Peugeot SR1

New concept from Peugeot. Nice video. But whatchya think of the car??

Listen up kids, here’s a quick lesson in automotive marketing techniques: if your car sucks or is otherwise hella weird, surrounding it with a bunch of nonsensical artsy-looking crap will subconsciously suggest to the public that it is not you the designer who failed to anticipate what people would actually like, but they the consumer who wouldn’t recognize extremely advanced, intelligent design if it slapped them upside the head. Exhibit A: the Peugeot BB1 Concept.

As its impending debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show draws nigh, the 2011 Peugeot RCZ has finally bared its full production form in a series of new images. As suggested by the artfully elusive teaser images released in early July, the 2011 Peugeot RCZ is an exercise in sleek, über-luxury performance and bears a striking resemblance to its direct competition, the Audi TT.

Come live vicariously through us as we, the most prestigious automotive blog in the world, grace the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with our stately presences. We’re sure to be the star attractions – forget the live unveiling of several never-before-seen new cars, and the endless rows of priceless works of automotive art sprawled out on the golf course greens like so many unobtanium sandtraps. Surely Jay Leno and the other celebrities will probably manage to jostle themselves into the photos of our expert appraisals of the class frontrunners, but we won’t be too upset. We’ll take a break from being the life of the Concours every so often to update you, our faithful readers. So check back often, and follow us at http://twitter.com/ridelust and in our Pebble Beach live coverage to catch all of the latest updates.

Teaser images of the highly anticipated 2011 Peugeot 308 RC-Z have hit the web, generating a little hype just in time for the 308 RC-Z’s tentatively scheduled debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Drawing inspiration from the concept variant unveiled in 2007, the production-ready 2011 Peugeot 308 RC-Z is purportedly gunning for would-be Audi TT buyers, and if what little we can glean from the teaser photos is any indication, ripping off the TT’s sweeping, dome-shaped roof lines is its first market-jacking tactic.

No word yet on engine options or prices, but rumor has it the 308 RC-Z will likely be offered with the MINI John Cooper Works’ twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6L engine in addition to a 200hp+ turbo diesel model.

Winning Peugeot Race Car

After several years of clear dominance, Peugeot finally broke Audi’s grip in the top LMP1 Class at the 24 Hours of LeMans last weekend. This is not terribly surprising given Audi openly admitting a year ago that their R10 racecar was aging fast and without several durability issues, including a faulty headlight by the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, Audi would have not won last year either. However, Audi had hoped that the new R15 they had unleashed for this year would be sufficient to keep Peugeot at bay. They were wrong.

It’s hard to know where to start. World class rally driving by a Finn, a Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 GR hatchback, all-wheel-steering, a big mountain, and lots of award-winning footage. Climb Dance has it all. Make the jump for 5 minutes of possibly the best rally footage ever shot as Ari Vatanen charges up Pikes Peak in 1990 to break the world record.

Maybe this image is exciting in France?

While the French are best known for their valiant defense of their homeland and their love of high-brow American comedians like Jerry Lewis, did you know that they also make the most exciting minivans in the world? Move over, Zafira and Mazda 5, here comes the 5008 (those extra “0s” come at no extra charge). To generate “interest” in advance of the Frankfurt Auto Show, Peugeot has released a stunning series of shots of the 5008 in action! (If you’re wondering if it’s a slow news day, don’t even ask!)

Any stateside car fanatic worth his weight in Z-rated rubber knows that when it comes to performance imports the U.S. market often gets the shaft. It’s frustrating as hell. Even car manufacturer’s based stateside, Ford and GM, for example, have a history of keeping their finest performance automobiles out of the fat, greasy hands of their own people. What gives?

Along with Citroen, Peugeot’s RC HYmotion4 is one of an increasingly crowded field of hybrid drive concepts that use a new through-the-road system being unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.  Fortunately for Peugeot, they have managed to not simply recycle or rebadge an existing model, but have incorporated this technology into an boldly attractive four door GT coupe.