French automaker Peugeot has had an interesting back and forth lately when it comes to its flagship model. The big 607 sedan was discontinued a couple of years back due to lackluster sales, replaced by the new 508 that also succeeded the smaller 407 sedan. Then reports began sprouting up that the Lion marque was planning on turning that into a crossover wagon similar to the approach taken by Audi with the A6 Allroad or Volvo with the XC70.
We figured that’s what we were looking at when the company unveiled the 508 RXH diesel hybrid in Frankfurt, but at the same time Peugeot also showcased the HX1 concept – a sort of luxury crossover that was more similar in concept to the Mercedes-Benz R-Class than the Audi Allroad.
Now the rumormill suggests that Peugeot could put the HX1 into production as its new flagship model, sitting above the 508 and its high-riding RXH counterpart. PSA’s adaptable Hybrid 4 drivetrain could offer nearly 300 horsepower driving all four wheels through a combination of internal-combustion and electric motors. And while we’re just spitballing here, if sister-company Citroën moves ahead with plans to produce the Metropolis concept, parent company PSA could have a business case on its hands.
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