Peugeot is preparing to go hybrid, and they are putting there own unique spin on green technology. You might recall hearing about the “Prologue HYmotion” concept vehicle when it made headlines at the 2008 Paris Motorshow. Then we got a first look at the production version earlier this year when the Peugeot 3008 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The hybrid version is still a couple of years away.
The 2010 3008 is a European crossover that is currently available in only gas or diesel options. It is based on the Peugeot 308 (they just added another zero) and is priced at $27,000 to $35,000 (U.S. dollar equivalent) depending on which engine and transmission combination you choose. Fuel economy ranges from 31 mpg for the gas version to 48 miles per gallon for the diesel.
If you’re not very familiar with Peugeot (they haven’t sold cars in the United States or Canada since the early 1990′s), they are a French car manufacturer that took over Citroën in 1975 to form the PSA Group. According to their website, they have a 5% share of the global auto market and are most prominent in Western Europe where their share is close to 14%. PSA Peugeot Citroën recently revised their 2009 sales performance projections and expects Q4 to be 30% better than it was in ’08.
When the diesel-hybrid 3008 comes available in 2011 it is expected to include a heads up display, hill start assist, distance alert technology for maintaining a safe following distance, and quite a few other amenities. Most unique is the fact that the diesel engine will be located in the front and will drive the front wheels. The electric motor will be located toward the rear and will drive the rear wheels. While the current 3008 is only available in 2 wheel drive, the hybrid model will essentially be a 4 wheel drive version. Expect the extra hybrid technology to increase the MSRP by at least $3,000. At the same time, gas mileage could improve to more than 55 m.p.g. and CO2 emissions should be much less.
Below is a short video of the Peugeot 3008, which gives a nice overview of the vehicle.
We will add more here as more news becomes available.
[...] is expected to debut the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4, its long-anticipated diesel hybrid. As noted in a 2009 preview on this site, the crossover vehicle will be available in 2011 and is expected to deliver incredible [...]