Happy anniversary, Peugeot

Peugeot's new styling direction will be unveiled with the SR1 concept at the Geneva motor show in March.

It is 200 years since Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frederic Peugeot turned their father's cereal mill into a steel foundry and took the Peugeot family into the industrial era.

Since 1810, the French company has lent its name - and later its Lion emblem - to tools, pepper mills, coffee grinders, bicycles, motorcycles, scooters and cars.

Now a new chapter in the Peugeot story is about to open, revealing a new styling direction, new corporate Lion badge and new signature called "motion and emotion".

The new badge will be seen for the first time in New Zealand this year in the RCZ coupe. The company's new styling direction will be shown at the Geneva motor show in March with the SR1 concept.

Peugeot says the SR1 embodies a "stronger, more extreme and pure expression of the Peugeot style of tomorrow".

The SR1 uses Peugeot's HYbrid4 technology, combining a 1.6-litre petrol producing 162kW up front with a rear electric motor developing 70kW.

In electric-only mode, the car becomes a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 4.8 litres/100km (57.7 mpg) or 119g/km of CO2.

When the two power trains operate simultaneously, the SR1 develops a potential maximum power output of 233kW, while benefiting also from four-wheel drive.

The company says that with the use of HYbrid4 technology - eventually available on more Peugeot models - the SR1 concept offers proof that driving enjoyment can be combined with environmental friendliness.

The vehicle's dynamic efficiency is enhanced by a rigid, lightweight structure comprising a one-piece body incorporating a tubular chassis on to which are mounted the mechanical components and suspension.

The suspension consists of double wishbones with drop links at the front and the rear. The SR1 uses four-wheel steering, where motorised links on the rear suspension wishbones control the turning angle of the rear wheels.

The Lion symbol, part of Peugeot since 1858, is now more three-dimensional and discards the current blue flag background for a stronger effect.

Peugeot says it will continue to improve engine efficiency through its downsizing strategy for petrol and diesel, part of its micro-hybrid and full-hybrid plans. The micro-hybrid, or Peugeot's e-HDi system, will be introduced across the model range from the end of next year.

It will reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 15 per cent, says the carmaker.

Full-hybrid will make its appearance early next year.

The technology allows a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 35 per cent, or 3.8 litres/100km (74.3 mpg) and 99g/km CO2.

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 will be the first diesel hybrid on the market and will be followed by other Peugeot hybrid models.

In 2012, it will introduce plug-in HYbrid4 technology for a further reduction in emissions levels: the target is less than 2 litres/100km (141mpg) and 50g/km of CO2.

Peugeot will also use plug-in lithium-ion power in scooters and bicycles. An electric bicycle with a removable 36-volt battery pack offers a range of 70km.

The E-Vivacity, an electric scooter with a power equivalent to that of a 50cc petrol engine, offers a range of 100km, can be fully recharged in four hours and recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity in two hours. It has a top speed of 45km/h.