUGEOT 9X8 (which made its competition debut at Monza, for the 4th round of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship) is a permanent laboratory for the development of the range's sports models.
In addition, the PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED label is fully integrated into the energy transition: it offers a new type of virtuous performance, a perfect alliance between sportiness and technology.
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