Peugeot 308 R heading for production

It seems the Peugeot 308 R Concept, which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is heading for production as a range-topping performance 308.

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With the Peugeot RCZ R managing to go from range-topping performance concept to production, it seemed likely Peugeot was aiming at producing a new range of performance cars. And it seems the next could be the Peugeot 308 R.

Arriving at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept, the 308 R comes with a strange two-tone paint job (meant to evoke the Peugeot Onyx Concept), but with far more to offer than just a paint job that makes it look a different car at the back than the front.

Under the skin are the oily bits from the RCZ R, which means 270bhp and 243lb/ft of torque  from its 1.6 litre turbo, torque-sensing diff to keep the front wheels in check and a 0-62mph which should break 6 seconds.

The concept gets almost all new carbon fibre body panels – just the roof and boot lid carry over – although any production version is likely to make do without such expensive weight saving.

The 30-8 R also gets a bold body kit and Alcon racing brakes, a wider track and lower suspension, all adding up to a very appealing performance 308 that should give the Golf GTi a bit of a spanking.

And now it looks like the 308 R is heading for production after Peugeot boss Maxime Picat told Top Gear Peugeot are aiming to create high end versions of their cars and that “…there is room for a 308 R that uses the same engine as the concept car at Frankfurt.”

Which means the 308 R is an odds-on certainty to make production in 2014.