Peugeot's award-winning 308 gets all-wheel drive and supercar power

With front and rear tracks widened by 80mm and riding on 235/35 R19 tyres, the Peugeot 308 R HYbrid has been created to devour the road. Its front end styling is dynamic and imposing, with expressive louvres on the bonnet and sharp edges combined with sleek surfaces in its bumper. At the rear, the Peugeot 308 R HYbrid is remarkably understated, with a narrow spoiler at the top of the tailgate reinforcing the aerodynamics.

At the heart of the Peugeot 308 R HYbrid is an astounding technical innovation - a plug-in powertrain with four-wheel drive that develops 500hp. The unit combines three sources of power, each capable of moving the vehicle independently of the others. They are a four-cylinder 1.6-litre THP 270 S&S petrol engine, plus two electric motors - each with power of 115bhp - mounted one on each axle with the front one linked to the six-speed gearbox.

Peugeot Sport engineers have equipped the car with four driving modes: an electric 'ZEV' mode, 'Road' mode, 'Track' mode and the most powerful 'Hot Lap' mode that harnesses the full potential from the three power sources to reach a total of 500bhp and maximum torque of 730Nm.

The all-wheel drive system of the 308 R HYbrid makes for formidable handling, especially when coming out of corners. The braking system is on a par with the car's performance, with 380mm ventilated discs at the front, gripped by four pistons, and 290mm discs to the rear. However, they are not used every time the brakes are applied, because Peugeot Sport has designed the powertrain to decelerate using the electric motors throughout the full speed range, starting at 250km/h. Not only does this preserve the discs and pads, but uses regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

It is one of three recharging strategies. The second uses the front electric motor as a generator, driven by the petrol engine, while the third solution is a rapid recharging terminal restoring the battery to its maximum power in just 45 minutes.

The result is a family hatchback which is capable of supercar performance. The Peugeot 308 R HYbrid can hit 100km/h from a standing start in only four seconds, with its top speed electronically limited to 250km/h. In spite of such astonishing performance, CO₂ emissions are just 70g/km.