Cleverer Crossover; Diesel Track For Hybrid
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Canberra, AUS January 30, 2009: An important new Peugeot compact crossover will start appearing on the world's highways and byways late this year and a turbo-diesel/hybrid is on the menu.
Called the 3008, the new French offering will make its sales debut in Britain at the end of the year and sometime after that it would make it to Australia.
Peugeot Australia spokesman Mathew McAuley confirmed the car will be considered for our market.
"As [Britain] is talking about a late '09 release it is obviously some time away, but it is being considered at the moment," he said.
McAuley said the car had some interesting technology and with practical and sensible packaging could do well here.
"Clearly the diesel-hybrid model although it looks like 2011 is of great interest," he added.
While companies such as Toyota, Lexus and Honda have concentrated on petrol/electric hybrids, Peugeor has gone down the diesel/electric hybrid, and you can understand why.
The French company produces some of the world's best turbo-diesel passenger-car engines something the Japanese have been slow to do.
The 3008 will be the Peugeot brand's first hybrid. The car was first seen as the Prologue Hybrid 4 concept at last year's Paris Motor Show.
It is based on Peugeot's short wheelbase platform two that was chosen because of its exceptional rigidity and excellent acoustic and vibration properties.
The Prologue Hybrid 4 was powered by a 2lt HDi turbo- diesel engine with a power of 163bhp and an electric motor with a maximum capacity of 37bhp providing a maximum torque of 300Nm at the front and 200Nm at the rear.
Despite these impressive figures, Peugeot says the car's combined fuel consumption is just 4.1lt/100km and its particulate filter helps achieve a remarkable CO2-emissions figure of 109g/km.
Before the hybrid arrives, 3008 buyers will have the choice of six petrol and turbo- diesel-based power-trains.
The 3008 is 4365mm long, 2133mm wide, 1639mm high and rides on a 2613mm wheelbase. Wheel sizes of 16, 17 and 18 inches' diameter will be available.
Peugeot's Hybrid 4 technology also allows for the possibility of four-wheel drive.
While the traditional engine is located under the bonnet and drives the front wheels, the electric motor is placed under the load area floor beside the rear suspension.
Because everything is controlled electronically "by wire", there are no mechanical connections between the front diesel engine and the rear electric motor that could affect the car's interior space and the design of the passenger compartment.
Inside the 3008 the luggage area is 512lt, or 1604lt with the rear seats folded. The car has a split tailgate and its lower flap can become a seat or be used to support a weight of 200kg.
Standard on all versions will be an electric parking brake and directional bi-xenon headlights, front-and-rear parking assistance, a variable-speed limiter/cruise control, tyre under- inflation detection, electric folding door mirrors and automatic headlights/wipers. The full range of Peugeot's in-car entertainment and telematics systems will be available.
Electronic stability program and electro-hydraulic power steering are standard.
Peugeot says the 3008 is designed to achieve a five-star rating under the 2009 European New Car Assessment Program. There will be six airbags, five three-point inertia-reel seatbelts and an seat-belt warning system.
