Peugeot flagship after the 508: Alain Favey hints at a model above the 5008

Gareth Wainwright • June 09, 2026 23:24

From the Peugeot 508 flagship to a new reality

Last year, Peugeot’s flagship title belonged to the 508; now the picture has changed. The French brand’s range-topper has been discontinued, and the reasons behind its exit are straightforward.

Buyers are increasingly choosing SUVs, which keep “stealing” market share from the saloons and estates that used to be the go-to for anyone wanting extra space and comfort. At the same time, the 508 sat in a class overwhelmingly controlled by premium rivals-particularly German models such as the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The outcome was predictable: sales fell short of expectations.

Peugeot 5008 becomes the top of the range - for now

With the 508 gone, the Peugeot 5008 now sits at the top of the brand’s hierarchy, although that position may not last. That possibility was raised by Alain Favey, Peugeot’s CEO, speaking to Autocar.

Favey says the company “is thinking” about introducing a model positioned above the seven-seat SUV. However, he adds a clear caveat: to succeed and stand out from the competition, the newcomer “would have to be something genuinely different”.

What do we know already?

Alain Favey offered no further clues about what shape this potential new flagship might take. Judging by current trends, SUVs and crossovers remain the body styles most favoured by manufacturers.

Even within Stellantis-the group Peugeot belongs to-there is a clear example in DS. To replace the DS 9, a conventional three-box saloon, the French brand chose a different approach, described by DS itself as an “SUV-coupé”: the Nº8. A model we have already been able to test and assess.

Stellantis options and the risk of stretching the range

Even so, the French chief executive insists he is keeping all “doors open”, noting only that Peugeot benefits from being able to draw on Stellantis’s extensive parts and platforms bank to “see what is possible”.

Despite the ambition, Favey also strikes a cautious note, warning about the danger of “overloading the line-up”. He points to the Peugeot 408 as an example-an eye-catching car, yet one that suffers from not having the visibility the brand would like it to have.

For that reason, the CEO ends on a practical reflection: “Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to focus on what we do well, which is cars in the B and C segments? That’s why I hesitate. Although I’d love to (launch a car like that)”.