Developed by Peugeot Sport, the French automaker’s in-house performance shop, and packing 500 horsepower and more than 500 lb-ft of torque in its most aggressive drive mode, the 308 R HYbrid showcases dominating performance and fuel efficiency in a single package.
“PEUGEOT Sport’s expertise applies an uncompromising approach to meeting targets. With our experience in hybrid vehicles developed with the PEUGEOT 908, the high-performance hybrid powertrain fitted to the 308 gives a glimpse of the potential for ultra-sports models in the future,” says Bruno Famin, Director at PEUGEOT Sport.
The R HYbrid is no run-of-the-mill 308. The front and rear tracks are 80 mm wider and the 19″ wheels sport wider, stickier rubber. Under the hood, things get really interesting. Rather than a conventional, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the 308 R HYbrid employs a plug-in hybrid system that sends power to all four wheels. The system incorporates two electric motors and a traditional gasoline engine. Each is capable of powering the vehicle independently, or they can be used in concert.
Configured via a drive mode selector, the 308 R HYbrid has four performance modes: Hot Lap, Track, Road and ZEV.
- Hot Lap mode maximizes power output for, appropriately, getting the fastest single lap time possible. In this mode, all 500 hp and 500+ lb-ft of torque are available to the driver.
- In Track mode, the total system power is reduced to 400hp and just under 400 lb-ft are available, with primary output coming from the gasoline engine and the rear-mounted electric motor. The front motor is activated depending on need.
- In Road mode, only 300hp is available. The front electric drive is disabled entirely, but the gasoline engine still operates at full capacity.
- ZEV mode is exactly what it sounds like–electric-only operation. The rear motor operates full time and the front is activated if the driver commands more power using the throttle.
The sporty exterior look is completed with a checker-mesh grille, “expressive” louvres on the hood, a narrow hatch spoiler and a two-tone paint finish consisting of a French racing blue (prepped with glass particles for extra pop) and matte black. Inside, the dash is unique, made using a digital weaving technique. There’s no rear bench; instead, there are four individual bucket seats wrapped in fawn-colored leather. Paddle shifters for the six-speed transmission are found behind the wheel, and a digital HUD sits just above the cluster. Power and drive mode buttons adorn the center console.
Live images by Ronan Glon.
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