Peugeot 308 R Hybrid...500hp...AWD

[RetroPug]

The Pikes Peak and Dakar cars say otherwise.

Lol this!
Just because Peugeot haven't entered the Le Mans this year doesn't mean they aren't into racing any more. Just changed their direction.

With all due respect Pikes Peak and to a lesser degree the Dakar Rally aren't exactly huge motorsport campaigns - not in comparison to say; a backed (or factory) BTCC, WRC, LMP or F1 Team (Prost).

Also consider the wider picture...

When the 306 was on sale they were campaigning in BTCC and WRC. The 206 was a successful WRC car too.

What are we getting from the Peugeot 2015 Dakar Campaign?

With the Peugeot 405 Dakar we ended up with the Mi16 - an epic car and surely a collectors piece in years to come.

So can we expect a 3-Door, tweaked-for-the-road speed machine from Peugeot which we can actually go out and buy?

No.



If you're lucky you might even get the 'pick of the bunch' 120hp 1.6 HDi model.

Where do I sign?!!

Sadly that's just the way the industry is now.

In the 1990s people saw cars winning BTCC and WRC and thought "wow, I want one".

Now motoring costs are huge and the average consumer's vehicle choice is sadly no longer inspired by motorsport, hence vehicle manufacturers don't see much return on their investments in top-level motorsport unless they are getting trickle-down technology from it, which is partly why WRC & F1 etc. are getting smaller & smaller engines.