Peugeot’s 208 T16 Rs Rally car doesn’t break a sweat as it climbs volcanic Mount Etna

By Alexander Kalogianni March 12, 2015

Etna Volcano's Climb

Sicily’s Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, said in myth to house the forge of Hephaestus, blacksmith of the Greek gods. It has been an ever present threat of destruction and has laid waste to villages, train stations, and cable cars alike. Leave it to a rally driver to look at it and say: “sure, I’ll give that a whirl.”

In a video recently released by Peugeot, rally driver Paolo Andreucci climbs up the rich volcanic earth up to the peak in a Peugeot 208 T16 R5 rally car.

Peugeot-208-R5-Rally-2013-Image-04-1280 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The car is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces about 280 horsepower, sending it to all four wheels by way of a five-speed sequential gearbox. It premiered last year, quickly getting victories under its belt shortly thereafter in European Rally Championship events.

All the shots of this volcanic hill climb are gorgeous, showing Andreucci masterfully dancing the French rally car across the terrain. It isn’t done for any particular reason other than for the fun of it, unlike its superpowered counterpart that Sebastian Loeb drove to set a record climbing Pikes Peak.

Firing up an active volcano in the middle of the Mediterranean in a rally car wasn’t on our bucket list before, but it sure as heck is now.

Topics

Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.