Frankfurt Auto Show: Peugeot iOn and RCZ HYbrid4

Also part of the French carmaker’s 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show lineup are the much ‘greener’ iOn Zero Emissions concept and RCZ HYbrid4. The iOn electric concept car is scheduled to enter the market in late 2010, while the RCZ HYbrid4 will remain a concept for the time being as there are no plans for a production model of the car.

The iOn electric concept car, jointly developed by Peugeot and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) has four doors and four seats, a length of 3.48 m and a turning circle of 4.50 m.

The iOn Zero Emissions vehicle will be equipped with lithium-ion car batteries that are rechargeable in six hours using a conventional 220 V socket or recharged to 80 percent capacity within thirty minutes, thanks to its fast charging system.

The new electric concept cars' operating range is around 130 km, thanks to the its lithium-ion batteries, quite enough for use in an urban environment. The Zero Emissions vehicle will develop a maximum power output of 47 kW (64 bhp) and a maximum torque of 180 Nm, thus enabling it to reach a top speed of 130 km/h.

As for the RCZ HYbrid4, the model has a 2.0-liter HDI PEF engine producing 163 bhp (120 kW) at 3,750 rpm and 300 Nm of torque at 1,580 rpm. The electric unit brings an extra 37 bhp, thus raising the overall output to 200 bhp (147 kW).

The engines are mated to a 6-speed electronically controlled manual gearbox which allows the car to reach sixty in 8.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 215 km/h (133.5 mph). It burns up to 3.7 liters of gasoline per kilometer (63.5 mpg) in combined cycle.