Peugeot says its SR1 hybrid concept “reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models”, and to that Peugeot fans should be saying thank God. This is arguably one of the nicer concepts from the Geneva show, and a home run for the fugly French brand (barring the double-bubblized RCZ).
Meant to be an all-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering GT of the HYbrid4 caliber and packing a combined output of 313 horsepower (while releasing 119g/km in emissions), the SR1 accomplishes one very important goal: it sets a new course in the world of design for a brand that, frankly, has been aesthetically sinking for quite some time.
Inside, there’s a funky 2+1 three-person setup which, if someone has a child, ends up making just a bit of sense; consumers driving around with two kids stuffed in the back seat of a GT are trying way too hard. Another nice feature is the custom Bell&Ross watch integrated into the dashboard that’s removable.
The HYbrid4 technology, which mates a 218 horsepower 1.6 liter THP 4-cylinder to a 95 horsepower electric motor at the rear, should debut in the highly-unexciting 3008 in 2011. Now, if that same tech were to ever appear in a production version of an SR1 that returned 48 mpg US (4.9L/100km), people would need to get very interested in Peugeot in a hurry.
-By Phil Alex
