The crossover recipe introduced by Audi’s Allroad for those who fancy a bit of off-roading but find SUVs too flashy is quite simple: take a station-wagon model, and then add plastic body cladding and underside protection, rise the suspension height to increase road clearance and voilà: your new crossover model is ready.
The same recipe has been followed by many manufacturers, the most recent being Peugeot with its brand-new 508 RXH that was launched at the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt.
As the name implies, the 508 RXH is based on the estate version of Peugeot’s D-segment model.
Peugeot’s crossover formula adds a different ingredient to the mix: a new, hybrid four-wheel drive system in which a 2.0-liter HDi turbo diesel drives the front wheels and an electric motor located at the back turns the rear axle.
The hybrid system, which was launched on the 3008, has four modes: Automatic, Sport, 4WD or Zero Emissions when the car is driven by the electric engine alone.
Peugeot says the system’s combined output is 200-horses and the setup offers the bonus of an extremely low fuel consumption of just 4.0 lt/100km (58.8mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.
Peugeot’s new crossover will be available in Europe from next spring.
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