CES: Stellantis shows electric car study Peugeot Inception Concept
Unlike many big brands, Peugeot is new to CES. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares brings it to the U.S. with the unveiling of the Inception Concept.
- Stefan Grundhoff
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Even before the Paris Motor Show, which takes place every two years in October, the Stellantis managers around Carlos Tavares were sure last fall that an important innovation should not be presented at the trade show on the Seine, which had been flagging for some time. So Stellantis ventured across the Atlantic with its classic French brand Peugeot.
The Stellantis Group has a lot to show at CES, and Carlos Tavares has booked a keynote speech for the big show. Nevertheless, it's surprising that the biggest trade show novelty isn't from a house brand like Dodge, Alfa Romeo or Jeep, but from Peugeot - probably known to most people in the U.S. for the company car of the TV investigator Columbo.
Clear commitment to e-mobility
With the Inception Concept, Peugeot wants to take the leap into a new age of mobility. According to its own statements, this is not only a new chapter for the brand itself, but also a dream come true of how Peugeot envisions the automotive future. First of all, there is a clear commitment to electromobility at CES 2023.
"Peugeot is committed to the electrification of its product 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 goal is simple: to make Peugeot the leading electric brand in Europe by 2030. This goal and 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!"
Peugeot Inception Concept Exterieur (7 Bilder)
800 kilometer range
Technically, the five-meter-long concept study from France is based on the long STLA platform. The coupe sedan with its four doors and over seven square meters of glass is equipped with contemporary 800-volt battery technology. The 100-kWh battery in the underbody is said to enable ranges of up to 800 kilometers without a charging stop and to be ready for the next 150 kilometers in five minutes.
Good aerodynamics should bring the standard consumption to 12.5 kWh per 100 kilometers. At the same time, the Peugeot Inception Concept is as sporty to drive as it looks, at least on paper. Two electric motors on the front and rear axles with a total output of 500 kW allow the Peugeot to accelerate from a standstill to a speed of 100 in three seconds. Part of the technology package is a steer-by-wire system.
Peugeot Inception Concept Interieur (6 Bilder)
Part of the technology package: Steer-by-Wire
In addition to all the technology, the Inception Concept model is intended to give a glimpse of the new design language that will be introduced at Peugeot from 2025. The gigantic glass surfaces, however, with their potential to heat up the interior, are unlikely to have any relation to series production. The futuristically designed seats and trim made from recycled material and the 3D printer, however, are quite different. Here, the driver looks at a next-generation i-cockpit, giving direction via an unusual rectangular steering wheel with integrated digital displays called Hypersquare.
Peugeot Inception Concept Details (3 Bilder)
"Peugeot is changing, but the Inception Concept remains unmistakably a 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," explains design director Matthias Hossann, saying, "the bright and light-filled concept reinvents the spatial experience of driving while illustrating some of our thinking on reducing Peugeot's CO₂ footprint by more than 50 percent by 2030."
It remains to be seen how the study will be received at the tech trade show in Nevada and whether Peugeot might also dare to make the brand leap across the Atlantic to become a threat to manufacturers like Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai or Chevrolet.
(fpi)