Peugeot Details 500 PS 308 R Hybrid Prototype

Peugeot has released more information about its exciting 308 R Hybrid four-wheel drive prototype

While the automaker doesn’t talk openly about production plans, the car can be found in the section for production cars on Peugeot’s press site, which is a rather clear hint that the 308 R HYbrid will be eventually made. If Peugeot decides to build it, it will clearly be the most powerful and sophisticated model in the 308 family.

That’s because the 308 R HYbrid has two electric motors and a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine sourced from the 308 GTi 270, with the combination resulting in a four-wheel drive setup. The hybrid petrol plug-in vehicle develops a total of 500 PS (493 hp) and 730 Nm (538 lb-ft) of torque, which can be tapped into via three driving modes (ZEV, Hybrid, Hybrid Sport) and a Launch Control system.

Performance-wise, the numbers are more what one would expect from a supercar than from a hot-hatch. The 308 R HYbrid sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.0 seconds and is said to cover 400 meters (0.25 miles) from a standing start in 12.5 seconds and 1,000 meters (0.62 miles) in under 22.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically at 250 km/h (155 mph).

The benefits of the hybrid system are even more obvious when it comes to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Peugeot says the 308 R HYbrid emits just 70 g/km CO2, which is less than many economy-oriented small hatchbacks are capable of delivering.

The gasoline engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder THP turbocharged unit rated at 270 PS (266 hp), while the electric motors each have 85 kW (115 PS or 113 hp). One of the motors is linked to the front wheels via the 6-speed manual transmission while the other is mounted on the rear axle.

By default, the 308 R HYbrid works in ZEV mode, which relies on the rear electric motor to propel the car. ZEV mode is active up to 100 km/h (62 mph), with the car switching automatically to HYbrid mode beyond that speed (or if the battery charge is too low).

In HYbrid mode, the power and torque sent to the wheels are at a maximum of 270 PS (266 hp) and 330 Nm (243 lb-ft) of torque, supplied by the petrol engine. The front electric motor comes in to assist the petrol unit at low engine speed to compensate for the turbo response time, on a gear change to ensure constant torque to the wheel or when the 3 kWh lithium-ion battery needs power.

Finally, in HYbrid Sport mode, the 308 R HYbrid uses both electric motors and the petrol engine to develop up to 400 PS (395 hp) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. Maximum power and torque (500 PS and 730 Nm) are only available during Launch Control.