Peugeot has always prided itself on innovation. Way back in 1889, Armand Peugeot’s first ever car, unveiled in Paris, was powered by steam. Two years later he became the first motor manufacturer to use rubber tyres. In 1934 Peugeot was the first to produce a car with a fully-retractable electrically-operated hard top. Fast forward in every sense to 1979, when Peugeot displayed the first turbo diesel. And at this autumn’s Paris Motor Show, expect to see the production model of a concept car unveiled at Frankfurt in 2007, the 308 Hybride HDi: the hybrid its name suggests, driven by both diesel and electric power.
The 308 Hybride is started by a 22bhp electric motor, and only switches to diesel when extra thrust is needed. The two combined produce a maximum power output equivalent to a 1.3 litre petrol or diesel engine. With a six-speed electronically controlled gearbox and special Michelin energy saver tyres, it will be capable, say Peugeot, of an astonishing 83 mpg, nearly 40 per cent better than the standard 308 HDi. The Hybride emits just 90g/km of CO2 and will be easily the most energy-efficient car in its class.
The Peugeot 308 is already a dramatic success, probably because it blurs the lines between small and medium cars. Although made only as a hatchback, the 308 is 76mm longer and 84mm wider than its predecessor, the 307. The extra space has enabled designer Keith Ryder to create a revolutionary new cabin that caters far more for rear passengers, elevating them by a few inches to give them a better front view, as though they were in cinema seats.
Some of the early owners who traded in their 307 models, particularly in Paris, misjudged the size of their new 308 and added to the rising number of minor accidents in the capital. Concerned about the bad publicity, Peugeot re-emphasized the shock-absorbing features on the 308, and went so far as to crash one deliberately into a wall to prove their point. After a 10mph collision, the 308 remained almost undamaged: all the plastic bumper needed was a couple of new clips and the headlights some new brackets. The key components on the car are not welded together as they were in past models, which usually required major surgery following any accident. Instead, they are attached by bolts and therefore easily replaced.
Peugeot plans five new cars above the existing range, each sold on either high performance or high specification. Four remain a closely guarded secret but a sports coupé, the 308 RCZ, also shown as a concept at Frankfurt last year, may be in production in time for the Paris Motor Show. The chance of this feisty car achieving 83 mpg, even if driven with kid gloves, seems much more remote.
From our March 2008 e-newsletter
