Powerful performance usual comes at the cost of good fuel efficiency, but French automaker Peugeot is hoping to circumvent that cost with some intuitive engineering. The results are a eco-friendly concept hatchback with some serious muscle under the hood.
The Peugeot 308 R HYbrid manages to produce performance numbers akin to powerful sports cars thanks to a combination of two electric motors and one four cylinder gas engine. The three engines work in tandem to give the the Peugeot 308 R Hybrid a immense 500-horsepower and 538 lb.-ft of torque. All that extra power makes the Peugeot remarkably swift, able to hit 60 mph in just four seconds. And while the car can keep pace with cars well outside of its class, it also boasts the fuel-efficiency of a economy car. According to Peugeot, the 308 R HYbrid exceeds the toughest European emissions regulations, giving the environmental conscious among us some sound piece of mind.
Under the hood, the car is equipped with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gas engine, while a 115-hp electric motor is placed at both the front and rear axles. The car also sports a 6-speed gearbox and a All-wheel drive system.
Thanks to the 308 R HYbrid’s three distinct engines, the vehicle has enough flexibility to run in four distinct driving modes. The “Hot Lap” mode releases all 500 of the engine’s horses for a full sprint, while the “Track” mode recruits only 400 horsepower for slightly slower efforts. Next, the “Race” mode recruits mostly the gas engine for everyday driving, while the “ZEV” mode is the most eco-friendly and fuel efficient, using the vehicle’s front electric motor for easy cruising.
Since the Peugeot 308 HYbrid is still only a concept, some of the finer details of the car, like how far the car can travel on solely electric power, are yet to be known. With any luck, the ambitious hatchback makes its way out of the concept stage and onto the production line.
(Via NY Daily News)
