Paris show: Peugeot e-Legend nod to the past

PEUGEOT has dipped half a century into its past for inspiration for its future styling direction as displayed on an all-electric autonomous sports coupe concept to be shown at next month’s Paris motor show.

 

Called e-Legend, the concept takes styling cues from the 1960s Peugeot 504 coupe – including its dual headlights and distinctive bonnet – and mixes them with a little bit of American muscle car nostalgia and latest technologies, including an electric powertrain capable of taking the coupe 600km on a full charge and from zero to 100km/h in less than four seconds.

 

In choosing a stylish mid-sized coupe for its vision, the 120-year-old French company has bucked the trend towards crossovers and SUVs to showcase latest technologies in a move that Peugeot says “magnifies the genes and elegance of the heritage of the Peugeot brand”.

 

Peugeot CEO Jean-Phillipe Imparato said the e-Legend was not just a technological manifesto.

 

“This is the vision of the brand – Peugeot – actively focused on an optimistic and ultra-desirable future,” he said. “For Peugeot, autonomous and electric are synonymous with even stronger sensations. Boredom will never be part of our DNA.”

 

The concept is Peugeot’s vision of a 100 per cent autonomous and connected electric car, designed from the ground up to accommodate the latest in-car services and entertainment systems.

 

At 4650mm long, the e-Legend is about the same length as a BMW 4-Series but 105mm wider, at 1930mm.

 

While the front design indeed has 504 overtones, the rear-end looks more Detroit than Paris, with slanted LED tail-lights reminiscent of Mustangs past.

 

The large glasshouse mimics that of the 504, proving a flood of natural light inside where the squared-off steering wheel and instruments fold away in full-autonomous mode.

 

The interior is lined with 16 screens of various sizes, including a massive 49-inch unit across the dash, connecting with 29-inch units in the doors for a seamless display to show anything from entertainment, maps or just various trim choices such as woodgrain.

 

A voice-activated “personal assistant” can open and close doors, change the playlist or alter the driving style, among other commands – all in 17 languages. This system will be available on Peugeot production cars within two years.

 

Another innovation is a Focal sound system that can place each vehicle occupant in their own audio “bubble” so each of them listen to their own choice of music or radio, uninterrupted by other’s programming. 

 

Four driving modes are available, ranging from Soft, which not only favours the comfort of occupants but backs off the digital displays, to Boost, which ramps up the performance from the 340kW/800Nm electric powertrain.

 

Peugeot says the all-wheel-drive e-Legend is loaded with a 100kWh battery – large by most standards – that in just 25 minutes can be charged to sufficient capacity to take the vehicle 500km on a fast charger. Wireless induction charging is also possible.

 

Top speed is said to be 220km/h.

 

While Peugeot is showing the e-Legend concept in Paris from October 1, sister company Citroen will be showing something a bit closer to production, the plug-in C5 Aircross Hybrid.

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