First of which will arrive in 2020.
French marque Peugeot have announced, after having wowed the world in Paris with a line of plug-in hybrid models, that they would then pour some of their time and efforts into developing a range of electrified sports cars, with the first fruits of their labour coming round by 2020. In doing so, Peugeot would be dropping out of FIA World Rallycross once this years’ season comes to a close, in order to ensure that their finances aren’t spread too thin.
Working together with Peugeot Sports, the brand’s focus on more driver-involving vehicles is part of Peugeot’s efforts to revamp its image. The electrified part of the equation is, of course, to comply with ever-tightening emissions regulations. Peugeot’s rather good at this: While other companies have had to pause model variants due to non-compliance with the recently-enforced WLTP emissions regulations, Groupe PSA has been able to keep working seamlessly.
“Driving pleasure is at the heart of the brand’s history. Electrification is a new opportunity to offer new, high-performance versions to our customers looking for low-emissions sports sensations. [The] driving [experience] will be amplified by the performance electrification provides. New territories are to be explored, new challenges to be met, and the adventure of the Peugeot brand continues for an exciting future. Boredom will never be part of our DNA.” — Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO, Peugeot
(This writer finds that bit about boredom 'not being part of their DNA' rather rich, given their cars from the 90s until very recently were amazingly boring. The editor-in-chief argues that ‘awful’ and ‘boring’ aren’t one in the same. He owns a 2014 Peugeot.)
A couple of week ago we ran a report stating that Peugeot was well into the development of hot 508 R and 508SW R models, which are expected to pack 1.6-litre PureTech turbo mills mated to electrical gubbins to muster up some serious output. Bigger batteries and a brawnier electric motor would do the trick, and so total combined output would be well past the 147kW already being touted by the engine alone.
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