What's the news?
Peugeot's star for the upcoming Geneva motor show will be this, the 508 'Peugeot Sport Engineered' plug-in hybrid concept. It's a potential high-performance development of the upcoming 508 PHEV (which will launch on the Irish market towards the end of this year) and it's part of Peugeot's plan to offer electric or part-electric versions of all of its range.
It takes the 200hp 1.6-litre THP petrol engine and 110hp electric motor from the standard 508 PHEV, which drive the front wheels, and adds an extra 200hp electric motor for the rear wheels. Fed power from an 11.8kWh battery, the 508 PSE can hit 100km/h from rest in just 4.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 250km/h.
Added to that, it can go for around 50km on just the battery, if you fancy some zero-emissions motoring, and has CO2 emissions of just 49g/km.
Finished in a unique 'Selenium Grey' paint job, the concept features an upgraded aerodynamic package designed by Peugeot Sport (the people behind the Le Mans-winning 908 HDI and Sebastian Loeb's 875hp Pikes Peak 208 T16) which includes a special 3D-printed front bumper panel that helps to direct air towards both the radiator and the rear diffuser.
There are also extra aero flaps and streamlined winglets located on the quarter panels, where GT Line and GT badges usually sit.
The 508 PSE concept also gets carbon-fibre wing mirror housings, and a new Peugeot lion badge, inspired by last year's gorgeous e-Legend electric concept car.
The inside is basically an explosion in an Alcantara suede factory, with new high-back 'comfort fit' bucket seats, an asymmetrical steering wheel, and lots of carbon-fibre inserts.
Jean-Philippe Imparato, Peugeot's CEO, said: "Electrification provides a marvellous opportunity to develop new driving sensations. We are creating a "neo-performance", new energy sources, new features, new territories, new challenges....sheer pleasure for only 49g/km of CO2."