Peugeot unveils facelifted 508 sedan

France’s Peugeot has lifted the veil off of the facelifted 508. Offered as both a sedan and a station wagon, the 508 became Peugeot’s de facto flagship after the range-topping 607 was axed without a replacement.

Visually, the new 508 stands out from its predecessor thanks to a cleaner front end inspired by the Exalt concept that made its debut last April at the Beijing Motor Show. The modifications include a rippled hood, a short three-slat radiator grille and a new bumper that incorporates a set of LED daytime running lights.

The 508′s rear end stays roughly the same save for minor details like redrawn tail lamps and a revamped bumper. New colors and a host of additional alloy wheel designs round out the updates.

Peugeot has not made any major aesthetic modifications to the 508′s interior but it claims the cockpit is built with better materials. The 508 reflects Peugeot’s upmarket move by gaining premium equipment such a seven-inch touch screen in the center console, a heads-up display, a JBL audio system and a four-zone climate control system. Buyers can order a rear-view camera and a blind spot monitoring system at an extra cost.

The 508 is offered with several gas- and diesel-burning engines including a 165-horsepower version of the 1.6-liter THP mill developed jointly by PSA and BMW and a new 2.0-liter diesel-burning BlueHDi unit that generates 180 horsepower.