INFRARED EYES

Once a headline feature on Merc’s S Class, Peugeot has democratised dark ’n’ dangerous detection with Night Vision on the 508.

Typically a £1300 option, the key component is a nose-mounted infrared camera that relays an image on the i-Cockpit’s instrument display. To activate Night Vision, select it from the menu using a steering wheel scroll button.

Capable of scanning the road ahead far beyond the range of the headlights, the system is able to evaluate the threat posed by di„erent hazards. A pedestrian walking safely along the pavement, for instance, is surrounded by a yellow box on the screen. But someone stepping into the road in the distance is ‰lagged up in a red box, and, if things are looking really dangerous, joined by a red warning triangle and an audible beep. But the car won’t brake in response: that’s down to the driver.