Peugeot plotting 225kW plug-in 308 R

Peugeot will finally launch a credible rival for the Volkswagen Golf R, according to a new report that claims work is well under way on the first Peugeot 308 R.

According to

The Peugeot 308 R will reportedly follow in the tyre tracks of the car-maker's hotted-up 508 PSE.

That means that the Peugeot 308 R, or 308 PSE as it could be named, is set to share a derivative of the fast 508 R sedan's powertrain since both the sedan and future hatch remain based on the car-maker's EMP2 platform.

Combining a 147kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with two electric motors, the flagship 508 R will be all-wheel drive. The front 80kW electric motor assists the petrol engine by driving the front axle, while an even more powerful 150kW motor powers the rear.

Total output for the 508 PSE could be 300kW – enough to shrug off the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds and top out at a limited 250km/h.

The added bonus of the plug-in hybrid set-up is that the 508 PSE concept could cover up to 50km on pure-electric power, thanks to its 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery, while emitting just 49g/km of CO2.

For the smaller hatch it's thought power will be wound back by using smaller electric motors to produce around 225-250kW.

Like the 508 PSE, the 308 will feature a lower ride height, wider front and rear tracks and adaptive dampers.

Cosmetically, expect a redesigned front and rear bumper and, possibly, wider front fenders.

Carbon-fibre could also make an appearance to cut weight to help offset the extra mass added by the additional battery and pair of electric motors.

Inside, as well as a pair of sporty bucket seats, expect the car-maker's next-gen i-cockpit cabin to come clad in decorative carbon-fibre.

Comments from Peugeot boss Jean-Philippe Imparato suggest that, once launched, a 3008 PSE could also be in the pipeline, marking the first time Peugeot has tackled a performance SUV.

Of course, it's not the first time Peugeot has toyed with the idea of a Volkswagen Golf R rival.

Way back at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show, Peugeot revealed a concept dubbed the '308 R'. That car eventually morphed into the 308 GTI.

Just a few years later, at the 2015 Shanghai show, the French brand unleashed something far more special – the 308 R HYbrid.

Said to combine a 199kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine with two 85kW electric motors, the all-wheel drive hybrid knocked out a mighty 368kW and 730Nm.

Peugeot said it was edging close to production before quietly dropping it in 2017.

It's thought much of the thinking behind the advanced 2015 hyper hatch has now been applied to the 508 PSE and upcoming 308 R.