When a car manufacturer announces a new and exciting piece of technology, it will typically give this technology a ‘test run’ in the form of a concept car. Concepts allow companies to showcase their most impressive new tech to enthusiasts and journalists, and to gauge public reaction to the concept based on the public’s direct feedback and through journalists’ write-ups. Sometimes a concept car will be produced as a one-off, as a way to show off an impressive idea that would, nonetheless, be impractical to mass produce. Much of the time, however, a concept car will include elements that later go on to be used in production models. Peugeot’s HYbrid4 technology, for example, was first seen (by most) in the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4. The 3008 was the world’s first mass-produced diesel hybrid, but it was not, by any means, the first time that the public had glimpsed this technology. In 2010, two years before the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 was launched, the technology was showcased in an intriguing concept car called the Peugeot SR1.
The SR1 was a convertible concept car shown at the Geneva Motor Show. It used a petrol engine with an electric motor, as opposed to the diesel HYbrid4 technology used in the 3008, but made use of the innovative computer control later seen in the production model. Its 1.6 litre engine was located at the front of the vehicle, whereas the electric motor could be found in the rear. When petrol and electric power were used at the same time, the vehicle became a powerful four-wheel drive car, delivering a maximum power of 230 kilowatt. The SR1, like the later 3008, could also act as a ZEV (Zero-Emission Vehicle) when the petrol engine was switched off. In this mode, the vehicle used electric power exclusively.
The main difference between this concept and the later production model – apart from its use of petrol rather than diesel – was its appearance. The 3008 is a compact crossover, and thus boasts more storage space and a two-box design. The SR1, meanwhile, was a three-seater that emphasised sleek, sporty curves and futuristic-looking displays. Although it was never put into production, the SR1 may herald a new era of design for Peugeot, and it’s likely that we’ll see production models that are heavily influenced by the cool lines and fresh design features of the concept.
But whilst we’ll probably see SR1-esque smaller grilles and narrow headlamps on future Peugeots, the real game changer is the HYbrid4 engine. With its four selectable driving modes, HYbrid4 puts an unprecedented amount of control in the hands of the driver, allowing him or her to select a balance of performance and fuel consumption that suits the way they’re driving. We’ll be seeing more and more HYbrid4 cars by Peugeot (and Citro?n, which also uses the technology) in the near future.
Before the SR1 was unveiled, HYbrid4 technology had been showcased on at least two previous occasions. In 2009, the Peugeot RCZ HYbrid4 Concept was displayed and, a year later, the Peugeot HR1 was shown, which also used HYbrid4 technology.
