Not so fast: Peugeot 308 R HYbrid and RCZ replacement on ice

Peugeot has confirmed it has scrapped plans to replace its current RCZ coupe and put its wild state-of-the-art 368kW 308 R HYbrid on ice to focus its attention on dramatically increasing the number of vehicles it sells outside of Europe -- potentially by creating its first ute.

Speaking to Autocar, Peugeot boss Jean-Phillippe Imparato told the Brit magazine that he was "more interested in cars that sell in hundreds of thousands than those that sell in smaller numbers".

In the future, according to Imparato, the goal within Peugeot was to sell in excess of two million cars, more than 50 per cent of which would be outside of Europe.

To help it succeed in those goals the French car-maker's boss said that it was considering returning to North America within the next five years.

And instead of focusing on performance cars, Imparato wants to push ahead and develop a ute.

"With a one-tonne pick-up truck we can tap into a huge global market", he told Autocar, before adding that: "We could develop one within the group or with a partner and our existing connections give us possibilities".

It's thought the last comment confirms Peugeot has approached Toyota to allow its new ute to be based on the Toyota HiLux.

Despite ruling out a sequel to the RCZ, Imparato suggested he would prefer to offer customers a car that could take the Nurburgring record -- but only after Peugeot has become a more successful and profitable brand.

"I really like the commitment of makers like Porsche to do cars like this -- and with Peugeot Sport, I believe we have the team to make such a car. It would be expensive, but so what? We could do it," the French CEO told the Brit mag.