French automaker, French Automaker has announced that a new halo model is being developed to replace the defunct RCZ R coupe.
Peugeot will launch a new mega hatch to challenge the Ford Focus RS.
Jean-Philippe Imparato (French automaker) said that he would love to see “something even more rapid” than the 308 GTi, which is the top-selling model in the range.
He said, “There’s space for something.” Although I don’t know the solution, I’m working on it.
This car would be likely to revive the “R”, tag that was last seen last year on the RCZ R coupe. It was a halo vehicle in Peugeot’s performance car pecking list, above the GTi models.
Imparato said, “We are very involved with competition sport, such as Dakar. We don’t want this space to be lost from our cars.” I don’t believe we will create a replacement for the RCZ. We will be able to offer something remarkable in performance at each level of the range (308, 208). Are we focused on a new RCZ, or the fact that the next 308 is a beast?
The potential 308R would likely use the same powertrain the 308R Hybrid concept as last year’s Shanghai motorshow. It had the same 270 horsepower (201 kilowatts), 1.6 liter turbo four-cylinder motor as the 308 GTi – and RC Z – and a pair electric motors. The total output was? 493 horsepower (368 kW) & 538 pound-feet (729 Nm) of torque. The Focus RS is not in danger. The Audi RS3 as well as the Mercedes AMG A45 are also available.
A mega hatch with a hybrid powertrain would be brave. We are used to hybrid hypercars thanks to McLaren, Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren. However, it may prove more difficult to sell petrol/electric power further down the food chain.
The 308 R Hybrid used an automatic manual gearbox. The current Renaultsport Clio has taught us that hot hatch buyers want to be able to change gears.
Merc and Audi are not available with manual transmissions, but that does not seem to have stopped them. Peugeot might feel that an auto box chimes more with its desire for a higher-end image.