Full details of Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4 has emerged as the car is heading to next month's Paris motor show in production form. This is the first hybrid production car from PSA, also the world's first diesel-electric hybrid.

By mating the already very efficient 2000-bar common-rail injection turbo diesel engine with a small electric motor, Peugeot achieves a carbon footprint of just 99 grams per kilometre. This compares well with the most efficient hybrid and advanced diesel cars currently on offer. Considering that the 3008 is a pretty heavy crossover, its achievement is all the more impressive.

The 2.0HDi engine in this car produces 163 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The electric drive is located at the rear end of the car. All the electric components, namely the motor, step-down gears, inverter and power electronics control module and NiMH battery pack are all located under the rear seat and boot floor, which is easy for the high-seating 3008 platform. The electric motor has a continuous output of 27hp and 74 lb-ft of torque. This diesel-electric combination should give some very decent performance.

The diesel engine drives the front wheels through a 6-speed automated manual gearbox. The electric propulsion system is completely decoupled from the engine as it drives the rear wheels directly, so the car is a part-time 4WD. Drivers can select one of the four driving modes:

Auto: computer decides the combination of engine and motor power to optimize fuel economy;

Sport: sportier gearshift pattern optimizes performance;

4WD: engine and motor work in parallel to enhance traction;

ZEV: zero emission vehicle mode, i.e. electric power only.