PEUGEOT is marking its 210 anniversary with the creation of a new high performance division whose first product will be an advanced plug-in hybrid version of the company's 508 fastback and estate cars.

Set apart by the inclusion of three green bars in a special logo, the sporty 508 comes with two electric motors, four-wheel-drive and is the most powerful production Peugeot to date with 360 horsepower available.

The result is a 0 to 60 performance of 5.2 seconds and a top speed restricted to 155mph. Emissions are claimed to be 46g/km - the equivalent of 139mpg fuel consumption.

Pricing details and a release date are still to be announced although the model will be the flagship of the 508 range which currently tops out at around £35,000.

The car has a lower driving position than the standard 508 and a widened track at the front and rear with a triple mode shock absorber system with settings for comfort, hybrid and sport.

As with other Peugeot Hybrid4 models it has electric motors driving each axle which work in conjunction with a petrol engine.

It has a pure electric range of up to 26 miles and can operate in EV mode at speeds up to 86mph.

Five drive modes are available including a sport setting which has a digital engine sound system and changes the steering, suspension and accelerator inputs.

Recharge times are said to be less than seven hours from a standard domestic supply or less than two hours from a 7kW wall box charger.

Peugeot says the car will be fully kitted with systems such as night vision, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking.

The announcement of the new Peugeot Sport Engineered cars coincides with Peugeot's decision to return to endurance racing in 2022 with a hypercar that will run in the Le Mans category of the World Endurance Championship.