4x4 - the next generation

Oct 13 2008 Ian Johnson

4x4 - the next generation

SLIPPING in with all the new model hype of the recent Paris Motor Show is news of a whole new type of four- wheel-drive.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has presented a new diesel-electric hybrid technology, the HYmotion4 all-wheel drivetrain.

This is aimed to be fitted on certain distinctive mid-sized and executive Peugeot and Citroën models scheduled for market launch in 2011.

Shown in Paris on the Peugeot Prologue and the Citroën Hypnos concepts HYmotion4 offers an unrivalled combination of driving performance and fuel efficiency. The Peugeot Prologue family car, for example, achieves 68mpg and emits 109g/km of CO2, with the powertrain delivering a full 200bhp.

The system uses a rear-mounted electric motor that drives the rear wheels, while the diesel engine runs the front wheels, providing a whole new type of all-wheel drive.

This gives drivers the advantages of all-wheel drive, such as increased safety under conditions of reduced grip, without any of the usual drawbacks (increased weight and heavy fuel consumption).

It also offers all the benefits of a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain by delivering exceptional performance.

I have always believed that a diesel electric link is a vital way forward, but making it to four-wheel-drive is a masterstroke.