- Peugeot CEO, Linda Jackson, said that they won’t build more PSE-branded models, as it prioritizes its electrification program.
- The Peugeot 508 PSE sedan and SW will be the first and last production PSE models ever to be offered.
- Jackson remains open to performance models with fully electric powertrains, albeit for the more distant future.
The Peugeot Sport Engineered (PSE) badge will be a short-lived affair, as the lineup won’t be expanded beyond the existing 508 sedan and SW models. Instead, the French automaker prioritizes electrification, on the road to becoming an EV-only brand in Europe by 2030.
The news was shared by Peugeot CEO, Linda Jackson, during a World Endurance Championship race in Imola. The CEO didn’t seem to be interested in capitalizing on Peugeot’s motorsport involvement with the 9X8 Hypercar.
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Speaking to Autocar, Linda Jackson said: “To be honest we thought about [expanding the range] but then the prioritisation came into play and this is all about electrification. The fact is we are investing, as Stellantis, €40 billion ($43.5 billion) for electrification and Peugeot is a part of that. We will have a full electric car line-up by the end of this year where every model will have an electric version and you have to make your priorities.”
This move represents a 180-degree shift compared to Peugeot’s earlier plans, announced in 2021. Back then, the company hinted at PSE-branded versions of all of its new models, as a way of showing that electrification can be fun.
Peugeot 508 PSE Sedan
The Peugeot 508 PSE was introduced in 2020 and received a facelift in 2023. As the performance flagship of the range, it comes fitted with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with dual electric motors. The combined output is 355 hp (265 kW / 360 PS) and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft) of torque, making it the most powerful model in Peugeot’s current lineup.
While it is sad to see the PSE go, Jackson remains open to the idea of performance models for the distant future – as long as they have fully electric powertrains. The CEO said that nothing is certain at the moment, but the new modular architectures by Stellantis could serve as a base for hot EVs.
What About The Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar?
A street-legal version of the Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar would certainly be a big thing for Peugeot fans. In July 2023, the CEO said that if a customer came with a “blank cheque”, Peugeot could discuss about building a roadgoing hypercar based on the hybrid endurance racer. While the company hasn’t received any such requests, the project remains under consideration.
More specifically, Jackson said: “I’m not sure, it’s not certain, but we could do it. Do we need that or do we need to develop the technology on a wider range of cars? That’s under debate at the moment, we have got no decision”, adding: “I’m not saying we’re not going to have one.”
