First look: French green machine to challenge Prius

PEUGEOT will present a diesel-electric hybrid 308, which uses around 20 per cent less fuel than a Toyota Prius, at the Frankfurt motor show.

The 308 Hybrid HDi will make its world debut at the show in Germany next month, but won’t go on sale until 2010.

Peugeot claims the hybrid uses just 3.4 litres of diesel per 100km of combined city and highway driving when tested to EU standards.

This miserly consumption figure betters Toyota’s petrol-electric Prius hybrid, which uses 4.4L/100km, and the Honda Civic Hybrid, which uses 4.6L/100km according to official figures.

The real-life savings could be even better when the car is used for long range country driving, where the diesel economy advantage is at its best.

Peugeot said the hybrid diesel 308 produced just 90g/km of CO2 and uses 38 per cent less fuel than a regular 308 diesel.

The 308 Hybrid HDi car to star at Frankfurt runs an 80kW 1.6-litre turbo diesel coupled with a 16kW electric motor.

Left: Frankfurt show debutantes, the 308 SW Prologue concept (top), 308RC Z concept (centre) and 207 SW (bottom). Peugeot said the special hybrid can also run on the electric motor alone, which would allow it to run in special zero emission zones that could be introduced in large city centres.

The hybrid 308 runs uses electric power at lower speeds, but calls on the diesel engine for acceleration and higher speed travel.

Instead of the continuously variable automatic transmission used by most petrol-electric hybrids, the Peugeot version runs an electronically controlled six-speed manual.

Using an automated clutch, the transmission can change gears at the demand of the driver or shift by itself when left in automatic mode.

The electric motor is fed by a Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack that is housed in the spare wheel well, which means it doesn’t intrude into the bootspace.

Like existing petrol-electric hybrid models, the new Peugeot uses energy generated from braking to feed the batteries.

The company claims the aerodynamic design of the 308 hatch contributes to the miserly fuel economy figure and adds that special Michelin tyres also help by reducing rolling resistance.

Peugeot presented the diesel hybrid concept in a 306 model last year, but said the design has been improved to make it simpler to make and therefore reduce production costs.

The French car-maker will use the Frankfurt show for the global launch of the 308 hatch and the 207 SW wagon.

It will also reveal the forthcoming wagon version in the form of the 308 SW Prologue, which is said to closely resemble the production model.

Also sharing the stage is the dramatic 308 RC Z coupe concept, which could point to a future sports model to take on cars like the Audi TT.