Peugeot's hybrid concept

Peugeot’s stunning new lion is set to roar in! Taking pride of place on the French maker’s stand at this year’s Paris Motor Show will be this spectacular GT coupé. The car’s name will be revealed at the show, along with more details about the model. But what we do know about the stylish four-door, four-seater is that it’s the first proper work by Peugeot’s new head of styling, Jerome Gallix.

That means many of the features which make the car, currently badged RC, so appealing will be seen in the design of all future models. Elements such as the swooping headlights, gaping grille and sculpted bonnet all share more than a passing resemblance to Audi’s R8 – and show that Peugeot isn’t afraid of chasing top-class competition with its new designs.

Yet while the RC features a luxurious four-person interior, insiders at Peugeot hint that the concept isn’t actually the replacement for the larger 608 executive, which is due next year. In fact, the RC previews the all-new 408, which is scheduled to arrive in 2010. This is the car Peugeot hopes will get back on equal terms with the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.

The RC is not only an exercise in debuting new design ideas. It follows on from Peugeot concepts such as the playing card-themed RC Spade and RC Diamond sports cars unveiled at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. And whereas those models featured conventional petrol or diesel powerplants, Peugeot has played its joker with the dramatically designed newcomer.

Under the swooping bonnet sits a compact, advanced petrol or diesel engine. But in addition to conventional fossil fuel power, the RC is set to debut what the firm calls a ‘highly innovative hybrid architecture’. Expect a lithium-ion battery set-up to supplement the normal unit, boosting power to 313bhp when the systems are run together.

What’s more, Peugeot claims the hybrid set-up returns CO2 emissions of only 109g/km when both power sources are active, and it has confirmed that the car can be used in electric-only mode, too. Although the system is unlikely to be available from the launch of the 408, Peugeot and sister brand Citroen are set to pioneer new hybrid drivetrains to keep pace with Japanese rivals Honda and Toyota.

If Peugeot fans can’t wait for the new arrival, you could opt for the facelifted 407 instead. On sale in September priced from £17,295, its makeover includes improved sat-nav and piano-black finish to the centre console. There’s also a new mid-range SR model and the addition of a 2.0-litre 140bhp HDi oil-burner to the engine line-up. This produces only 150g/km of CO2.