RAY MASSEY New hybrid Peugeot 408 crossover now on sale in UK

When French President Macron attended the world premiere of Peugeot’s sophisticated new 408 hybrid crossover at the Paris Motor Show, I was there.

So with the first UK deliveries underway, what better time to get behind the wheel yourself?

It’s a smooth driver: chic, comfortable, spacious and practical, with a smart cockpit, compact steering wheel and smart 3D dashboard screen. In addition to the fastback styling, the test car’s striking Obsession Blue paintwork drew admiring glances and comments from passersby in my driveway.

The stylish new 408 range costs from £31,050 for the frugal 1.2-litre three-cylinder 120PS PureTech petrol version. There are two plug-in petrol-electric hybrid (PHEV) powertrains from £39,900 pairing a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. Drivers also have a choice of three trims: Allure, Allure Premium and GT. All 50 high spec First Edition models allocated to the UK and priced from £43,250 have already sold out.

I drove the top-of-the-line 408 GT 225 plug-in hybrid, which costs £44,700.

The combination of the 1598cc turbocharged in-line four-cylinder petrol and electric motor delivering 225PS (165kW) of combined hybrid power propelled my car from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds to a top speed of 230km/h you in spicy sport mode.

In silent electric mode, it has a claimed range of 40 miles, but still tops out at 83 mph before the petrol engine kicks in. In hybrid mode, it rides and handles well, and has good pace like a practical grand tourer.

Average fuel economy is said to be 211.3mpg to 269.5mpg, with low CO2 emissions of 26g/km – provided you charge it fully from a dedicated 7.4kWh wall-box, which takes around 1 hour and would take 40 minutes.

Peugeot says there will be five new 100 percent electric cars in the next two years. By 2025, every model will offer at least one all-electric option. And by 2030, all European Peugeot models will be 100 percent electric.

TikTok for Mercedes Benz

Just as the European Commission and the US Federal Government have banned staff from using the Chinese social media and video app TikTok over cybersecurity concerns, Mercedes-Benz is introducing it in its latest cars.

The German car giant is giving drivers and their passenger the chance to watch – and soon create – their own TikTok videos using the car’s built-in camera and video selfie technology.

It’s an integral part of the new ‘immersive’ interior of the next-generation E-Class, with a giant touchscreen and a selfie camera inside.

To avoid driver distraction, the image transmission is “not activated while driving,” says Mercedes-Benz.

But it comes as the European Commission this week instructed its employees to remove the Tik Tok app from all business phones and devices, plus personal phones using the commission’s apps and email, by March 15 to protect themselves. against cybersecurity threats and actions that can be exploited for cyberattacks.”

In the US, TikTok is banned on all federal government devices, and most US states have imposed similar bans.

Last summer, lobbying by Conservative MPs resulted in the closure of the @ukparliament TikTok account.

Other countries, including the Netherlands, are considering restrictions on government employees using TikTok.

China’s Tik Tok has criticized the decision as “misguided”.

Car thefts are on the rise

As the cost of living crisis hits, car thefts have risen by nearly a third.

And the AA has warned of worse as more people are tempted to turn to crime to make money.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of stolen cars increased by 29 percent between September 2021 and the same month in 2022.

A shortage of car parts also makes regular cars more attractive to thieves. The new ONS statistics show that just over 72,000 vehicles were reported stolen in the 12 months to September 2022. It also points to a 14 percent increase in vehicle crime to 391,613, including theft from cars and vans.

The AA says older cars are targeted by “smash and grab” thieves. But modern vehicles are more likely to be stolen from owners’ driveways by gangs using keyless technology.