Peugeot looks to the future

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Peugeot looks to the future

By Chris Jefferies

With petrol prices rising and drivers' budgets being pinched, what does the future of motoring hold? Peugeot think they know, as they demonstrated at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show.

The major European exhibition opened to the public earlier this month (September 13th) and showcased a range of innovative designs from the industry's biggest names.

Peugeot were one of the stand-out performers at the show, as their striking new six-seater concept, the HX1, turned many heads.

What's more, they claim it could represent a glimpse into how family cars will look in the year 2020.

Diesel in the front, electric in the back

One of the most striking aspects of this bold new design is how Peugeot plans to deliver the power to the wheels, with a unique diesel hybrid system being employed.

In the front, a 2.2-litre HDi engine delivers 204bhp to the front wheels, while a 95bhp electric motor running off a Lithium-ion battery is in charge of powering the rear end.

The result is an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid, which can do an amazing 88.2mpg, and when the diesel runs out, the electric motor can drive the car to a filling station (provided it's less than 19 miles away).

Most strikingly of all, the HX1 boasts exactly the kind of left-field futuristic design that makes a concept car so thrilling, with four half-scissor doors (such as you might find on a retro Lamborghini).

Peugeot admit they took a lot of inspiration for the sleek front end from last year's SR1 concept car, which in turn bore a striking resemblance to some of Aston Martin's recent creations.

Finally, for a luxury flourish, the reclining rear seats have a minibar and a coffee machine built into the marble-trimmed centre console.

The design of the HX1 has been applauded by the Daily Telegraph's Andrew English, who praised its "adventurous maturity" and "ingenious aerodynamics".

Hybrid here and now

However, it wasn't just futuristic fantasies on display in Frankfurt, as the French carmaker also showed how this innovative diesel hybrid technology can be applied to the cars of today.

Making its public debut at the show was the 508 RXH Diesel Hybrid4, Peugeot's first ever diesel hybrid saloon, which will go on sale to the general public next April.

Following in the footsteps of the upcoming Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (the world's first diesel-electric hybrid), the 508 will feature full leather trim, Xenon headlamps, automatic Quad-zone air conditioning and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Due to the raised ride-height and chunky wheel arches, first impressions suggest that Peugeot are drawing on the booming SUV market for design inspiration.

With only a limited run of 300, and only 30 being imported to the UK, these rugged yet economical cars will certainly have exclusivity in spades. As if that wasn't enough, each individual model will come with its own unique number plaque.

Despite all this fancy kit, you can expect to get 67mpg fuel consumption and the emissions are predicted to be just 107g/km; which from a car that produces 197bhp, is more than a little bit impressive.

Press accolades are already coming in thick and fast, with Autocar saying that it will "set new standards for fuel economy and CO2 emissions in the premium all-wheel drive segment".

Meanwhile, Auto Express was just as positive, praising how the new 508 "combines jacked-up suspension and rugged bodywork with a revolutionary new diesel hybrid powertrain".

Prices are expected to be in the region of �36,000, and those keen to see inside this ground-breaking eco-friendly saloon can find it in selected dealerships from March 2012.