Our first though upon seeing the all-electric prototype was that of a futuristic and nifty-looking successor to Batman's Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan films. Peugeot's thoughts are that of an "extreme dream car" which demonstrates the "exciting possibilities for electric power".
In yet another attempt to bridge the gap between its cars and scooters, Peugeot has unveiled the HYbrid3 Evolution concept, a three-wheel drive, gasoline-electric hybrid scooter, at this week's Milan International Cycle and Motorbike Show. The three-wheel drive HYbrid3 Evolution is a roofless version of the HYbrid3 compressor that was presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and it is equipped with a 41HP 0.3-liter petrol engine driving the rear wheel, and two 3kW electric motors, one in each front wheel, delivering a combined output of 8HP.The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged by an energy recovery system active during deceleration and braking. There are no mechanical connections between the front and the rear motors, as everything is controlled electronically by-wire.
Peugeot says that like many hybrid cars, the HYbrid3 Evolution can be driven in a number of different ways, including in all electric mode for a range of up to 10 km (6 miles), petrol only mode and a combination of both petrol and electric motors.
According to the French company, the hybrid scooter returns an average fuel consumption of 2.0lt/100 km (117.6 mpg US) with C02 emissions of 48 g/km.
Peugeot did not say if it has any plans to introduce a production version of the HYbrid Evolution.
Together with the production version of the impressive RCZ sports coupe, Peugeot's Frankfurt Show stand will also host the world premiere of the experimental RCZ HYbrid4 prototype and the 3008 HYbrid4 crossover in production form. As their moniker suggests, the two HYBrid4 models share the same hybrid drivetrain. It combines a 163-horsepower 2.0-liter diesel with stop and start that drives the front wheels and an electric motor with 27 HP and temporarily, 37 HP, that powers the rear wheels.
The hybrid system works in parallel allowing alternate, for maximum efficiency, or simultaneous, for increased performance, operation of the HDi diesel engine and the electric motor which can produce a combined maximum output of 200-horsepower.
The French automaker claims that the system can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 35 per cent in the combined cycle, compared to conventional engines of an equivalent power output.
The 3008 HYbrid4 that is scheduled for launch in the spring of 2011 is said to return a combined fuel economy figure of 3.8 lt /100km or 61.9 mpg US with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.
Depending on how well the 3008 HYbrid4 is received by the market, Peugeot may also introduce a production version of the RCZ HYbrid4.
At the Paris Motor Show Peugeot took the wraps off the Prologue Concept which is in effect a pre-production version of the 3008, a compact crossover expected in late 2009 that combines elements from SUV and MPV (minivan) vehicles. While it is common sense that Peugeot will manufacture the Prologue / 3008 at one of its French sites, according to a report from Automotive News citing unnamed company sources, the compact crossover will also be produced in a new plant that the group PSA is building in cooperation with Mitsubishi in Russia. -Continued
The joint plant held 70% by PSA Peugeot Citroën and 30% by MMC (Mitsubishi Motors Corporation), which is located in
Among the most impressive eco-friendly concept cars that made their debut by the dozens in The electric motor is powered by lithium batteries which are recharged during both deceleration and braking. Unlike most other hybrid systems, the front and the rear power units in the Peugeot are not connected mechanically. Instead, the hybrid drivetrain is controlled automatically by electronics. According to the French automaker, the RC HYmotion4 can be driven either in electric or petrol engine mode only, or with both engines combined making possible a maximum output of 313HP.
Peugeot claims that the four-seater sedan can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in a mere 4.4 sec, to 1,000m (0.62 miles) in 22.8 sec and on to a top speed of 295 km/h (183mph). And if that isn’t enough to warm you up, Peugeot says that the 4.716 meter long RC HYmotion4 consumes on average just 4.5 lt of fuel for every 100 km which translates to 52.3 mpg US.
Maybe sometime in the near future Peugeot will finally decide to make a premium sedan like the RC HYmotion4 that people will be interested in buying instead of wasting its time and money with ill-fated proposals like the 605 and 607.
Peugeot’s 5th Design Competition has entered its last phase as the jury picked out the 10 finalists from a total of 2,500 projects that were submitted from designers of over 95 nationalities. The winning project will be announced on 2nd October 2008 at the Peugeot’s Paris Motor Show stand by the company’s CEO Mr Jean-Philippe Collin. The winner, who will see his project produced as a 1/1 scale model for the Shanghai Motor Show in the spring of 2009 will also receive a cheque for €10,000. -ContinuedThis year’s competition asked designers to create a concept car for use in the centre of the great urban cities of the future, while embracing the key values of the 21st century and at the same time, bearing all of Peugeot’s styling clues.
GALapagos by Igor Yastrebov from
Peugeot 888 by Oskar Johansen from
Rugir by Onur Güvenc from
P.R.O. by Ke Guo from
OXO by Lou Ke from
Ego by Emre Yazici from
RD by Carlos Arturo Torres Tovar from
Seed Peugeot by Yann Terrer from
Vision by Shinji Numuki from
MoVille by Woo-Ram Lee from
