EV-Minded Peugeot Unplugs From Rallycross Racing

Peugeot is quitting the world rallycross championship to focus its resources on developing a new range of electrified sports cars from 2020.

The French automaker, which debuted at the Paris auto show its new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles as part of its electrification strategy, says the evolution of the championship toward electrification is uncertain.

“As a result, this competition is disconnected from the Peugeot brand's electrification schedule,” the company says in a statement. Peugeot will complete the current season.

Peugeot says the new Peugeot 3008 hybrid and new 508 sedan and SW hybrid embody its transformation and acceleration toward electrification of all its new models.

“Faithful to its DNA, Peugeot continues its offensive and chooses to offer its customers a range of high-performance, low-emission electrified sports vehicles from 2020,” it says.

The electrified sports versions will be developed in collaboration with Peugeot Sport teams and will contribute to the challenge of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions.

“Electrification is a new opportunity to offer new high-performance versions to our customers looking for low-emission sports sensations,” Peugeot CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato says. “Driving sensations will be amplified by the performance provided by electrification. Boredom will never be part of our DNA.”