Sunday, August 15, 2010

Peugeots new crossover spied uncovered































































Codenamed "T84", this is likely going to be how the 3008 production model will look, coming so close to the Geneva motorshow launch next March, where Peugeot has said it will unveil the new 3008 crossover. Caught undergoing thorougher road-testing in Northern France, the 3008 will take its spot as a compact MPV/SUV, one segment beneath its bigger brother - the 4007 and will compete with the slate of compact SUVs on the market right now such as the Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan and the Nissan Qashqai and MPV's like the Citroen C4 Picasso, Volkswagen Touran, Vauxhall/Opel Zafira and Renault Scenic.

When Peugeot premiered this vehicle as the Prologue Concept at October's Paris motorshow earlier this year, it made a point of highlighting its latest hybrid technology which will be featured in the 3008. Peugeot calls it HYmotion4, one of the first diesel hybrids currently in development.

HYmotion4 features the whole bag of tricks for better fuel economy. Hooking the economy of a diesel with regenerative breaking to power an electric motor, as well as stop-start technology, that gets this crossover down to fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 km/57.3 mpg combined.

The 3008 HYmotion4 is powered by Peugeot's 2.0 litre HDi FAP which pumps out 163bhp and 200Nm of torque. The diesel powers the front wheels while the electric motor (a 36bhp with 200Nm of torque) drives the rear axle.

A hybrid variant is likely to arrive sometime in 2011. Peugeot anticipates that it will have a power output of 197bhp, with CO2 emissions of 109g/km. Alongside a hybrid, a 7 seat variant may arrive in 2010.

The crossover, based on the ever-popular Peugeot 308, will also come with the standard array of Peugeot engines available for that vehicle too.

The 3008 is scheduled to hit the European market in early 2010 with prices set carry a £1,000 premium over the equivalent 308 hatchback models.