By: Dave Abrahams
Paris, France - This concept, built by the Peugeot Sport skunk works for the upcoming Shanghai motor show, is the hottest 308 yet, says Peugeot - and possibly the hottest hatch from any maker, with a combined 370kW and all-wheel drive.
And yes, it's a hybrid, with a 200kW 1.6-litre THP S&S turbopetrol four driving the front wheels through a six-speed paddle-shift gearbox and an 85kW electric motor on each axle; the front one is linked to the gearbox.
The maker quotes 0-100 in four seconds flat, and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
The Peugeot 308 R HYbrid runs 19" alloys with 235/35 low-profiles, on a track widened by 80mm front and rear from standard; it has 380mm ventilated front and 290mm rear discs with four-piston callipers - but they don't get used unless you really stand on the left pedal.
The car has been set up to use the electric motors for braking as much as possible, converting kinetic energy into battery amps throughout the speed range.
That's one of three systems for recharging the battery; the second is by using the front motor as a generator, powered by the petrol engine, and the third is by plugging it in to a special 'fast charge' power source, that'll get it brimful of amps in just 45 minutes.
FOUR DRIVE MODES:
HOT LAP does what it says on the tin, using all three power sources for a combined 370kW and 730Nm.
TRACK mode delivers 295kW and 530Nm, mostly from the petrol engine and the rear electric motor, with the front motor chiming in under hard acceleration.
ROAD mode is good for 221kW and 400Nm, using mostly the petrol engine, with the rear electric motor helping under acceleration; the front electric motor is not used in this mode, except as a generator.
ZEV(zero emissions vehicle, Cyril) uses mostly the rear electric motor, with the front motor boosting acceleration as required.
The 3kWh lithium-ion battery pack is under the rear seats in place of the fuel tank, which has been moved to the boot, above the rear electric motor and the two transformers.
The 308 R HYbrid has Peugeot's familiar 'i-Cockpit' instrumentation but the rest is pure supercar, with four individual sports seats upholstered in soft beige leather, and slate grey trim and headlining set off with touches of red.
The dashboard is covered with a special fabric - used only for concepts - that can be digitally woven into large and complex one-off shapes, soft to the touch with no need for foam.
That, as much as anything else, tells you there are no plans at this stage to put the 308 R HYbrid into even limited production, but with French carmakers, you never know; we can but hope.