New Peugeot 508 has the French purring with its top drawer design and efficiency

THERE’S only one town in the world where a Peugeot attracts more attention than a supercar.

Monaco — the millionaires’ playground — where Ferraris and Lamborghinis are as common as a Qashqai in Sunderland.

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Don’t believe me? I parked this spanking new 508 next to a row of cars worth £1.5million, and all the locals wanted to do was check out their home-grown hero.

“C’est la nouvelle cinq cent huit?”

(New 508?)

Yes, buddy.

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“Est-ce que je peux faire un petit inspection?”

(Can I have a little look inside please?)

Go right ahead.

“Merci. I’ve been promised the first one in Antibes.”

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And so it went on.

I don’t think there’s another nation that sticks to its own like the French.

They are properly patriotic about their cars, running about in battered old Renaults, Citroens and Peugeots.

Which is why this flagship 508 fascinates them more than a McLaren.

Not that I blame them. There’s a lot to love about the new rep-mobile: Striking looks, digital i-Cockpit, efficient engines.

It’s just that they won’t sell many. Old-school saloons are flatlining these days, so much so that the Nissan Qashqai outsold a year’s worth of Ford Mondeos in a month.

Peugeot expects to shift only 4,000 a year in the UK, compared with 20,000-plus 3008 SUVs.

Positives. The 508 trumps the VW Passat for design and the cabin is top drawer.

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It’s not just the wood, the leather, the tech, the small squared-off steering wheel, the piano-style shortcut keys or the frameless doors, it’s the combination of all those things.

Cover the lion badge on the steering wheel and you’d think it was German.

Negatives. You’d still rather have a C-Class — and there’s some unreal Merc deals on t’interweb right now.

Engines. We tested the 180hp 1.6-litre petrol in GT Line trim. Slick eight-speed auto, well-balanced, direct steering, up to 50mpg, but no good for getaway drivers.

For more beans, there’s the 225hp GT with 300Nm torque but that’s £35,975. Quite.

There are three Euro 6.2 diesels for serious motorway prowlers — but the 1.5-litre BlueHDI (130hp, 300Nm, 76mpg, 98g/km) from £26,600 is my pick.

That’s got all the performance you need and is the lowest in class for BIK.

The C-Class can’t touch that CO2 figure. Hybrid, 4x4 and estate versions to follow.

Tres bien, my French cousins, tres bien.

But just look at that Aston . . .

First look

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YUCK. This is the hideously overstyled Audi Kona, sorry, A1. Lots of cool tech – digital dash, cylinder deactivation - but spoiled by that fussy front end. See those three air inlets above the giant grille? They’re a nod to the old fire-breathing Audi Quattro. Why? I’ve no idea. Polo/Ibiza in drag. Out November.

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TWO words. Budget.  G-Wagen. That’s all you need to know.

Screw all the celebs in their £100k Merc tanks, you’ve got a Suzuki Jimny. Same boxy looks, ladder-frame chassis, 4WD, take it anywhere – and £84,000 cheaper.

Perfect for my old girl in the Peak District.

On sale early 2019.

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SELECT. Copy. Paste. The Volvo S60 (saloon) uses the same brilliant interior as the V60 (estate) which uses the same brilliant interior as the XC40, which uses the same brilliant interior as the XC60, which uses the same  . . . you get my drift.

Petrol and petrol-electric only, no diesel. Out March from £32,000.

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DRUMROLL please: For my new favourite Beemer since the last one last week.

BMW is knocking out 18 new models this year – I repeat, 18  – and this is the super luxury 8 Series Coupe, out November from £76k.

The full-fat M850i can outdrag a DB11. Still to come: the new 3 Series and Z4.

Mmmm, Mmmm.

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UNLESS you’re Peter Crouch, you’re never going to see the roof of your new DS3 Cafe Racer, which is a shame because it’s got a cool tattoo on it inspired by the 1960s British motorbike culture. Lots of kit, watchstrap leather seats, out now priced £21,000.

And you can always gaze at it from your bedroom window.

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