A hybrid-electric Peugeot 308 R hot hatch will be launched to rival the Ford Focus RS, in the process becoming Peugeot's new halo model and taking a role previously occupied by the discontinued RCZ coupé.
Speaking to Autocar, new brand boss Jean-Philippe Imparato said he would “love to launch something even faster” than the 308 GTi hot hatch.
When asked whether there was room for a model above the 308 GTi, Imparato said there was. “There is space for something,” he added. “I don’t have a solution but I am on it.
“We are very involved in competition sport, like Dakar, and we don’t want to lose this space with our cars. I don’t think we will develop an RCZ replacement. On each level of our range — 308, 208 — we will have something impressive in performance. Do we work on a new RCZ or on the fact that the next 308 will be a beast?”
While a so-called 308 R could use a pure petrol engine, it’s most likely to use the powertrain seen in the 308 R Hybrid concept revealed at the Shanghai motor show last year. That car produced 493bhp and 538lb ft from its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, which consisted of the 266bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine from the 308 GTi (pictured below) mated to two electric motors. With its power sources combined, the car had a 0-62mph time of 4.0sec — 2.0sec quicker than the 308 GTi 270 and 0.7sec inside the time of a Ford Focus RS.
Comment: how a hybrid Peugeot 308 R could top its class
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Spanner
Reversed baseball cap brigade
Sundym
A bigger worry...
Spanner
Good point
Good point well made. Looks like somebody dropped it on the production line into some hammerite.
michael knight
Sundym wrote:
If you're worried about it being understated, may I direct you to a Honda Halfords TypeR or a Focus Look at my aRSe.
m77rshy
In the metal
I trust you haven't seen the concept in the flesh? It is quite the imposing and mean car in real life.
And anyway, old hot hatches were cool because they were relatively understated and didn't stick out like a sore thumb. I love the Focus RS, but the bodykits and wings stuck on hothatches like the Focus and the Civic Type R are just too much. They instantly become the wet dream of fast and furious yobos.
devil's advocate
Sorry I am repeating myself, but..
manicm
All talk...
RS competitor? This is a joke.
nwdw12
SSDF
Just follow the course---->> WebJob10.Tk
bowsersheepdog
Guess what
Then another Peugeot boss says they are aiming to move upmarket - aren't they all - so Autocar infer that Peugeots will become more expensive than Volkswagens over the next five years. That is entirely unreasonable guesswork. Nobody sensible would be paying more for a French car than an equivalent German one. It'd take a damn sight longer than five years to turn around that situation, they'd need to establish a reputation for reliability, longevity and holding value, over the same amount of time it has taken Volkswagen to gain their own.
Deanjou
Peugeot's reliability
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