Hot pug and diesel hybrid for Geneva

Peugeot has lifted the lid on two of its star cars for the upcoming Geneva show. Looking at the expected offerings from the major marques, the show, which opens on Feb 28, is set to have a dual focus -- performance and innovative fuel efficient drivetrains. The French brand will follow this theme...

207 RCup
The RCup is aimed at raising awareness of the upcoming new 207. With video-game-escapee looks, the RCup features a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre DOC four that produces a claimed 202kW (280hp) at 8500rpm.

Styled by the Peugeot Style Centre, the car is equipped with a six-speed sequential gearbox, and, says Peugeot, could be the design blueprint for a future Peugeot Sport competition programme. Read: 2008 WRC car...

Quad pipes, 18-inch wheels and aggressive bodykit place the RCup far from the shy and retiring type. The car closely follows the requirements for the new Rally Super 2000 category but with its low ground clearance and road-hugging spoilers is (for the moment, at least) clearly bitumen-focussed.

307 CC Hybride HDi
Meantime at the other end of the spectrum, the 307 CC Hybride HDi combines the French marque's state of the art diesel technology with an electric power train for ultra low fuel consumption.

Peugeot claims the diesel-electric hybrid heralds a genuine new benchmark in terms of fuel consumption -- combined figures of 4.1lt/100km, or around 30 per cent better than a conventional (and frugal) HDi engine.

Peugeot says replacing a petrol engine with an equivalent diesel engine allows a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and a cut of roughly the same percentage in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

The 307 CC Hybride HDi combines a 80kW 1.6-litre HDi FAP diesel engine with an electric motor which develops a continuous 22kW and a torque of 110Nm, but can peak at 31kW and 180NM. The motor is located between the diesel engine and the gearbox.