Set to be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show next week, the 308 R Hybrid combines the best of both worlds. It’s based on Peugeot’s mainstream sedan, but upgrades with a high-performance, plug-in-hybrid powertrain. A 1.6-liter turbo four is paired to two electric motors: one at the rear axle and one at the front, linked to the six-speed transmission. The result is a combined output of 500 horsepower, netting a 0-62-miles-per-hour time of 4.0 seconds flat, and covering the thousand-meter (3,281-foot) sprint in 22 seconds. All of which makes it far more radical than the conventional 308 R hot hatch concept presented at the last Frankfurt show.
Produced by the same Peugeot Sport operation that ran the company’s Le Mans, Dakar, Pikes Peak and other recent racing efforts, the 308 R Hybrid also features 19-inch wheels with low-profile tires riding on a wider track, additional ventilation carved into the bodywork, a beefed-up body kit, upgraded brakes, a leather interior with four bucket seats and a two-tone metallic blue and matte black paint job.
Pie-in-the-French-blue-sky as the 308 R Hybrid seems, we doubt it’ll ever see the inside of a showroom – or the outside of a convention center, for that matter. Peugeot is introducing a warmed-over 308S hatchback for the Chinese market at the same show, however, and there’s already the performance-oriented 308 GT available to buyers around the world. Peugeot has only released on image of the 308 R Hybrid, but we’ll be sure to update you when more images surface.
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Since its launch, the PEUGEOT 308 has won over more than 280,000 connoisseurs across the world thanks to qualities that are unheard of in segment C. As it presses ahead with its internationalisation strategy, the marque is present at the Shanghai motor show to launch its new 308 S, built and marketed in China. Regardless of body style and engine fit, the PEUGEOT 308 is renowned for its high performance, boosted by the versatility of its EMP2 platform. PEUGEOT Sport has now developed a new plug-in petrol hybrid powertrain on this same base. The 500 hp power and the four-wheel drive push back the boundaries of sporting prowess in the segment, offering truly extraordinary performance. PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is also the revelation of a unique interior design with four individual seats and sleek lines pared in blue and black.
The PEUGEOT 308 is a definite commercial success. It has already received 24 awards, including the prestigious Car of the Year 2014. PEUGEOT 308 is reaffirming its status as a global car with the launch of the new 308S in China. In fact, with the 308 R Hybrid version, it becomes the brand’s icon.
Maxime Picat, Managing Director at PEUGEOT
PEUGEOT Sport’s expertise applies an uncompromising approach to meeting targets. With our experience in hybrid vehicles developed with the PEUGEOT 908, the high-performance hybrid powertrain fitted to the 308 gives a glimpse of the potential for ultra-sports models in the future.
Bruno Famin, Director at PEUGEOT Sport
A balanced yet radical style
PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid has the perfect proportions for its quest for pure performance: it is incredibly compact with wheels in its four corners offering perfect balance, attained by seating the 308 hatchback on the EMP2 platform.
The elegant style and sporting prowess of the 308 are perfectly recognisable, borrowing the design codes explored on the Quartz concept car and expressing them in its own radical manner.
The balanced proportions of the PEUGEOT 308 and its clean-cut, technological design are the ideal base for a radical model like this. PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid makes spectacular use of its assets for an even racier, evermore dynamic style.
Gilles Vidal, Head of Styling at PEUGEOT
Pinned to the ground on its 235/35 R19 tyres set on tracks that have been widened by 80 mm, the PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid devours the road. Its front end is imposing with the expressive louvers on the bonnet and the sharp edges and sleek surfaces of its mineral bumper.
The grille features a checked pattern and supplies the innovative 500-hp powertrain with air. The side air scoops integrate the sequential LED indicators while the central scoop sports the car’s signature 308 R HYbrid badge, carved into the block.
In profile, the lines, which have been cut to fit tightly around the mechanical components, catch the light as they draw your eye over the vehicle. PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is cloaked in an impressively intense blue, developed using fluorescent pigments and glass particles. This colour recalls both the hybrid powertrain and the shade historically reserved for French competition vehicles. On the rear doors, the blue is matched with a matte black, giving a different interpretation of the car’s clean lines, a trademark of the most extreme cars from PEUGEOT.
At the rear, PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is remarkably understated yet just as radical. The rear stance underscores the car’s road handling while a narrow spoiler at the top of the tailgate reinforces the aerodynamics. Then there is the bumper with two scoops that help keep the battery temperature down by drawing out the hot air.
The air scoops and the body sills are embellished with a touch of white ceramic-look material, emphasising the car’s dynamic character.
PEUGEOT i-Cockpit, efficient design for the driver
The doors open to reveal an impressive interior structured by a stretched-out central console and four bucket seats. The selected materials and colours clearly state the aim of PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid: performance.
The upper fittings and the roof lining are slate grey. The bucket seats are upholstered in fawn-coloured patinated leather. In true sporting tradition, the interior is finished with touches of red, especially around the dials, the steering wheel centre marker and the central console.
For the first time ever, PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid has adopted a set of materials taken from the range usually reserved for concept cars only. Hence, the dashboard is covered in a fabric produced using a digital weaving technique. This innovative material can be used to produce large, complex parts that are soft to the touch with no need for foam, making for a lighter vehicle. The digital fabric is used on the door panels together with black leather and the same fawn patinated leather as the seats.
Thanks to the innovative architecture of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit, the driver is fully in control of the 500 hp supplied by the powertrain. The compact steering wheel, upholstered in perforated leather and bearing the 308 R HYbrid logo, allows for precise, incisive positioning when cornering. The steering wheel paddles are immediately to hand, giving the driver finger-tip control over the six-speed gearbox. And the head-up display provides all relevant driving information, without the need to take your eyes off the road.
Finally, the two buttons on the central console allow the driver to keep a check on the mechanics. The first activates the powerful powertrain while the second gives access to the four driving modes.
A radically performing petrol hybrid plug-in
Development of the PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid was entrusted to PEUGEOT Sport. They were challenged to developing an efficient petrol hybrid plug-in powertrain, integrating it into the EMP platform and setting new limits in terms of performance.
The result is on a par with that challenge: quite simply astounding. Developing 500 hp with four-wheel drive, PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid has its speed limited electronically at 250 km/h, going from 0 to 100 km/h is 4.0 seconds, and covering 1000 m from a standing start in 22.0 seconds. In spite of all that, CO2 emissions are just 70 g/km.
It is perfectly balanced, with 60% of its weight to the front and 40% to the rear. PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid has a fiery spirit but an incredible weight/power ratio, barely reaching 3.1 kg/hp.
If we were able to reach this kind of performance on a segment C vehicle, it is all down to our passion for a challenge and our desire for excellence. PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is part of a very select club of cars reaching 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.
Jean-Philippe Delaire, PEUGEOT Sport, Head of Development of the PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid powertrain
PEUGEOT Sport systematically called on its technical expertise and its successful motor racing track record to define the specifications of each component as well as its ideal position. The powertrain thus combines three sources of power, each powering the vehicle independently of the others:
– the 4-cylinder petrol 1.6L THP 270 S&S engine, with the highest special power rating in the world for this engine size,
– an electric motor with power of 85 kW / 115 hp, linked to the 6-speed gearbox,
– an electric motor with the same characteristics on the rear axle.
For impeccable dynamic handling, the car’s weight has been recentred and placed as low as possible. The Lithium-Ion 3 kWh battery has an excellent ratio between power and size, and has been placed under the rear seats in place of the fuel tank. In turn, the 50 L fuel tank has been placed in the boot above the rear electric motor and the two transformers. In their quest for perfection, the PEUGEOT Sport engineers have completely redesigned the bottom of the fuel tank so that it sits tightly up against the technical components. The few millimetres thus gained on the vehicle height contribute to its performance.
The toggle button on the central console is used to select one of the four driving modes:
– Hot Lap mode is the most powerful, harnessing the full potential from the three power sources to reach a total of 500 hp and maximum torque of 730 Nm.
– Track mode delivers 400 hp and 530 Nm, mainly from the petrol engine and the rear electric motor. The front electric motor serves as an additional booster when accelerating.
– Road mode is specially designed for road use with power of 300 hp and torque of 400 Nm. The petrol engine delivers its full potential while the rear electric motor helps during accelerations. The front electric motor is not used in this mode.
– ZEV makes priority use of the rear electric motor to drive the PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid. The front electric motor comes into play, depending on the pressure applied by the driver on the accelerator pedal.
Thanks to the all-wheel drive system, the handling of PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is pretty formidable, especially coming out of the bends. The braking system is on a par with the car’s performance with 380 mm ventilated discs at the front, gripped by four pistons, and 290 mm discs to the rear. However, they are not used every time the brakes are applied, because PEUGEOT Sport has designed the powertrain to decelerate using the electric motors throughout the full speed range, starting at 250 km/h. Not only does this preserve the discs and pads, but this regenerative braking system is also one of the three ways of recharging the battery.
Another recharging strategy uses the front electric engine as a generator, driven by the petrol engine. The third solution is a rapid recharging terminal restoring the battery to its maximum power in just 30 minutes.
PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is awe-inspiring proof of the engineers’ and designers’ talent and of the excellence of the PEUGEOT 308. A PEUGEOT is always about motion and emotion.
Keep up with the very latest news with #PEUGEOT308RHYbrid.
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PEUGEOT back in the race at Auto Shanghai
– globalisation of the “8 range” – commercial launch of the 308S – ultra high-performance 308 R HYbrid saloon
With global sales up by +2.5% and considerable above-market growth in China, it is a determined PEUGEOT that is exhibiting at Auto Shanghai 2015.
On its unique 1,800 m² stand, PEUGEOT is presenting no fewer than 14 production vehicles and concept cars, the youngest and widest range in its history in China.
In Shanghai, PEUGEOT is also continuing its upscaling and globalisation strategy by presenting:
– the PEUGEOT 2008, the first global car in the PEUGEOT “8 range” now fitted with the 1.6 L THP engine in China;
– the new PEUGEOT 308S produced in Wuhan for the Chinese market;
– enhanced by the ultra high-performance PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid developed by PEUGEOT SPORT.
PEUGEOT and continued acceleration in China
2015 has started with sustained growth in China. In the first quarter, the PEUGEOT brand has invoiced more than 106,000 cars, an increase of 24.7% compared to the first quarter of 2014, in a market that is up 11.6%.
All of the recent launches have been a resounding success. The new PEUGEOT 408 launched on 28 August in Beijing has already had more than 45,000 sales, exceeding its original targets, and the new PEUGEOT 508, launched on 9 January, boosts the range with the arrival on this model of the brand new 1.8 THP + STT engines.
PEUGEOT 2008: a global car set to conquer China
The first global car in the “8 range”, the Crossover 2008, which was launched in Europe in spring 2013, has proved extremely successful with customers, selling more than 61,000 units in less than a year of sales in China. At the end of the month, it will be celebrating its 300,000th customer. At the same time, Latin America is also getting reading to welcome it.
The PEUGEOT 2008 falls within the B+ segment in China and aims to become the leader of this category on the world’s leading automotive market.
The new 1.6 L THP version completes the range and is targeting a population of first-time buyers with an average age of just 30, from the booming Chinese middle classes.
PEUGEOT 308S: targeting a new customer base
Marketed in 124 countries, the PEUGEOT 308 has won over more than 273,897 connoisseurs worldwide with qualities that have never before been seen in segment C.
In China, it is known as the PEUGEOT 308S to distinguish it from the 308 Sedan already firmly established on the market with 95,000 units sold in 2014. The PEUGEOT 308S is positioned in the intelligent and sporty hatchback segment, perfectly in tune with the new direction taken by Chinese customers favouring more compact, more dynamic vehicles in segment C.
When the PEUGEOT 308S was unveiled in Beijing on 9 March, the Chinese press raved about its design, its features and its powerful engines.
The PEUGEOT 308S will be available with 3 different engines, 1.6 THP, 1.2 THP and 1.6 CVVT, all fitted with the Stop & Start system. The fuel saving of 15% compared to previous generations of engine perfectly meets customer demand for a compromise between power and fuel economy.
The 308S rounds off the PEUGEOT segment C offer, alongside the 301, the 308 Sedan and the 408. With the 308S, PEUGEOT now has a very young range in China, with an average age of less than 3 years.
PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid: performance and efficiency from PEUGEOT SPORT
The PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is a compact saloon that drives like a supercar.
The PEUGEOT 308 is renowned for its high performance, boosted by the versatility of its EMP2 platform. The elegant style and sporting prowess of the 308 are perfectly recognisable, borrowing the design codes explored on the Quartz concept car, also on display in Shanghai, and expressing them in its own radical manner.
Besides these elements of style, the Quartz and the 308 R HYbrid share a new design with sleek lines, pared in blue and black, and a new plug-in hybrid petrol drive chain developed by PEUGEOT SPORT. The 500 hp and the four-wheel drive push back the boundaries of sporting prowess in the segment, offering truly extraordinary performance and sensation.
The PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is also the revelation of a unique interior design with four individual seats. The PEUGEOT 308 R HYbrid is awe-inspiring proof of the engineers’ and designers’ talent and of the excellence of the PEUGEOT 308. A PEUGEOT is always about motion and emotion.
Keep up with the very latest news with #PEUGEOT308RHYbrid.
The Roland Garros range: elegance… French style
For the 4th year running, PEUGEOT is riding the wave of the reputation in China of the Roland Garros French Open and the popularity of everything French by presenting two new vehicles: the new PEUGEOT 2008 1.6L THP and the PEUGEOT 3008 Roland Garros.
PEUGEOT mobility: Emotion in motion
Auto Shanghai is an opportunity to demonstrate PEUGEOT’s mobility with the Métropolis scooter and the latest Electric AE21 bicycle.
Who better than PEUGEOT to design the mobility of tomorrow? The result of active collaboration between the Automobiles PEUGEOT and PEUGEOT Scooters teams, the Metropolis focuses the brand’s expertise by combining the advantages of a car and those of a two-wheeler. Sturdy and safe, protective and comfortable, efficient and practical, this scooter embodies the modern vision of a new mobility in 3 dimensions.
PEUGEOT has marketed its range of scooters in China since 2011, through a network of 104 specialist dealerships spread throughout the country.
Designing 2-wheelers with Style and High Standards, experiencing with passion a world of emotion. Reinventing mobility has been in the DNA of PEUGEOT Cycles since 1882. Hence the brand’s latest technological achievement, the HYbrid Bike AE21 from PEUGEOT Cycles, a compact urban electric bicycle for those who want something different.
Again, PEUGEOT Cycles demonstrates its daring in terms of both urban mobility and design. The latest addition to the ALLURE urban cycle range, the AE21 symbolises PEUGEOT’s modern side and its ability to innovate in a mobility field as important as cycles.
PEUGEOT Avenue opening soon in Beijing
PEUGEOT is all about raw emotion and the Auto Shanghai show is the perfect opportunity to announce the opening of a PEUGEOT Avenue in Beijing this year. A stunning showcase and the perfect accompaniment to PEUGEOT’s move upmarket. An exclusive location dedicated to the Brand, over 3 floors and a surface area of 1,800 m², to share and promote all of the Brand’s emotions and experience.
