Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2011 | Page 72

MOTORING 508 has the appeal The latest Peugeot to roll off the company’s highly successful production line has now arrived on the Island. The Peugeot 508, available as a saloon or estate, has been designed with distinct style and elegance, with the regular car user and business person in mind. What makes the 508 even more appealing is the fact the CO2 emissions can be as low as 109 g/ km, and can cost just £20 a year to tax, which is pretty impressive and extremely cost effective for this size of car. There are five equipment grades available. I test drove the middle of the range Active saloon, which features a 1.6-litre e-HDI diesel engine, with 112bhp and has a combined fuel consumption of 64mpg model, courtesy of Staddlestones Bembridge. TEST DRIVEN ON THE ISLAND By Peter White 72 www.visitislandlife.com The Active has a host of features including alloy wheels, air conditioning, cd/radio and auto headlamps and washers, to name but a few. The engine now features an advanced stop-start system where it will cut out below 5mph just before the car comes to rest and stay off while the driver keeps the car stopped with the brake pedal. It has EGC which is a manual gearbox, but the car is driven as an automatic which means you get the same efficiency from an auto gearbox that you would normally associate with a manual. One thing I did like was when the engine cut out, it was idle for one minute and 52 seconds on my journey from Bembridge to Shanklin, saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions. From the front of the 508, there Staddlestones Pe ugeot TEL: 01983 872121 www.iwpeugeot.com are noticeable changes from its predecessor, the 407. The sloping headlights and a mean looking grille give it some attitude, but it still remains classy. The interior of the 508 is tasteful, while the dials and buttons are neatly laid out. In the back, there is plenty of room to seat three adults. The drive is pleasant and when negotiating some of the tighter Island roads the suspension and steering combined well for a smooth ride.