Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 & Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4 at Frankfurt

Peugeot are bringing the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 - a diesel Hybrid - to Frankfurt

We finally – after two years of waiting – get the gen on the new Peugeot RCZ, and it turns out there’s another story on the RCZ waiting in the wings – The Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4.

But not just the Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4. The RCZ’s sibling – at least platform-wise – is the 3008. And Peugeot are bringing a Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 – a diesel Hybrid version of the new Peugeot 3008 – to Frankfurt as well. And actually the 3008 HYbrid4 is probably the bigger story as it’s almost ready to go.

Peugeot has readied the 3008 HYbrid4 for production, and it’s expected to go on sale late next year. But it’s not your regular petrol/electric Hybrid. This one uses France’s favourite fuel – diesel – coupled to an electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The engine is a 2.0 litre turbo-diesel producing 163bhp and fitted with a stop-start system. But the rear axle gets an electric motor that can add 37bhp and 147lb/ft of the twisty stuff.

All this should add up to some quite impressive performance figures for a Hybrid car, but it still manages to emit just 99g/km of CO2. The Hybrid4 can run in full 4-wheel drive mode if you’re hustling; normal front wheel drive utilising the diesel engine or even rear wheel drive only on the electric motor for short distances.

Peugeot are also bringing a concept of the Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4 to Frankfurt

Although the Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4 that will be at Frankfurt is labelled as a ‘Concept’ it is more than that. With the same underpinnings as the 3008 it is a car that’s ready to go on sale if the 3008 HYbrid4 proves a sales success. And because the RCZ is more aerodynamic – and lighter – than its sibling the CO2 emissions drop to 95g/km in the RCZ HYbrid4. And the performance will be better.

If the 3008 HYbrid4 turns out to be a sales success we could well see the whole of the Peugeot ‘3’ range getting a diesel Hybrid version. And Peugeot say that the HYbrid4 system can easily be converted to run with a petrol as well as a diesel engine.

Clever stuff.