Peugeot 308 R Hybrid review - pictures

<p class="p1">Peugeot's 308 R HYbrid</p>

<p class="p1">A mere concept it may be for the time being, but the 308 R HYbrid feels almost production ready.</p>

<p class="p1">Peugeot Sport says it is waiting to judge the reaction to the car from the world’s press before making any further decisions about the future of this car.</p>

<p class="p1">The 308 R HYbrid boasts&nbsp;500bhp, 730Nm of torque, four wheel-drive, 1550kg, 94.1mpg and 70g/km, wrapped up in a mildly re-styled&nbsp;<span class="s1">Peugeot 308 GTi.</span></p>

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The 308 R HYbrid&nbsp;would be going up against the likes of the Honda Civic Type R</span>&nbsp;and up to and beyond the forthcoming new <span class="s1">Ford Focus RS</span> and <span class="s1">Audi’s R

We believe that this&nbsp;could even be the car to finally pick up where the 205 GTi left off for Peugeot all those years ago.

<p class="p1">Powered by a mixture of 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine and two electric motors – one at the front axle, another at the rear – the 308 R HYbrid has been in development for the lat year and a half.</p>

<p class="p1">The handling, steering and even the ride of the 308 R HYbrid feel sharp, tidy, polished, composed.</p>

<p class="p1">Peugeot Sport claims a 0-62mph time of “less than 4.0sec”.</p>

<p class="p1">In hybrid sport mode the R HYbrid transforms from feeling like an unusually torquey hot hatch into something altogether more incredible.</p>

<p class="p1">In hybrid mode the electric motors are also used to fill in the gaps between gear changes, and during those brief moments when the petrol turbo engine is off boost.</p>

<p class="p1">In hybrid mode the car feels a bit like it’s powered by an atmospheric 3.0-litre V6, with zero lag and a slightly clumsy shifting <span class="s1">six-speed</span> auto gearbox.</p>

<p class="p1">The instant response to the throttle courtesy of the electric motors is <span class="s1">fantastic.</span></p>

<p class="p1">The car feels ready to go on sale, in a nutshell, and that’s just what Peugeot should do.</p>