Peugeot to Unveil Two Hybrids at Frankfurt; One Is Planned for Production
By Scott Doggett August 17, 2009
Peugeot can expect lots of slack-jawed gawkers at it exhibit area at the Frankfurt show next month after the French automaker rolls out the first two in a series of vehicles it has planned that sport the company's Hybrid4 two-powered, 4-wheel-engaged drivetrain.
The first of the two vehicles to go to market will be 3008 Hybrid4 crossover, shown above.
Like the RCZ Hybrid4 concept sports car (right), it will feature a parallel hybrid system consisting of an electric motor spinning the rear wheels and an internal combustion engine spinning the front wheels.
The hybrid system allows the vehicles to have 4-wheel drive on demand, and it allows the vehicles to operate in internal combustion, EV or blended modes.
By splitting the powertrains, Peugeot engineers vastly reduced the mechanical complexity of the vehicles compared to, say, the power-split systems developed by Toyota and Ford.
The 3008 Hybrid4 is set to go on sale in Europe in 2011. If Peugeot hasn't said if the hybrid is U.S.-bound.
As for the RCZ Hybrid4, there are no plans to take to market at all, although that could change and we certainly hope it does.
The conventional gas-powered RCZ coupe is scheduled to debut next spring with a 200- horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.
Peugeot is not releasing pricing or fuel-economy information for the 3008 Hybrid4 at this time.
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