NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, England — Peugeot used the final race of the European Le Mans season to unveil a 908 HDi FAP racing car that employs hybrid technology and could be out racing as soon as next year.The heart of Peugeot's 908 Hybrid is an 80-horsepower electric motor that replaces the conventional starter motor and is mated to the diesel V12 from the standard Peugeot 908 racing car. The car is also equipped with a kinetic energy recovery system that captures energy typically wasted while braking. In one lap of Le Mans racing, a car will typically see just 20 to 30 seconds of braking, but Peugeot decision makers believe the advantage outweighs the penalty that comes with carrying 10 packs of lithium-ion batteries. Those batteries have been split between the cockpit and the left-side floor pan to distribute weight. The 908 Hybrid is capable of running strictly on its diesel engine, in pure electric mode or in a combination mode that uses power from both systems.Peugeot's hybrid has two distinct benefits for racing the Le Mans circuit. As with any roadgoing hybrid, its electric assist has the potential to improve fuel economy and keep the Peugeot out on the track longer between pits. Peugeot says the 908's system can reduce fuel consumption by 3-5 percent on the track. But unlike the system on the Toyota Prius, the Peugeot 908 offers a power boost function in which output of the powertrain rises by 80 hp for about 20 seconds per lap. The power boost function can automatically activate as the driver accelerates, or it can be called on with a 'push-to-pass' button.Peugeot says the 908 Hybrid's debut is a preview of what its next Le Mans racing car could resemble, but points out that its use of the technology is dependent on the 2009 rules for the LMP1 class, which haven't been set.What this means to you: Racing has long been used to research and test future consumer technologies. Peugeot's hybrid effort could go a long way toward advances in diesel-electric powertrains. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent