Even before the Paris Motor Show, which takes place every two years in October, those responsible for Stellantis around Carlos Tavares were certain last autumn that important news should not be presented at the fair on the Seine, which had been flagging for a long time. Stellantis is therefore taking the plunge across the Atlantic with its classic French brand Peugeot.
The Stellantis group has a lot to show at the CES and Carlos Tavares has booked a keynote speech for the big appearance. It is still surprising that the biggest new product at the fair is not played by a house brand like Dodge, Alfa Romeo or Jeep, but by Peugeot – probably known to most in the USA from the company car of the TV investigator Columbo.
Clear commitment to electromobility
With the Inception Concept, Peugeot wants to take the leap into a new era of mobility. According to their own statements, not only a new chapter for the brand itself, but also the dream come true of how Peugeot imagines the automotive future. First of all, there is a clear commitment to electric mobility at CES 2023.
“Peugeot is committed to the electrification of its range. From next year, 100 percent of the vehicles in the range will be electrified and five new electric models will be launched over the next two years,” says Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson, “our The goal is simple: Peugeot is to become the leading electric brand in Europe by 2030. This goal and the ambitious vision pave the way for a radical transformation of the brand. It is embodied today by the Peugeot Inception Concept, which marks the beginning of a new era!”
800 km range
Technically, the five meter long concept study from France is based on the long STLA platform. The coupé sedan with its four doors and more than seven square meters of glass is equipped with modern 800-volt battery technology. The 100 kWh battery in the underbody should enable a range of up to 800 kilometers without charging stops and be charged for the next 150 kilometers in five minutes.
Good aerodynamics should bring the standard consumption to 12.5 kWh per 100 kilometers. At least on paper, the Peugeot Inception Concept drives as sportily as it looks. Two electric motors on the front and rear axles with a total output of 500 kW allow the Peugeot to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in three seconds. Part of the technology package is a steer-by-wire system.
Part of the technology package: steer-by-wire
In addition to all the technology, the concept model of the Inception Concept is intended to give an outlook on the new design language that will be introduced at Peugeot from 2025. With their potential to heat up the interior, however, the gigantic glass surfaces are unlikely to have any relation to series production. However, the futuristically designed seats and panels made from recycled material and the 3D printer are completely different. The driver looks at a next-generation i-Cockpit and indicates the direction via an unusual rectangular steering wheel with integrated digital displays called Hypersquare.
“Peugeot is changing, but the Inception Concept remains unmistakably Peugeot. It expresses the brand’s timeless feline appeal and shows how optimistic we are about the future of the car and the emotions it conveys,” design director Matthias Hossann says : “The bright and light-filled Concept reinvents the spatial experience of driving while illustrating some of our thinking to reduce Peugeot’s carbon footprint by more than 50 percent by 2030.”
Wait and see how the study arrives at the tech fair in the Nevada and whether Peugeot might also dare to make the leap across the Atlantic to become dangerous to manufacturers such as Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai or Chevrolet.
(fpi)
