PSA is forging closer links with Mitsubishi; after the Outlander became the C-Crosser and 4007, now Peugeot has teamed up with the Japanese to launch the i0n – an electric car based on the electric Mitsubishi i-car.
So what’ll the new Peugeot i0n do?
It’ll go 80 miles on one charge of the lithium ion battery, making it ideal for urban commuting and short shuttles, says Peugeot. It’s a four-door, four-seater but a nippy-sized 3480mm long for city duties.
Top speed is put at 80mph, but we doubt many Peugeot i0ns will see such dizzying speeds. You’ll certainly try out the six-hour recharge if you do V-max it regularly. That’s on a domestic supply, but if you use a fast-charge system you can top up 80% of charge within just half an hour.
So Peugeot’s chasing the electric car buck now?
Sort of. Think of the i0n as a quick fix – a short cut to getting an EV to market. The French are holding greater store by their diesel hybrids, including the 3008 HYbrid4 due in spring 2011. It mixes 200bhp, four-wheel drive and just 99g/km of CO2. Sounds like a more practical solution to Europe’s needs in the short term.