Peugeot Reveals the SR1 Hybrid Roadster Concept Pre-Geneva

In brief: The next major auto show coming up in Europe is the Geneva Motor Show later this year, but some automakers can't wait, including Peugeot, who unveiled the SR1 Hybrid Roadster concept earlier this month.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: SR1 Roadster concept
Manufacturer: Peugeot

The word

A step away from the usual Peugeot concepts, the SR1 is differentiated by two things: it's style and its hybrid drive train.

The style is unusual only because Peugeot has a reputation for displaying concept vehicles that are heavy-handed with the style, so viewers either love or hate them for their looks. This time, Peugeot decided to go with a more conventional styling and put the focus instead on the hybrid drive.

In this case, that's justified as the SR1 (not to be confused with the SR-21 jet or the ZR1 Corvette) uses Peugeot's new HYbrid4 technology. This combines a 1.6L turbo-diesel engine and a 95hp electric motor. The engine powers the front wheels while the motor powers the rear in a four-wheel drive combination. The HYbrid4 system will be first used in the 2011 3008 crossover car.

The car's combined 313hp still provides fuel mileage of 57.7mpg (EU, 48mpg USA). Whether that's with the top on or off wasn't specified.

And so ...

Very cool, indeed, and definitely a concept that should go into production.

Photo credits: Peugeot

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