Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

Le Mans: Peugeot unveils the Hybrid 908 at Geneva Auto Show

|
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En DirectTecnic
Khatir Soltani
Following the unveiling of the 908 in February, a diesel hybrid version of the new car has been unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show.

From Peugeot Sport press release

Since the unveiling of the team's demonstration hybrid car at Silverstone, in 2008, Peugeot Sport has continued to work on this technology in extremely close collaboration with the PSA Group's engineers.

Photo: Peugeot Sport

The system employed by the 908 HYbrid4 recovers and stores the kinetic energy generated under braking before feeding it back into the driveline during acceleration.

Using this recovered energy in this way significantly improves the efficiency of the powertrain. The system provides a power boost of 60kW (80hp) during the seconds that follow its redelivery.

Recovered energy (500kJ between two braking zones) is stored in lithium-ion batteries before being automatically fed to the rear wheels under acceleration (no "push to pass" function). It will be possible to run in electric mode only in the pit-lane, and it is this mode that will be used for the car's homologation.

Following the world premiere of the 908 HYbrid4 in white livery at the Geneva Auto Show, Peugeot Sport will turn its attention to meeting a target it has set for the newcomer. This is to run the car at the official pre-Le Mans 24 Hours test day at the French circuit on April 24.

Achieving this ambitious objective will depend on how well the team's preparations for Le Mans go with the new 908, and also on how the 908 HYbrid4 performs during its maiden track test at the end of March.

Photo: Peugeot Sport
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada