Peugeot is preparing to pull the covers off a refreshed 408 next month at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, and if early indications are anything to go by, the already eye-catching fastback will be dialling up its visual drama even further.
Official details remain thin on the ground, but Peugeot has hinted that the 408’s boldly sculpted design will be “further enhanced by sophisticated details at both the front and rear”. Given the car’s already distinctive stance, that suggests evolution rather than reinvention – a strategy Peugeot has applied successfully elsewhere in its line-up.
A strong clue to what we can expect comes from the closely related Peugeot 308, which received its own facelift earlier this year. If the 408 follows a similar path, the most noticeable changes will be concentrated at the front. A revised grille should sharpen the car’s expression, while a large illuminated Peugeot lion badge is likely to take pride of place at its centre, reinforcing the brand’s new design identity.
More controversially, the facelifted 408 is expected to lose its signature fang-like daytime running lights. These dramatic vertical LEDs helped the original car stand out, but on the updated 308 they were replaced by sleeker ‘three-claw’ light signatures linked by additional light strips. Expect a similar treatment here, lending the 408 a cleaner and arguably more mature look.
Elsewhere, changes are likely to be more subtle. Revised bumpers, fresh alloy wheel designs and a light update to the three-claw rear light graphics should round out the exterior revisions without straying far from the original concept. Inside, Peugeot is expected to stick with the current i-Cockpit layout, though updated screen graphics and a few extra creature comforts for higher-spec models would be in keeping with the brand’s recent updates.
Under the skin, continuity looks to be the name of the game. As with the 308 facelift, the 408’s engine line-up is expected to remain largely unchanged. Entry-level versions should continue with the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine paired with an integrated electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox, delivering a combined 143bhp. The plug-in hybrid variant is also likely to carry over, offering around 193bhp and a pure-electric driving range of roughly 50 miles.
The biggest mechanical upgrade may arrive in the all-electric E-408. Following improvements made to the E-308, the electric fastback could receive a larger battery pack, potentially pushing its range from the current 280 miles to closer to the 300-mile mark. If confirmed, that would make the E-408 a more compelling option in an increasingly competitive electric family car market.
With its Brussels Motor Show debut fast approaching, the updated Peugeot 408 looks set to refine a bold formula rather than rewrite it – sharpening its design, subtly improving its tech, and keeping its varied powertrain options intact. For a car that already turns heads, that might be exactly the right move.
Kia is continuing its electric performance push, and the upcoming EV5 GT looks set to play a key role in that strategy. Due to make its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show, the sporty new SUV will join a growing family of GT-badged electric models that blend everyday usability with a dose of driver appeal.
The EV5 GT won’t arrive alone. Kia has confirmed that Brussels will also host the global unveiling of the compact EV2, alongside GT versions of the EV3 and EV4 hatchback. With the EV6 GT and the larger EV9 GT already on sale, those additions will bring Kia’s electric GT portfolio to five models – a clear statement of intent from the Korean brand.
Sales of the EV5 GT in the UK and wider European market are expected to begin in the summer of 2026. While Kia has yet to release teaser images, the company has already revealed the key performance figures, giving us a clear idea of where this model will sit in the competitive electric SUV landscape.
Unlike the more extreme EV6 GT – which shares its bespoke performance-focused platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – the EV5 GT takes a more measured approach. Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing 302bhp and 480Nm of torque. That translates to a 0–62mph time of 6.2 seconds, quick enough to justify the GT badge, even if it stops short of outright hot-SUV territory.
On paper, that leaves the EV5 GT trailing some of its key rivals from the Volkswagen Group. Both the Skoda Enyaq vRS and Volkswagen ID.4 GTX deliver around 335bhp and can sprint to 62mph in roughly 5.4 seconds. However, outright numbers rarely tell the full story. If Kia can infuse the EV5 GT with some of the engaging chassis tuning and playful character seen in the EV6 GT and Ioniq 5 N, it could still prove a compelling driver’s choice.
Battery and charging details remain under wraps, but the EV5 GT is expected to use the same 81.4kWh battery as the EV5 Long Range. That points to a real-world range close to 300 miles, which would make it practical as well as performance-oriented. Kia has also confirmed that a slightly less potent 261bhp dual-motor version will launch alongside the GT, though its range figures are still to be announced.
Visually, the EV5 GT is likely to follow the understated approach of Kia’s other GT models. Expect subtle but purposeful upgrades rather than dramatic bodywork changes. Acid-green highlights on the brake calipers and inside the cabin are all but guaranteed, along with a dedicated GT alloy wheel design. Kia has also confirmed a distinctive matte Magma Red paint finish as the hero colour for the range-topper.
Pricing is still to be confirmed, but the EV5 GT will almost certainly sit above the all-wheel-drive Long Range GT-Line model. A figure in the region of £50,000 would place it neatly alongside established rivals such as the Enyaq vRS and ID.4 GTX.
With its mix of performance, range and restrained styling, the Kia EV5 GT looks set to broaden the appeal of electric performance SUVs. It may not be the wildest GT in Kia’s line-up, but it could turn out to be one of the most rounded.
After a brief but painful absence, Ford’s most famous supermini could be heading back to Europe—this time powered by electrons and a Franco-American alliance.
The return of the Ford Fiesta was never supposed to read like a resurrection story. And yet, just two years after Britain’s best-selling car of all time bowed out, the groundwork has been laid for a comeback that feels almost biblical in scale.
A newly announced electric-vehicle platform-sharing deal between Ford and Renault, confirmed in early December 2025, has opened the door for the Fiesta nameplate to return as soon as 2028—reimagined as a fully electric supermini aimed squarely at the heart of Europe’s B-segment.
A French Platform, an American Soul
At the core of the agreement is Renault’s AmpR Small architecture, a dedicated EV platform that already underpins the new Renault 5 and 4, the Alpine A290 hot hatch, the upcoming Nissan Micra EV and the reborn Renault Twingo due in 2026. Ford will gain access not only to this platform, but also to Renault’s battery and motor technology—crucial leverage in a segment where scale is everything and margins are tight.
Ford plans to launch two new electric models off the back of this deal. One will revive the Fiesta as a compact hatchback; the other will be a second small EV, likely with a more crossover-inspired silhouette. Crucially, these will not be rebadged Renaults. Both cars will be designed by Ford, wear unique bodywork and be engineered to feel distinctively Blue Oval in character.
If history is anything to go by, that distinction will matter.
Familiar Footprint, Sharper Edge
Sharing its underpinnings with the Renault 5 suggests the new Fiesta EV will sit in broadly the same dimensional ballpark, but expect a noticeably sharper and more dynamic design. That approach aligns neatly with Ford’s recent styling direction and with the outgoing Fiesta’s reputation as the driver’s choice among small cars.
Pricing is also likely to be competitive. The Renault 5 range spans roughly £22,000 to £30,000, placing a future Fiesta EV right in the thick of the emerging electric supermini battleground.
More important than price, however, is how it drives—and Ford is keen to underline that point.
Ford DNA, Carefully Engineered
Both the Fiesta EV and its small-SUV sibling will receive bespoke chassis tuning, with Ford taking the lead on ride, steering, handling and braking. It’s a strategy the company has already employed successfully with the Explorer and Capri EVs, which are built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform yet feel markedly different to their ID-branded cousins.
“We’re very confident that we can completely differentiate the offering,” said Jim Baumbick, president of Ford of Europe, speaking to Auto Express. “Ford will lead on the development of the design and things like the ride, steering, handling and braking to inject the uniquely Ford DNA.”
Baumbick also revealed that early designs have already been shared with dealers and key stakeholders, suggesting the project is well beyond the exploratory phase.
What Could Be Under the Skin?
Thanks to its shared architecture, the technical picture is already taking shape. The Renault 5 offers 40kWh and 52kWh battery options, with the larger pack delivering up to 252 miles of WLTP range. In its more powerful configuration, a 148bhp electric motor drives the front wheels, dispatching 0–62mph in under eight seconds.
Those figures would place a Fiesta EV firmly among the most capable electric superminis on sale—practical enough for daily use, but lively enough to honour the badge.
And then there’s the question enthusiasts are already asking.
Could the ST Badge Return?
Sharing DNA with the Alpine A290 raises an intriguing possibility: a Fiesta ST reborn for the electric age. The A290 pushes up to 217bhp through its front axle and features a heavily revised chassis, uprated brakes, tuned suspension and a wider track.
A high-performance Fiesta EV would align neatly with Ford’s renewed focus on enthusiast and halo products, from the extreme Mustang GTD to the Ranger Raptor.
“Ford is at its best when we connect with customers at an emotional level,” Baumbick said. “When we enable them to do things that they love to do.”
An electric Fiesta ST would do exactly that.
Built in France, Moving Fast
Production of both new small EVs will take place at Renault’s ElectriCity complex in northern France, underlining the deal’s focus on economies of scale and speed to market. Renault’s rapid development cycle—helped by a new R&D centre in China that enabled the next Twingo to be developed in under two years—has clearly caught Ford’s attention.
The first Ford vehicle born of this partnership is expected to arrive in 2028, a remarkably short timeline by industry standards.
Ford CEO Jim Farley described the agreement as “an important step” in building a leaner, future-proof European business, while Renault Group CEO François Provost hailed it as proof of the competitiveness and depth of the two companies’ partnership.
Where It Leaves the Rest of the Range
The Renault deal focuses squarely on B-segment cars, complementing Ford’s existing Puma Gen-E rather than replacing it. According to Baumbick, the new models will “augment” the Puma, not supplant it—suggesting Ford is aiming to cover more price points, potentially with a baby SUV or even a Ka-style city car based on the Twingo.
What it won’t do, however, is resurrect the Ford Focus as a Volkswagen ID.3 rival. Ford’s partnership with VW remains confined to larger C-segment EVs, and there are no plans to use Renault’s larger AmpR Medium platform for a Focus replacement.
Beyond passenger cars, the collaboration may yet expand further, with both companies having signed a letter of intent to explore joint work on light commercial vehicles—an area where Ford remains dominant.
A Small Car With Big Expectations
If it all comes together, the electric Fiesta won’t just be another EV—it will be a litmus test for Ford’s European future. Affordable, desirable small cars built at scale are notoriously difficult to make profitable, but they’re also essential to brand relevance.
For a nameplate as storied as Fiesta, a quiet fade-out was never going to feel right. An electric rebirth, shaped by French engineering and sharpened by Ford’s driving DNA, might just be the comeback story it deserves.
