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June 30, 2021
A masterful work for the electrified era—Test drive of the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 | PEUGEOT
Power-to-weight ratio rivals legendary Peugeot hot hatches
The most significant differences in the powertrain compared to the production model are the transmission and the electric motor's origins and specifications. The 308 R combined a 6-speed dry dual-clutch transmission with an electric motor, but the front axle area was not available for testing, possibly due to reliability concerns. In the 3008 Hybrid4, this has been replaced by an 8-speed automatic transmission with a wet clutch, manufactured by Aisin AW (a Japanese company) and designated e-EAT8, paired with a 110ps electric motor.
Regarding the rear axle and motor, the 308 R used a 115ps/200Nm unit, yet the development team stated it lacked power and torque. In contrast, the 3008 employs a 112ps/166Nm motor. While the power output is similar, the choice of a more moderate torque figure suggests a deliberate differentiation, leaving the aggressive rear-wheel drive propulsion for the 508 PSE. Furthermore, the battery capacity has been increased from a mere 3kWh in the 308 R to 13.8kWh, providing the 3008 Hybrid4 with an all-electric range of 64km under WLTC mode, which can realistically be considered just over 50km.
Even before driving, I had high expectations for the 3008 Hybrid4 in terms of its power-to-weight ratio. With a weight of 1850kg and 300ps, it's just over 6.1kg per horsepower. While it doesn't quite match the RCZ or 308 GTi, which were under 5kg/ps, it's close to the 205 T16's 5.7kg/ps and the 205 GTi's 6.8-7.7kg/ps. In other words, physically, the 3008 Hybrid4 sits almost perfectly between these two legendary hot hatches. Moreover, it employs an intermediate drive system that can function as both 4WD and 2WD, boasting an exquisite front-to-rear weight distribution of 54:46. Whether the development team intended this or not, given the French characteristic of "loving oneself," it's hard to believe it's a mere coincidence.