Plug-in 3008 most powerful Peugeot yet

PEUGEOT’S most powerful production model yet is a mid-size SUV, but performance loving, crossover-crazed Australians will miss out on the 3008 GT Hybrid4 and its less powerful 508 Hybrid liftback and wagon sibling that were revealed overnight.

 

Capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.5 seconds, an electric-only range of 50 kilometres and CO2 emissions of less than 49 grams per kilometre (both on the new WLTP cycle), the 3008 GT Hybrid4 combines a 147kW 1.6-litre petrol engine and a pair of 80kW electric motors to provide all-wheel drive.

 

Its drivetrain can be traced to the wild 299kW/730Nm 308 R Hybrid hyper hatch concept revealed at the Shanghai motor show in 2015.

 

The 3008 has a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged to full capacity in an hour and 45 minutes when using a 32-amp wall box charger, four hours using a 14A charger or seven hours with a standard household plug.

 

508s make do with a 165kW, front-drive version of the same drivetrain and a smaller 11.8kWh battery providing a 40km WLTP electric-only range, but the same 49g/km carbon footprint as the 3008. 

 

Both can hit 135km/h on batteries alone and will go on sale in Europe in the second quarter of next year, with the 508’s less powerful drivetrain also becoming available in the 3008 a few months later on more variants than just the range-topping GT.

 

The 508’s plug-in powertrain will be available from launch on the Allure, Allure Business, GT Line and GT variants.

 

In February, Peugeot parent company PSA’s head of Oceania region Olivier Daurele confirmed to GoAuto the plug-in 3008’s power outputs and drivetrain layout and said he was “looking at those possibilities to bring the car to the Australian market”.

 

But Peugeot Citroen Australia national PR and corporate affairs manager Tyson Bowen told GoAuto today that the company had no current plans to bring the hybrid 3008 or 508 to Australia.

 

“They are not on the consideration list at this point in time,” he said.

 

“We continue to monitor what drivetrains become available to us and if it makes sense from a business and a market point of view then of course we will move forward with the discussion.”

 

From 2012, the previous-generation 3008 also had a Hybrid4 variant that combined a diesel engine powering the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rear axle. This drivetrain also found its way into the 508 and Citroen DS5 ranges, but never reached Australia.

 

“The drivetrain market is evolving rapidly,” said Mr Bowen.

 

“A case in point is that the hero drivetrains are now hybrids and not diesel, so we will continue to watch what happens and for us it’s probably a bit further down the line … we haven’t even introduced the new 508 yet.”

 

The 508 liftback was revealed at the Geneva show in March, while photos of the wagon version emerged in June ahead of its official public unveiling at the Paris show early next month alongside the retro-styled e-Legend EV concept.

 

Australian launch timing for the 508 is yet to be confirmed.

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