Peugeot teases with 'Prologue…' next gen hybrid

French car maker Peugeot is revealing a "next generation hybrid" car at next month's 2008 Paris Motor Show. Judging from the photos, the 'Prologue…' is not the 'RC' coupe that Peugeot has already been teasing us with, and it's certainly not the 307-based diesel hybrid concept the firm has touted at previous shows. So what do we know?

Not a lot, yet. It produces 109g/km CO2 -- hardly spectacular even for today's tech, as the current Prius is on 104 -- and it's a 'strong hybrid'. In other words, it's capable of running solely on electric power for short distances. We also know the car's rated at 200bhp, and Peugeot claims its eco creds won't compromise decent performance.

For more on the Prologue… (yes, it has an ellipsis as part of its name), come back here on 2 October, when I'll be covering the Paris Motor Show with reams of live news and photos.

Peugeot 888 future car is a concept done right: shape-shifting and green

The Peugeot 888 is billed as the "personal vehicle for the future Metropolis." For designer Oskar Johansen from Norway, that means a car with space for two with room for luggage, as well as a nifty shape-shifting body. On the highway, the Peugeot 888 stretches itself out flat so that it's stable and aerodynamic. In the city, however, it scrunches up for easier parking and taking up less of the road in general.

Just to make sure it'll fit in with the eco-minded future, the 888 is powered by electric motors in each of its wheels, runs off of an array of lithium-ion batteries stored in the trunk, which, in turn, is covered with solar panels.

A tribute to the Peugeot 405 Mi16

Even though it isn’t one of the best known cars to have come out of the Peugeot assembly lines, 405 Mi16 has always been remembered as a good enough sedan. Offering firm, sports car-like control and agility, the 405 Mi16 came laced with a high-revving 16-valve four-cylinder pumping out 150 shrieking horsepower which back then was considered a great output for a sedan.

With a boy racer feel to it, the 405 Mi16 was less expensive to own than other power sedans of the time but these still aren’t yet considered collector cars for some odd reason. Anywho, these videos below really bring out the best of the Peugeot 405 Mi16, with the first video being the famous “Take Your Breath Away” 405 commercial.

The second is award-winning short French film showing Ari Vatanen effortlessly shredding Pikes Peak in a 405 T16 at the Dakar Rally and the Pikes Peak hill climb.

The third video is dubbed all over in foreign languages but features a high-tech intro to the car’s making and proceeds to give us some of the most stunning Dakar and Pikes Peak coverage.

Source: Car Lust Blog