Peugeot's Diesel Electric HYbrid4 Version of 508 Sedan

Peugeot's diesel-electric HYbrid4 technology is now available with a third body style in the 508's range as after the crossover and station wagon models, the moniker has now been applied to the sedan variant.

 Like its two other siblings, the 508 Hybrid4 makes use of a 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine delivering 161hp (163PS) that powers the front wheels and a 36hp (37PS) electric motor driving the rear wheels.

 The system produces a combined output of 197hp (200PS) and offers a choice of four driving modes including 100 percent electric (ZEV), 4WD, Auto and Sport that can be selected through a four-way rotary switch on the centre console.

According to the French manufacturer, the 508 Hybrid4 Sedan returns a combined fuel consumption of just 3.6lt/100km (65.3mpg US or 78.5mpg UK) with corresponding CoO2 emissions of only 95g/km.

It can reach 100km/h (62mph) from standstill in 9.0 seconds and continue to accelerate until 209km/h (130mph).

 The Hybrid4 models can be recognized only through a discreet badge on the front grille.

 The addition of the electric motor at the rear comes with a penalty in boot space as the Hybrid4 model has 355 litres compared to the standard model's 515 litres. 

 Peugeot’s UK sales have perked up this year by 3.23 per cent for the first quarter of the year. This figure outperformed the overall market which showed just less than a 1 per cent rise in new car sales.

Demand for their family sized upper medium D-segment two wheel drive 508 Saloon and SW estates launched in Spring 2011 has certainly helped sales, especially to the fleet and business sector.  Now the 508 gets the range topping diesel/electric Hybrid4 two/four wheel drive variants which could see the brand break into the premium sector, something French manufacturers have failed to do in the UK.

The CO2 emission based tax savings these Hybrid4 versions of the 508 offer cannot be ignored in this financial climate. So the low 12 per cent Benefit-in-Kind company car tax will appeal to business drivers and the 100 per cent Write Down Allowance against taxable profits in the first year of ownership will appeal to businesses. The £0 cost road tax rate in the First Year rate and then £20 per annum for the 107g/km SW estate version, and nothing for the slightly CO2 cleaner 95g/km Saloon, will appeal to both retail and fleet/business customers.  London dwellers or commuters will note that the 508 Saloon Hybrid4 is free of the Congestion Charge as well.

The tax issue is most likely the key that will unlock the door to the top models appealing to those increasing number of buyers who can afford to buy in the premium sector.  The Hybrid4 RXH SW with its higher ground clearance and all wheel drive goes on sale in May and the Hybrid4 Saloon, again with all wheel drive, arrives in July. Both roomy models come with classy exterior styling and with one top level of specification for the interior.  The 508 RXH SW costs £33,695 and the Saloon £31,450.

The conventional 508 Saloon and SW estate models have a UK annual sales target of around 8,000 units in total  with a slight sales bias towards the SW estate and 75 per cent of sales go to fleet and business user-chooser customers.  The RXH Hybrid4 SW will add around a 1,000 units a year to those sales figures and the Hybrid4 Saloon around 2,000 units. Again the SW estate is likely to sell marginally more than the Saloon but 85 per cent of customers, because of the low tax penalties, will go to fleet and business customers.

Vince Clisham, Peugeot’s UK product manager for the 508 range said at the press launch this week, “Fleet and business sales are what we overwhelmingly target for the 508. The new Hybrid4 lower tax models will strengthen the overall appeal of the range in the upper medium sector and move the range to being considered by premium brand buyers.”

He added, “Each of our 250 UK dealers will have a 508 RXH SW estate as a demonstrator because customers need to try the benefits the diesel-electric drivetrain technology brings to the segment as well as understanding the tax benefits.  Dealers who already have a large number of fleet business customers will have the Hybrid4 Saloon 95g/km CO2 emission model as a demonstrator as well when it arrives in a few months time but both models are available to order now.”

According to figures issued by Peugeot the most obvious premium brand competitor for the Peugeot 508 RXH Hybrid4 estate is the Audi A4 Allroad 2.0-litre TDI priced at £31,155. This has a 177bhp diesel engine with CO2 emissions of 159g/km so BIK company car tax is 24 per cent which means the 40 per cent company car tax payer has a monthly tax bill of £249 with an annual National Insurance contribution of £1,032 and the Company Write down Allowance is £6,231 a year.

By comparison the 508 RXH with a 2.0-litre diesel engine plus an electric motor combine to give 200bhp but costs more to buy at £33,695.  However the lower 107g/km CO2 emissions means BIK tax is only 12 per cent, the monthly tax bill £135, National Insurance Contribution is £557 and the P11D price of £33,640 can be written off against taxable profits in the first year of ownership.

2013 New Chevrolet Colorado Sport Cars

Chevrolet has unveiled its all-new 2013 Colorado, and when the company calls it a global product, it's not just referring to where the truck will be sold. Its development spanned five continents, but the bulk of the work was done in Thailand-where the truck was introduced-by Brazilian engineers, and GM's South American Design Center penned the shape. GM first showed a concept of the truck in Thailand (If you are wondering, "why Thailand?" it's because compact trucks are very popular there), following that a few months later with another concept in Argentina, but the big question is whether or not "global" includes the U.S., GM isn't saying, but the Colorado seems well-equipped to do battle here in the States.

 Smooth Operator

The new Colorado looks like a strong replacement forour truck based on appearance alone. Its shape is modern and tough, with smooth, Malibu-like headlights; a large dual-slot Chevrolet grille; and muscular, swollen fenders. Chevy will offer 26 different trim, body, powertrain, and ride-height combinations, a level of choice similar to what you find in the full-size-truck market here.

 The body-on-frame Colorado is available with regular, extended, and crew cabs; two body widths; two- or four-wheel drive; and-independent of the number of driven wheels-a high or low ride height. Buyers can choose from three trim levels that follow the same progression as U.S.-market Chevys: LS, LT, and LTZ. Stability control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and front airbags are among the Colorado's standard safety features. The interior boasts chrome accents and a classy dual-cowl dash with square Camaro-like gauge pods and ice-blue LED backlighting. Vinyl, cloth, and leather seats are available, and all Thai Colorados have standard auxiliary audio and USB inputs.

 Diesels: Two for Thailand, None for You

In addition to the numerous build combinations available, the Colorado offers two new diesel four-cylinders. Just like the truck they will power, the engines are labeled as "all-new" by GM and are a part of a new global line of diesel four-cylinders. The base is a 2.5-liter unit that makes 150 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque; the second is a 2.8-liter that makes 180 hp and a meaty 346 lb-ft of torque when bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission, 324 lb-ft when mated to a five-speed manual. If the Colorado does make it here, it likely will feature a gas-only engine lineup. Chevy recently announced that a diesel-powered Cruze is on its way here for 2013, though, so don't rule out the possibility of an oil-burning small pickup for the U.S. somewhere down the road.

 

Don't rule it out" seems to be the line regarding the new Colorado's chances in the U.S. Chevrolet developed the truck for more than 60 markets spanning the globe; it's hard to believe the U.S. would be left out of that count. Depending on how you look at it, the death of the Ford Ranger is either an indication of where the small-truck market is going or an opportunity for GM to seize the segment.

The UAW recently disclosed some of its tentative contract agreements with GM, revealing that the Shreveport, Louisiana, plant that currently produces the American-market Colorado and GMC Canyon is set to shut down by June 2012. However, the company also said it will invest $380 million in its Wentzville, Missouri, plant and add a mid-size pickup program there, so the Colorado will continue to be sold here-Chevy just won't say whether it will be this one, some other new one, or the same old truck. We think it'll be this one.

2013 New Chevrolet Malibu, Sport Cars Turbo

The D segment—mid-size, to those of you who aren’t automotive product planners—is the car world’s golden heifer. In annual sales terms, this is among the largest classes of vehicles in the United States. “A” grades in the D class are essential for any brand aspiring to sales dominance.

Feeling Hyundai and Ford heat and anxious to thwack perennial mid-size kings Honda (with its Accord) and Toyota (Camry), Chevrolet has a new Malibu poised on the launch ramp for an early 2012 roll-out. Proving that it’s serious about this assault, Chevy has cleared the Malibu’s passport for international travel. The goal is to sell the classically American sedan with the beachy name in 100 countries spanning six continents. Fittingly, then, the Malibu’s introductory hoopla consists of an HD web broadcast concurrent with an unveiling at the Shanghai auto show. GM’s newest mid-size family sedan also will be Chevy’s star attraction at the New York auto show.

Shorter, Wider, and Roomier

Underpinning the new Malibu is an evolved version of GM’s long-running Epsilon architecture, which is found under the Buick Regal, Opel Insignia, and Saab 9-3. The update brings a stiffer body structure, better suspension systems, and more-inviting interior dimensions. While overall length is down half an inch and the wheelbase has been trimmed by 4.5, a 2.7-inch gain in overall width plus 2.5-inch (front) and 2.0-inch (rear) wider track dimensions bring worthwhile gains in hip and shoulder room. The net result is 2.3 additional cubic feet of passenger space, moving Malibu from the bottom to the middle of the mid-size segment. (Passenger volume rises from 97.7 to 100.0 cubic feet, while trunk room rises from 15.1 to 16.3 cubic feet; compared to a maximum of 106.0 cubic feet for passengers and 14.7 cubic feet for cargo in the Accord.) To minimize the inevitable weight gain associated with a wider, better-equipped Malibu, GM engineers specified high-strength or ultra-high-strength steel for two-thirds of the unibody.

A rubber-isolated front cradle supports the powertrain, electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering, and the lower portion of the strut-type front suspension. In back is a multilink suspension. Vented front and solid rear disc brakes are standard.

 May the Fours Be With ’Bu

The state of powertrain affairs is best described as give and take. Anticipating intense interest in maximum gas mileage, Chevy will offer no V-6. There is an all-new, dual-overhead-cam 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder boasting aluminum-block-and-head construction, direct fuel injection, balance shafts, and variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing. While calibrations aren’t final, Malibu chief engineer Mark Moussa says to expect about 190 hp, 180 lb-ft of torque, sub-eight-second 0-to-60-mph acceleration, and an EPA highway mileage rating comfortably over 30 mpg. A 2013 Malibu Eco using GM's eAssist hybrid system was just announced (with EPA estimates of 26/38 mpg), and Moussa told us that at least one other four-cylinder engine is coming. Our guess is that the Malibu’s upgrade engine will be the Buick Regal’s turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec, which produces 220 hp. A six-speed automatic transaxle with engineering changes aimed at quicker shifts, improved efficiency, and superior smoothness is standard.

 

 The new Malibu’s evolutionary exterior is conservatively elegant. A more prominent grille, a subtly creased hood, and the decklid’s neatly integrated spoiler are the main visual attractions. Projector headlights and Camaro-like dual-element LED taillights merge the Malibu into the fashion mainstream. Extensive wind-tunnel work has yielded a drag coefficient near the Volt’s 0.28 figure, according to Chevrolet. Various five-spoke wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches in diameter will be offered.

 First-Class Cabin

Chevy designers emptied their piggy banks for the interior. As before, three trim levels will be offered. Cool-blue direct lighting, contrast-color stitching, and accent upholstery welting set a pleasant mood. Eight airbags are standard and second-row side-impact airbags are optional. The radio’s color touch screen hinges up to reveal a six-inch-deep illuminated storage cubby, and an all-new MyLink infotainment system includes both Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio. The optional-goodies list includes navigation, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, and a rearview camera.

 Anxious to flush out the old with new and improved products, GM CEO Dan Akerson cracked his whip to advance the Malibu’s introduction by four months. We never had much of a problem with the old model (we put it on our 10Best list for 2008), but we’re pleased to see GM striving hard to make the grade in this important class.