Car Auto Design

200 years later since 1810 that Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot turned their father’s cereal mill into a steel foundry and took the Peugeot family into the industrial era, a new chapter in the Peugeot story about to open with a further evolution of the brand; a new styling direction, a new corporate Lion badge and a new signature – Peugeot MOTION & EMOTION.

Through the Peugeot SR1 Concept, the Marque reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models. The concept car embodies the new world of Peugeot, reflected by the new Lion badge which adorns its body.

Dynamic, balanced, sensual, with an exclusive high-tech interior, this “dream car” explores and reinterprets the theme of the “Grand Touring Car”.

The use of HYbrid4 technology allows the Peugeot SR1 to offer an engineering specification in keeping with its styling: 230 kW (313 bhp) with emissions of only 119 g/km of CO2 (0 in electric mode), 4 wheel drive and steering…. for an ideal blend of excitement and efficiency.

Styling that predicts the future, Elegance, purity, dynamism, allure, controlled power… these ideas find their fullest expression with the Peugeot SR1 Concept, the dream car par excellence.

On the SR1, at the front, a 1.6 litre THP petrol engine with a power output of 218 bhp is combined with a rear electric motordeveloping 95 bhp. In electric only mode, the car becomes a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 57.7 mpg or 119 g/km of CO2.

When the two power trains operate simultaneously, the SR1 develops a potential maximum power output of 313 bhp, while benefiting also from four-wheel drive.

With the use of HYbrid4 technology, which will eventually be available on different models in the Peugeot range, the SR1 concept offers convincing proof that driving enjoyment can be combined with environmental friendliness.

The vehicle’s dynamic efficiency is enhanced by a rigid, lightweight structure comprising of a one-piece body incorporating a tubular chassis onto which are mounted the mechanical components and suspension.

Exploiting the best of existing technology to offer road holding worthy of this exceptional concept, the suspension consists of double wishbones with drop links at the front and the rear. For even greater driving precision, the SR1 innovates also through the adoption of four-wheel steering.  Motorised links on the rear suspension wishbones control the turning angle of the rear wheels as a function of vehicle speed, giving the vehicle superb agility under all circumstances.

There is room in the vehicle for three people as the third rear seat nestles in the middle, behind the two front seats. Entry to this seat is facilitated by the centre console, which can slide forward to improve access.

The interior ambience blends colours and materials, with strong references to “a past motoring era” combined with “the latest advanced technology”. Inside the vehicle, patinated leather and different grained wood are examples of the use of authentic and natural materials, warm, sensual and charged with history, that blend seamlessly with, “high tech” materials such as nickel and satin-finished chrome.

The construction of the fascia panel, optimised to perfection, gives a visual prominence to certain mechanical components such as the steering column and a number of peripheral controls. Similarly, the instrumentation combines analogue and digital read-outs, giving clear emphasis to every item of information conveyed to the driver. This is the case for instantaneous fuel consumption and vehicle range, displayed on two glass crystal gauges directly in front of the driver.

Another technological innovation is the creation of an exclusive wristwatch, designed in partnership with Bell&Ross®. This timepiece, with milled inserts of solid aluminium, slots perfectly into a dedicated housing on the fascia panel.

The Peugeot SR1 concept car will be unveiled to the general public at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, in March.