Peugeot showing its geometric appearance The beginning electric concept at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While it may seem strange for Peugeot to reveal its new concept car in the US given that it hasn’t sold a car there for more than three decades, it previously said CES is “the world’s largest trade show dedicated to new technology and innovation” .
This Inception concept previews the design and technology that Peugeot’s electric vehicles (EVs) will receive from 2025 onwards.
The Peugeot Inception concept is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup produce a total system output of 500kW power. This is more than double the most powerful Peugeot model sold in the country.
It is claimed to be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 3.0 seconds.
There is 100kWh batteries with the concept have a claimed range 800kmaccording to undisclosed proficiency testing standards.
Peugeot claims the Inception concept has an average energy consumption of 12.5kWh per 100km, which is slightly better than the current benchmark, the Tesla Model 3.
This concept has an 800V electrical architecture that allows it to obtain a range of up to 30km from one minute of charging. It can also be charged by induction.
The Peugeot Inception concept is based on the “BEV-by-design” STLA Large Stellantis architectural variation.
On the outside, the concept looks like an angular fastback grand tourer, with it measuring in 5000mm long, 2100mm wide, and 1340mm height.
It’s styled in the brand’s new “cat future” design language, with the bodywork finished with a single layer of fine metallic pigment. From some angles it looks similar to the Hyundai N Vision 74 high performance hydrogen fuel cell hybrid rolling lab.
On the front there are features including animated LED lights, illuminated badges, as well as a charging port.
Around the side is a so-called “tech bar” which is basically a screen mounted on the door and displays information such as the current charge level. It also shows welcome and goodbye messages.
There are 20-inch tires designed similarly to the 408 ‘coupe SUV’. They have forged textile and aluminum inserts, as well as the illuminated Lion emblem in the center.
At the rear there is a sharp cut with tail lights that feature the company’s three-claw lights.
Passengers in the Inception concept are surrounded by lots of Narima laminated glass on the roof, windscreen and side windows which have “exceptional thermal qualities and benefit from a multi-chrome treatment”.
This type of glass was initially used by NASA for astronaut helmets and is known for the different color reflections it emits.
Inside the Inception concept is a new generation of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit system that replaces the traditional dashboard.
The new i-Cockpit system centers around the so-called ‘Hypersquare’ control system, which is essentially a redesigned steer-by-wire steering wheel.
There is a tablet-style screen in the center of the Hypersquare steering wheel that displays information such as air conditioning, radio volume and advanced driving assistance systems.
There are also four rounded cutouts at the corners of the Hypersquare steering wheel that allow the driver to grip it properly. Inside this piece are sensors that allow you to interact with the content.
In front of the Hypersquare steering wheel is a circular digital instrument cluster called the ‘Halo Cluster’. It can display content to the driver and people outside the vehicle.
The Peugeot Inception concept is designed to be capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, which when activated will retract the Hypersquare steering wheel and reveal a large panoramic screen from the floor.
Peugeot aims to introduce this new generation i-Cockpit system on next-generation vehicles before the end of the decade.
The rest of the interior of the Inception concept consists of armchair-like seats that have airbags, and some storage space. There’s also a Focal premium sound system with an amplifier, multiple sound bars and two subwoofers.
The seats and floor are covered in special velvet made from recycled polyester that has a metallic sheen.
As previously reported, Peugeot has announced it plans to go all electric in Europe by 2030.
Linda Jackson, CEO of the Peugeot brand, told Automotive News in December 2021, “by 2030 in Europe all our models will be electric”.
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e-208
Unlike some other brands, such as Volvo and Bentley, which aim to sell only electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide by 2030, Peugeot has not made a complete break with the internal combustion engine.
Jackson stated, “I still need to make sure I maintain an internal combustion offering for my international customers”.
Peugeot has a strong presence in Africa and Latin America, and both regions are switching to EVs at a slower rate than Europe, North America and China.
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e-Expert
It’s unclear how Australia fits into Peugeot’s EV transition. All vehicles sold by the brand Down Under are now sourced from European factories.
Peugeot Australia has made no secret of its intention to offer up to three all-electric models by 2023, starting with commercial vehicles, then moving into the passenger and SUV segments.
Peugeot Citroen Australia managing director Kate Gillis would not be keen to reveal which model in the global portfolio fits each of these three slots, although the commercial vehicle will either be an e-Partner, e-Expert or e-Boxer van.
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e-308 -
e-2008
Since the Partner and Rifter are essentially one and the same with different internals, you can see how the Rifter and e-Rifter are the logical next steps.
Peugeot also provides a passenger version of the Expert van called the Adventurer, which also offers an all-electric e-Adventurer variant.
Meanwhile, the passenger and SUV slots are likely to be filled by the e-208 EV city hatch and the e-2008 small crossover. Peugeot Australia is also looking into bringing the newly revealed e-308 Down Under.
MORE: Peugeot to sell only electric vehicles in Europe by 2030
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