At this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeot will have a truly impressive presence. It will see the international launch of the new Peugeot 308 hatchback and the 207 SW range, as well as a number of innovations in the form of three concept cars as well as a full scale model of this year’s winner of the Peugeot Design Contest.

The 308 SW Prologue

While the Frankfurt Motor Show will be the venue for the global debut of the all new 308, it will also give the world the first glimpses of another member of the 308 family, in the shape of the 308 SW Prologue concept car.

One of the SW’s key features is the panoramic glass roof, offering extraordinary levels of interior brightness and an unprecedented feeling of space and visibility, particularly for the rear passengers. Capitalising on the strengths of the 308 hatchback, the 308 SW Prologue concept car, while asserting its own personality, takes the definition of the SW even further.

The 308 SW Prologue combines the new “face” of the 308 with a very original design at the rear allowing the possibility of also installing a third row of seats.

The bold design at the rear is based on the idea of a wrap-around single piece rear tailgate glass. The design of the tailgate glass also takes into account the need for rear access and visibility and can be opened independently of the tailgate, making loading easier. The tailgate provides a wide access area to the inside of the car and also a particularly low load sill for maximum practicality.

The 308 SW Prologue concept car is powered by the 2.0 litre HDi DPFS 100 kW engine equipped with an additive-enhanced diesel particulate filter system (DPFS). Its excellent performance offers genuine driving pleasure and complete peace of mind. Its HDi DPFS technology, in accordance with the spirit of the car, ensures it is environmentally-friendly, with reduced CO2 emissions and the complete eradication of particulate emissions.

The 308 RC Z

The 308 RC Z concept car is a new Peugeot interpretation of driving pleasure. The car is a 2+2 coupé, with true versatility and at the same time a style that is modern, original and well-balanced.

Attention initially focused on making the vehicle as light as possible by the use of numerous aluminium components, for example the two roll over protection bars that separate the passenger compartment and give shape to the exterior styling, and the use of a polycarbonate rear windscreen and a large number of carbon fibre body parts.

Using the 308 as a blueprint offered a number of benefits. It made it possible to adopt a stylish front design as well as to share a large number of components already developed for the hatchback, therefore simplifying the production of this coupe. It also capitalises on the hatchback’s strong points, which become even more effective in the 308 RC Z concept car (for example, suspension components, wheels, certain equipment items and the flowing design of the fascia panel).

Its taut lines and streamlined design ensure an efficient aerodynamic specification (a SCx of just 0.65), improving performance, fuel consumption and therefore helping to protect the environment due to the reduced CO2 emissions.

With a length of 4.276 (same as the hatchback), a width of 1.840 (25 mm more than the hatchback) and a height of only 1.320 m, the proportions of the 308 RC Z concept car combines a very dynamic design with a high level of road holding.

The 308 RC Z concept car is powered by a 1.6 litre THP engine developed from the EP6DTS engine designed and developed via the collaboration between PSA Peugeot Citroën and the BMW Group, where it is fitted to the 207 GTi. However, the 1.6 litre THP engine, as a result of new engine management software specially developed for the concept car, now produces a maximum power of 160 kW. It is characterised by incredible flexibility, thanks to its maximum torque of 280 Nm produced at a low engine speed (300 Nm in overboost). These values ensure remarkable responsiveness under all driving conditions.

Its innovative Twin-Scroll turbocharger optimally pairs the exhaust gases flowing from two cylinders to ensure maximum flow onto the turbine, while its high-pressure direct petrol injection system improves combustion and overall engine efficiency.

The engine is coupled with an entirely new 6 speed manual gearbox.

The Peugeot 207 SW Range

Frankfurt will also be the venue for the world premieres of the 207 SW Outdoor and the 207 SW RC. Designed for customers who enjoy an active lifestyle with its “magical” rear modularity, its storage and load capacity, and the multitude of clever ways to make the most of its exceptional versatility and practicality.

In addition however, the rise to prominence of leisure activities and the need to multi-task has led to the availability of more non-traditional body shapes, such as Sport Utility Vehicles, Multi Purpose Vehicles and Cross Overs, marking a growing expectation for vehicles that are functional, fun to drive, practical and distinctive in terms of their personality.

The 207 SW Outdoor falls into this category and is a dynamic vehicle with a strong stylistic personality, designed for both leisure use and as a people carrier… in short, a multitude of possibilities.

Along the same lines, Peugeot also launches the 207 SW RC – a new expression of driving pleasure representing the sportier side of the SW range. It is powered by the 1.6 litre THP (Turbo High Pressure) 128 kW engine developing a torque of 240 Nm from only 1,600 rpm – the produced torque output remains constant up to 4,500 rpm, but can be extended temporarily to 260 Nm thanks to the “overboost” function.

The Flux – A Car of Extremes

Unveiled at the last Geneva Motor Show as a design exercise, the Flux, the brainchild of Mihai Panaitescu, a young 20 year old designer from Romania, makes a twofold appearance at the Frankfurt Show: real, in the form of a full scale model presented on the Peugeot exhibition stand, and virtual, in a new version of the PGR 4 game for the Xbox 360. These two developments were part of the remarkable prize for winning the 4th Peugeot design competition.

The judge’s choice was not easy due to the quality of the ten short-listed contenders nominated by online voting. But thanks to the originality of his concept and the quality with which it was drawn, its consistency with the theme and its links with the marque, the Flux won the vote of the judges.

This roadster successfully fulfilled the competition brief and perfectly illustrates the theme summarised by the acronym P.L.E.A.S.E. Strictly a two-seater; it evokes a world of motoring pared down to the bare essentials. With the Flux, driving pleasure is experienced with wind-blown hair, seated as closely as possible to the tarmac!