Peugeot debuts super clean diesel hybrids

Peugeot is pulling out all the stops to make the Frankfurt Motor Show a real landmark for the brand. Not only will it debut two ultra frugal diesel hybrids, but it will also show the production version of the sensational RCZ coupé for the first time.

Starting with the hybrid diesels: it has made sense for the car makers to combine the frugality of diesel with electric power for even greater efficiency gains, but the technology has proved difficult to develop. However, Peugeot reckons it has cracked it and is showing two hybrids at Frankfurt to prove it. The 3008 HYbrid4 is close to a production car and should be in showrooms by Spring 2011, offering just 99g/km of CO₂ and fuel economy 35 percent lower than an equivalently powered diesel. It works similarly to the system in the Prius, allowing the car to run at low speeds on electricity alone, though the electric motor drives the rear wheels.

There's an RCZ HYbrid4 too, though all eyes will be on its form rather than its function at Frankfurt, because Peugeot is showing it in production guise for the first time. It's easy to call the RCZ a TT clone, but a closer look at the details show the new coupé is a very distinctive car - most notably in the twin bubbled glass dome, which most thought wouldn't make the jump from concept to reality. Thankfully it has.

Peugeot promises the 2+2 coupé will mark a return to form for a maker once synonymous with exciting driving machines - it goes on sale in Spring 2010. We'll find out more at the show, but three engines will be available at launch, the flagship being a 200bhp version of the 1.6-litre THP turbo engine already found in Peugeot's line-up.

The new 5008 people carrier will make its debut too, which we're assured will be stuffed with technology, but still have space for seven.

Mark Nichol