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Next 308 to hit 80g/km
Date: 07 October 2011 | Author: Tristan Young
Following the launch of the world's first diesel-electric hybrid in the form of the 3008 Hybrid4 next month, Peugeot is planning a host of new hybrids including a 308 replacement, which uses a 1.6-litre diesel and has a CO2 output near 80g/km.
Peugeot's 3008 Hybrid4 uses a 163hp 2.0-litre diesel engine to power the front wheels while mated to a 37hp electric motor and battery that drive the rear wheels. The electrical power system can, according to Vincent Bassau, head of hybrids for the French firm, be coupled to almost any engine.
The hybrid version of the replacement for the 308, due in 2013, has yet to be signed off but "could have a CO2 figure of between 80g/km and 85g/km", said Bassau.
Coupled to the 112hp 1.6-litre diesel, the 308 replacement would have nearly 150hp and would also be four-wheel drive.
However, Bassau said that the 1.6 diesel hybrid combination would not be used in the 3008 or 508 (which is scheduled to use the same 163hp 2.0 diesel as the 3008) because the engine is not powerful enough, given the weight of these vehicles, to make a significant further CO2 improvement. This is because the 1.6 diesel would have to run more of the time to power the vehicle and charge the battery, creating unacceptably high levels of NOx that would mean the vehicle would fail upcoming Euro6 emissions regulations.
Peugeot is, however, planning to couple the electric power system with petrol engines, mainly for markets outside Europe, particularly China.
Peugeot expects to sell 2500 3008 Hybrid4s in the UK in 2012. About two-thirds of these will be to fleet, with the majority being the 99g/km entry model, rather than the higher-specification 104g/km cars.
Peugeot is also expecting to sell a further 2500 hybrid versions of the 508 and 508 RXH next year.
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