Peugeot 208 Hybrid FE Concept

[Plex]

[Plex]

A decade ago, it was a big deal that your hatchback produced just 150 grams of CO2 per kilometer. But by killing pedal feel, giving us thin tires and choking engines as much as possible, most automakers have brought their B- and C-segment cars to around 100 g/km.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeot revealed the final form of the 208 Hybrid FE Concept, which they teased back in Match at Geneva 2013. The car proves that you can take emissions much lower with advanced drivetrain and aerodynamic technology.

So how efficient is it? Well, Peugeot claims the car only consumes 2.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, equivalent to emissions of 49 grams per kilometer. But get this, it also goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds flat!

To achieve these figures, the french turned their 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine into an Atkinson motor and paired it a detuned version of the electric motor used by one of their Le Mans prototypes.

The 208 Hybrid FE boasts a string of other impressive numbers, claiming a 25 per cent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. Underneath, the concept is as slippery as a racing car and it also has a new aero boot design.

Weight has also been substantially reduced through the use of CFRP. The whole car now weighs only 975 kg. Peugeot's motorsport engineers event went as far as to remove the rear suspension and replace it with a super-lightweight carbon fiber blade.

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