What's the news?
Peugeot looks set to give its insane 308 R Hybrid, with its 500hp four-wheel-drive plugin electric powertrain, the go-ahead for production at the Frankfurt show next week. Peugeot sources have confirmed to us that "When it was revealed earlier in the year, they were quite clear it wasn't a concept car..." It seems likely that the confirmation of production will be given during the Peugeot press conference on Tuesday. It uses a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with 270hp, and two electric motors with 115hp each powering the rear wheels. Peugeot claims that it can get to 100km/h in just 4 seconds and yet has Co2 emissions of 70g/km.
It's not as if it will be the only thing on the stand, mind. Peugeot will also be showing off the Fractal concept car, a coupe-crossover that features a cockpit with a holographic heads up display, specially designed interior panels that reduce noise coming in but attenuate the sound from the stereo and a 204hp electric drivetrain with a claimed range of 450km. It's not a proper production car per se, and sadly isn't a preview of a replacement for the RC-Z, which isn't getting replaced, but much of the exterior and interior design work should show up on the next-generation 3008 crossover.
Oh, and for those whom a 500hp 308 is just a bit too much, Peugeot will be showing off the new 308 GTi. It comes in 250hp and 270hp power outputs, with the higher power version having a limited slip differential and chassis input from the racing team at Peugeot Sport. In spite of some rip-roaring performance, Co2 emissions are just 139g/km, so this is going to be a practical, useable rival to the Golf GTI.
The GTi's marketing effort will be supported by a new one-make racing series. On sale worldwide in late 2016, the 308 Racing Cup will replace the RCZ Racing Cup in the Peugeot Sport promotion formulas and will be seen in racing series such as the VLN in Germany, CER in Spain, CITE in Italy and BGDC in Belgium, and endurance championships like the 24H Series. Derived from 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport, the 308 Racing Cup has been designed for the race track. Unlike its standard 27bhp sister car, this one will reach 308hp. While it is fitted with the same powertrain components as the Peugeot 308 GTi, the 308 Racing Cup also comes with competition brakes with six-piston callipers and a six-speed sequential gearbox with steering wheel mounted paddles. It has impressive style too, with a spoiler designed to WTCC standards to keep it on the ground, 18-inch wheels and flared wheel arches, making it 106mm wider than the 308 GTi.
It should be a bit of a valedictory motor show for Peugeot. The company has really pulled up its boot-straps since the dark days of the recession, and has posted a 3.9 per cent increase in global sales so far this year.