Peugeot is all set to compete in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, revealing its race livery for the 208 T16 race car.

Packing 875 hp, the 208 T16 race car will be piloted by Sebastian Loeb and weighs in at a scant 1,929 lbs. The livery reveals the key partners to the Peugeot Pikes Peak race car including Red Bull, Total, and Michelin. This will be Peugeot’s first return to the famous hill climb race since its victories in 1988 and 1989.

SEE ALSO: Peugeot Pikes Peak Racer Gets 875-HP, Giant Wing

It will be competing in the Unlimited class at this year’s event. The 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb kicks off on June 30th in Colorado.

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The most successful driver in World Rally Championship history, Sébastien Loeb, is no stranger to fast cars, and even he is impressed by Peugeot’s new Pikes Peak race car. 

“The 208 T16 Pikes Peak is a rocket! It’s so powerful! The first time you drive it, each gear change practically stuns you,” says Loeb of the race car. “The shifts are really brutal, and it takes a little time to anticipate the sudden jarring. You get used to it, but it was quite disorienting to begin with.”

The performance comes from a mid-rear positioned bi-turbo V6 that makes 875 hp, combined with an overall weight of just 1929 lbs. That combo allows the race car to jump to 62 mph in just 1.8 seconds, and gives the car a power to weight ratio of 1:1. To top it off, the wing on the back is a full six-feet wide, providing loads of downforce to keep the car planted.

“Due to its aerodynamic downforce and wide tyres, its braking is amazing, too,” Loeb exclaimed. “The 208 package is a combination of the best of several worlds: it’s got the downforce of a Formula 1 car, the wide tyres of an endurance racing prototype and a differential, like a WRC car…”

The Pikes Peak hill climb is set to take place this year on June, 30.

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 GALLERY: Peugeot T16 Race Car w/Sébastien Loeb

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Every year, teams from around the world gather together at Pikes Peak in Colorado to race up the hill, and today Peugeot released some new stunning images and info on its wild looking hill climb entrant.

Called the 208 T16 Pikes Peak, the car will be piloted by veteran rally driver Sébastien Loeb, and get its power from mid-rear positioned bi-turbo V6 that makes 875 hp. Weighing in at 1929 lbs, power will be sent to all four wheels for traction, which will also be aided by the aerodynamic kit and massive rear wing.

SEE ALSO: Honda to Campaign 10 Vehicles at Pikes Peak

“We’ve shaved it down to 875 kg,” said Jean-Christophe Pallier, Peugeot Sport engineer. ”As a result, we have achieved the magic and symbolic power-to-weight ratio of 1:1!”

For design, the 208 T16 draws inspiration from the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 908, and shares in common the running gear, brakes and aerodynamic features, and most prominently, the rear wing which is two meters, or about six-feet wide.

GALLERY: Peugot 208 T16 Pikes Peak

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Peugeot will be attending this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a specially engineered and very wild looking race car from.

The 208 T16 Pikes Peak racer will be driven by nine-time world rally champion Sebastian Loeb and marks the French team’s return to Pikes Peak after its victories in 1988 and 1989. Though the race car’s exterior resembles its production counterpart, the race car was engineered and designed specifically to tackle Pikes Peak.

It will compete in the Unlimited class and draws inspiration from the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 908. There’s plenty of carbon fiber on the race car, which looks to be a formidable opponent in a class that draws some of the world’s most renowned racers.

Unfortunately the French automaker didn’t reveal many details on its 208 T16 Pikes Peak race car, but promises more will come leading up to the event.

“Its proportions are very different to those of the production 208,” observes Michael Trouvé who is in charge of silhouette design at Peugeot’s Styling Centre. “This difference gives it an almost beast-like appearance. Peugeot Sport provided us with a number of technical constraints, such as the width, body height, location of the wheels and engine, and we worked to this brief to produce an extreme take on the 208.”

GALLERY: Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak

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French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has unveiled its concept for a hybrid vehicle partially powered by compressed air and hopes to launch the technology by 2016.

The technology could find its way into vehicles made by General Motors as part of its alliance agreement with PSA, a spokesman said. The “Hybrid Air” system was developed with Robert Bosch, and according to the French automaker, it’ll be lighter than a traditional hybrid equipped with a gasoline engine and a battery.

The hybrid setup will find its way in both Peugeot and Citroen subcompact models and will reduce the cost of cutting emissions compared with current hybrid setups. The setup essentially uses compressed air to draw energy from the engine and the vehicle’s brakes.

According to PSA, the vehicles can run emission free in the city with the compressed air powering the vehicle as much as 80 percent of the time.

“This hydraulic-mechanical powertrain system results in a hybrid powertrain that is more cost-effective, robust, and service-friendly. In addition, it does not require any special infrastructure, and can be deployed anywhere in the world,” said Bosch.

GALLERY: PSA Peugeot Citroen Air Hybrid

[Source: Automotive News]

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General Motors announced today that it will work with French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen to develop a new generation of small engines.

The partnership is part of a revised agreement originally intended to co-develop larger models for the European market. Now, the companies will work to build smaller cars aimed at the European market in an attempt to mitigate losses in the cutthroat European new car market. While little of the agreement seems immediately relevant to the U.S. market, plans for a 1.0- and 1.2-liter three cylinder engine could have a significant impact in North America.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0L Review

Ford will soon be selling the Fiesta sub-compact with its 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine (pictured above) which makes as much power as the car’s current 1.6-liter four cylinder.

While GM hasn’t expressed plans to use the smaller powerplants in its North American products, the Chevrolet Spark and possibly the larger Sonic could both be logical candidates.

Details on when the next generation of engines will be available haven’t been released yet, but the cars being produced in the partnership are expected by 2016.

Discuss this story at GMInsideNews.com

[Source: Automotive News]

In a second phase of the alliance General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën signed earlier this year, both automakers are exploring ways to combine their European operations in a joint venture.

Both automakers are looking for ways to help curb their losses in the declining European automotive market, with one option for GM’s Opel/Vauxhall unit to merge with PSA’s automotive operations in a joint venture. Other options that have been discussed include the sale of Opel to Peugeot, buying Peugeot’s automotive business, and even combining all of them into a new entity.

Sources say that a joint venture could net GM 30-percent stake along with a $10 billion investment into the new company. A 30-percent stake would allow GM to not have to consolidate Opel’s financial results, removing its biggest financial liability.

GM has lost approximately $16 billion in Europe over the last 12 years, while PSA is using up 200 million euros in cash each month and doesn’t expect to turn a profit until 2014.

[Source: Automotive News]

We may never seem them on our shores, but there are a few honorable mentions from French automakers on display at the Paris Motor Show.

Peugeot Onyx Concept

Topping that list is the Peugeot Onyx Concept, a wild diesel-hybrid supercar. Powered by a 3.7-liter diesel V8, it makes 600-hp and delivers that power to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission. A kinetic energy recovery system has also been incorporated, storing power under braking and then adding it to the total with an extra 80-hp of thrust.

Peugeot RZC R Concept

A second Peugeot concept to make the list is the RZC R. Using a similar color scheme to the Onyx, it features a mostly matte-black paint scheme across its incredibly unique and stylish sheetmetal. Confirmed for production, when it does hit dealers in Europe in 2013 it will sports a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine making 260-hp. If that doesn’t impress you then you obviously don’t live in Europe, because Peugeot proudly (yet laughably) boasts that the RCZ R will be the most powerful production car the brand has ever made.

Peugeot 208 GTi

Dominating the list of interesting French cars yet again is the Peugeot brand with the production version of an earlier concept, the 208 GTi. The “GTI” moniker might be associated with Volkswagen in America (or Germany… they don’t buy French cars) but overseas its more broadly used. Reviving the GTi badge, first used on the 205 GTi in the ’80s, the new version is again a compact hot hatch, which now boasts a 200-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine.

Renault Twizy

A final vehicle (we hesitate to call it a car) worth mentioning is the Renault Twizy. It’s not new, though Renault did have a concept on display designed by Cathy & David Guetta. What makes it truly unique is that it isn’t classified as a car and so anyone over the age of 16 can drive on with no license at all in France (as well as Italy and Spain), while a moped license is required in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.

Two different models are available, a Twizy Urban 45 with a 5-hp electric motor,  a 60 mile range and a top speed of 28 mph. The Urban 80 model gets 17-hp and can hit speeds of 50 mph. Pricing for this unique urban mobility solution starts at just 7,000 Euros or roughly $10,000 which is a big reason why it’s Europe’s best selling electric car.

For more on all the cars of the 2012 Paris Motor Show, see AutoGuide’s complete coverage here.

GALLERY: French Cars of the Paris Motor Show

No longer willing to wait until the 2012 Paris Motor Show to show off its Onyx Supercar Concept, French automaker Peugeot has decided to reveal the wild machine ahead of its premiere.

Shortly after Peugeot teased the world with a video of its Onyx Supercar Concept, many expected it was going to be wild. The French automaker didn’t disappoint in meeting our expectations, as the Onyx Supercar is pretty nuts. The sharply-styled body features a two-tone scheme of copper and matte black, but it’s not just simply paint that has been applied to the concept car. Peugeot went all out the copper panels on the vehicle, which are handmade from pure copper sheet. The French automaker elaborated that overtime, the copper will gain patina and its appearance will change. As for the other panels finished in matte black? That’s genuine carbon fiber laying underneath.

As for how wild this concept is, Peugeot says that it has a drag coefficient of 0.30 and weighs in at a scant 2,425 lbs. It was built around a carbon fiber central structure that consisted of 12 parts and weighed only 220 lbs.

Powering the supercar is a 3.7-liter, V8 hybrid HDi FAP engine that’s fully capable of pushing out 600-hp to the rear wheels. The powerplant has been mated to a six-speed sequential transmission while a kinetic energy system allows it to convert braking power to electricity that’s then stored in the lithium-ion batteries. The electric system offers an additional 80-hp.

As for the interior, it’s pretty wild too. The dashboard is made from recycled newspapers that were compressed to create new ‘logs’. The French automaker refers to it as ‘Newspaper Wood’.

Of course it’s an extreme concept study and it’s highly doubtful that anything similar will ever make its way to production. But we’ll be sure to check it out and report live from the 2012 Paris Motor Show later this month.

“The silhouette of the Onyx is sculpted softly, sensuously, but it is also alive and technological,” explains Sandeep Bhambra, Onyx Exterior Stylist. “From the first sketches I wanted to create a showcase for technological excellence and craftsmanship by combining elements demonstrating high aerodynamic performance, Black Diamond lamps and copper bodywork panels fashioned by hand.”

GALLERY: Peugeot Onyx Supercar Concept

French automaker Peugeot is looking to make a huge splash at its resident 2012 Paris Motor Show with a supercar concept called Onyx. To whet our appetites, Peugeot released a teaser video of the Onyx, revealing a bit of exotic’s sleek styling.

While few details were included with the video release, chances are the Onyx will have some extreme styling for its exterior, as hinted at in the video. It appears that the concept will be done in a matte black finish that’s contrasted by a shade of copper on the front fenders and doors. The focus of the video is clearly on the vehicle’s aerodynamics, while the automaker hints at a generous use of carbon fiber on the body.

Whether or not this supercar will find its way to production remains to be unseen – we’ll definitely find out more once it debuts on September 29th in Paris. Chances are though, the Onyx will be a wild one.

Watch the teaser video of the Onyx supercar concept below.

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We might have some fancy cars over here in the USA, but there are quite a few vehicles overseas that we can’t help but think are desperately missing from our shores. More than a few are niche market models perfect for auto-enthusiasts, while others are more stylish or practical than what’s currently available in the US. And some are both.

First up we have the Honda Civic. Sure, it might just be a Civic, but Honda’s European Civic is quite different from what’s in showrooms here. Take a quick look, and its hard to notice the Honda badge on the front. The euro-Civic’s stylish looks are far and away better than the bland car available in US. America also misses out on this specific body-style, which is a shame since hatchbacks offer a practical advantage over sedans and coupes.

Making the Civic even more appealing is its engines which range from a tiny 1.4-liter engine, to a 2.2-liter diesel. If its one thing Americans should be grateful for is that the more powerful, and sportier Civic Si is not yet available in Europe. Chances are, however, they’ll probably get an even cooler Mugen-tuned hatch or Type R model that we’ll never see here either.

With sky-high gas prices on the horizon and increasingly strict emissions standards for car manufacturers to live up to, consumers are constantly looking for more options when it comes to fuel economy, and automakers are equally eager to deliver. For those reasons manufacturers are continuing to downsize engines. It was a tough sell for car buyers to accept four-cylinder engines instead of six-cylinders, but will they have an easier time accepting three-cylinder engines?

That certainly wasn’t the case in the ‘90s with cars like the Subaru Justy and Geo Metro (pictured on the left), despite the fact that the latter achieved an amazing 37 mpg city and 44 mpg highway with a 40 mpg combined rating. Those cars were met with complaints about noise and performance and now the only three-cylinder option is the Smart Fortwo, which is a bit more expensive to run because it requires premium fuel.

A three-cylinder Ford Focus just went on sale in Europe, getting high praise for its quiet hum at idle, excellent fuel economy and its peppy feel. Elsewhere in the U.K., a three-cylinder engine provides the power for the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1. But will we see three-cylinder cars return to America? Yes.

Ford has confirmed it will offer its new 1.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection three-cylinder in America in the near future, though it’s more likely to arrive under the hood of the Fiesta than the larger Focus.

The three-cylinder is looking to be the new four, as more and more companies are downsizing engines in order to meet tough corporate average fuel economy standards. With fuel prices set to go sky-high this summer, car buyers are going ga-ga for green cars.

“Our customers are demanding outstanding fuel economy but they don’t want to sacrifice the performance of a larger engine,” said Richard Truett from Ford’s Powertrain communications, making specific mention of EcoBoost. “Our EcoBoost technology, turbocharging coupled with direct injection and variable valve timing, enables a smaller engine to replace a larger one with no loss of performance and with as much as 20 percent better fuel economy.”

In fact, in many different segments of the car market, more car makers are offering fuel efficient engine options. In the midsize car segment, the inline four cylinder engine has found residence in pretty much all vehicles. Hyundai doesn’t even have another engine option in its Sonata. Ford has even gone so far as to offer a 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder in the seriously large Taurus, while also competing against V8s in the pickup market with its EcoBoost V6, which offers better fuel economy and similar performance than the V8.

“That gives consumers the performance they want and it helps us meet our sustainability commitments.” said Truett about the EcoBoost engines. As for the tiny 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost (pictured on the right), Truett says, “It delivers outstanding performance and class leading fuel economy. It is rated at 125 horsepower, which is one of the highest output (per liter) of any engine today.”

The smaller engines help lower overall weight of vehicles too, which contribute to better performance as well as fuel economy.

“We plan to launch the 1.0-liter engine here in about a year,” Truett hinted, refusing to mention which vehicles are officially going to receive the engine.

Along with Ford, expect to see a three-cylinder engine become the staple powerplant in the next-generation MINI Cooper lineup. In fact, the BMW group (which owns MINI) is experimenting with three-cylinders on an even larger scale, fitting one to its new i8 green sports car, where it powers the rear wheels while electric motors work the front axle.

Can a three-cylinder car be any good? The Europeans certainly think so, with the new Volkswagen up! (which just won “World Car of the Year”) powered by a 3-cylinder engine. Making the victory even sweeter is the fact that the little car beat out the new Porsche 911, and BMW three-series.

Still, three-cylinder engines have to prove themselves in the American market, where long highway trips and hilly terrain are an important part of commutes. Regardless, the three-cylinders are coming and this time they might be here to stay.