Mean, green Lion points to next 408

By Jack Carfrae

09th October 2008

The French firms certainly made the most of their Parisian home ground! And none more so than Peugeot, which showcased what will be the next 408 in the form of the menacing RC HYmotion4.

Bridging the gap between the RC Spade and Diamond from 2002, and the 908 RC revealed in Paris in 2006, the concept is billed as a stylish four-door GT. But it’s not all about the curvy lines. As with Peugeot’s Prologue and Citroen’s Hypnos show cars, which share similar powertrains, it blends low emissions and impressive economy with searing performance.

The RC has a 1.6-litre THP turbo at the rear and a 70KW electric motor at the front. This makes for a gutsy 313bhp, with zero emissions at low speeds and combined output of 109g/km. That means a miniscule annual tax bill of only £35 and a wallet-friendly 62.7mpg.

Peugeot also claims the RC HYmotion4 isn’t strangled by its green credentials, as it can complete the 0-62mph dash in 4.4 seconds and boasts plenty of mid-range grunt with 178Nm of torque from the motor and 280Nm from the engine.

The concept benefits from four-wheel drive, but its maker has also fitted an “entirely original suspension set-up”, which should make for top-notch road holding and razor-sharp handling.