Peugeot 208 Hybrid Air concept revealed

• Peugeot will unveil a new 208 Hybrid Air concept car at the Paris motor show next month. The car is an evolution of the 2008 Hybrid Air prototype, and is Peugeot's answer to a challenge set by the French government to put a car into production by 2020 which is capable of returning 50kpl (European cycle).

• The conceptis based on the 1.2-litre PureTech 82 208.Peugeot's engineers have reduced the 208's kerb weight from 960kg to 860kg, mainly by replacing part of the standard car's steel construction with composites and aluminium. A new composite floor-pan is fitted, while some elements – such as the tailgate – have been redesigned to incorporate new materials. Carbon composites are also used for much of the 208's bodywork.
• The standard car's 1.2-litre Puretech 82 petrol engine and five-speed manual transmission have been replaced by a hybrid drivetrain based on a mixture of petrol and compressed air.The system comprises a compressed air tank mounted below the boot coupled to a pair of hydraulic pumps and a new epicyclic transmission. Within the 1.2-litre engine itself, friction reduction and the use of new low-viscosity oil has improved efficiency by four per cent.
• In terms of styling, the 208 Hybrid Air concept is lower than the standard car, and features revised air intakes, new bodywork to improve air flow around the windscreen, plus a rear spoiler.Traditional side mirrors are replaced by rear-view cameras, while slimmer tyres developed by Michelin are also fitted.
• Both the 208 and 2008 Hybrid Air concepts show Peugeot's ambition to bring a hyper-efficient model to international markets, but the technology is understood to be at least three years away from production.