The new era of Peugeot begins with the car that the French brand has presented at CES in Las Vegas: the Peugeot Inception Concept. A prototype that reveals the new design language that will be adopted by the next generation of electric vehicles that will leave its production lines as of 2025.
The Peugeot Inception sits on Stellantis’ new STLA Large platform: It is a futuristic sedan with room for four occupants, measuring five meters long and 1.34 meters high. The aesthetic connection with the 2018 Peugeot e-Legend is clear, but this time they have removed many of the references to the models to create something more avant-garde.
A windshield of 7.25 square meters
The most striking exterior element of the Peugeot Inception is the huge windshield that descends from the roof towards the nose and through the space where the hood of a conventional sedan would be: it measures 7.25 square meters and has a multi-chrome treatment. Taking inspiration from the 1988 Peugeot Oxia, it blurs the lines between exterior and interior design.
Although the Peugeot Inception unveils the brand’s new design language, the classic and current cues have not been completely forgotten: the line of the bonnet is reminiscent, for example, of models from the 1970s and early 1980s. Of course, in this prototype the grill is a glass panel and the lighting signature is new: dubbed the Fusion Mask, it includes the typical three claws and an illuminated logo with a 3D effect.
Outstanding in profile is the door strip, which displays messages to the driver, and the 20-inch wheels, which are similar to those of the Peugeot 408, although, on this occasion, the central emblem of the lion remains while the wheels turn. At the rear we find the same optical scheme as at the front: a glass panel flanked by headlights in the shape of the three claws.
Goodbye to the i-Cockpit
Peugeot believes that the combination of athletic curves, clean lines and square shoulders will be present in future models. We will not see, yes, some of the extravagant features of the interior of the Peugeot Inception.
The prototype says goodbye to the brand’s characteristic i-Cockpit to replace it with a rectangular steering wheel inspired by video game controls: baptized as Hypersquare combines a central tablet with four thumb-operated control rings. Peugeot promises that it will be part of the equipment of a real model at the end of this decade.
This peculiar steering wheel (which can be folded when Level 4 autonomous driving is activated) is connected to the front axle through an electric steering by cable, which makes driving more instinctive and easy. Behind him rises the ‘Halo Cluster’, an instrument cluster that is an unusual circular display. Finally, the velvet upholstery of the seats adapts to the shape of the driver and passengers.
up to 680 hp
The theoretical mechanical configuration of the Peugeot Inception is made up of two electric motors, which can generate up to 680 hp of power that reach all four wheels: with these features, the futuristic sedan would go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds.
When it’s time to recharge its 100 kWh battery, which provides a range of 800 kilometres, the driver has two options: use induction charging or a charger compatible with its 800 volt power. In this case, it will be possible to recover 30 kilometers of range in five minutes.
