Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 revealed

By Dan Strong

01st July 2011

Move over Toyota! Peugeot is aiming to lead the charge to greener motoring with a family of hybrid and electric vehicles based on its new HYbrid4 technology.

Auto Express has driven the first production car to offer the system, a diesel electric edition of the 3008. Though we are not allowed to publish a full report until September 6th, we can reveal the car’s technical details.

On sale later this year, the five-seat 3008 HYbrid4 offers what Peugeot is calling a parallel hybrid. Like the Lexus RX400h, the car has a 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine driving the front wheels, and an all-electric set-up driving those at the rear.

At peak, the arrangement offers an impressive 200bhp and 500Nm of torque, but because of the performance of the electric engines, the model will return 74.4mpg. During our test drive, we saw figures of almost 100mpg on slow runs across country, and 40mpg at motorway speeds.

To save even more fuel, there’s an electric only mode, with a range of around three miles. CO2 emissions are below 99g/km, and in the UK the car will qualify for free road tax, and escape the London Congestion Charge.
Prices start high, at £26,995 – however, Peugeot says the car will look particularly attractive to fleet customers, thanks to its low emissions and tax status.

This technology is only the beginning, says the HYbrid4’s project manager, Vincent Basso. Speaking to Auto Express, Basso explained that the HYbrid4 confirmed that the firm was working on a plug in version of the technology that would be available by 2014.

According to rumour, it’s likely to debut in an all new crossover vehicle, based on the HR1 concept shown at last year’s 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Paired with Peugeot’s ultra efficient 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine, it will offer a 12 mile electric only range, and a fuel economy of up to 81mpg, and CO2 emissions of 80g/km.