PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT: THE FUTURE IS NOW

1 February

10 minutes read

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Since we teased its name at the Paris Motor Show last October, we've been itching to tell you more. And, right in the heart of the most playful place in America, we did just that. We unveiled the PEUGEOT Inception to the general public at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas on 5 January 2023, and proved we've designed the car of the future.

Same feline silhouette, reimagined design

At first glance, the Inception still looks like a PEUGEOT. It has our recognisable, feline shape, but has been catapulted into a new era by a brand new design. The Latin root of its name says it all: Inception comes from the Latin 'inceptio', which means beginning. This new design combines sensual lines and more athletic, geometric and sharper curves, such as the horizontal wing shoulders, to create a new, stronger silhouette. This concept car is a real manifesto for the Marque's new design language, as Matthias Hossann, PEUGEOT's Design Director, explains:

"PEUGEOT is changing, but the PEUGEOT Inception Concept Car remains unmistakably a PEUGEOT. It expresses the timeless feline attraction of the brand and shows how optimistic we are about the future of the car and the emotions it brings. Bright and luminous, the PEUGEOT Inception reinvents the spatial experience of driving while illustrating some of our reflections that will enable us to reduce PEUGEOT's carbon footprint by 70% by 2030. This transformation concerns all aspects of the design, production and life of tomorrow's PEUGEOT. Design is fully involved in this transformation."

New, intelligent glazing

In creating the PEUGEOT Inception, our main challenge was to invent an entirely new, glass cabin – plunging all the way to the driver and front passenger's feet – while maintaining the car's signature, feline stance.

When viewed from the side, it retains the recognisable PEUGEOT shape, that of an elegant and slender saloon. But, from a bird's eye view, it gives us a vision of the not-so-distant future: that of an electric car designed on a truly dedicated platform. The magic of the PEUGEOT Inception is that it creates a perfectly fluid transition between the exterior and interior, thanks in particular to this one-of-a-kind glazing, which creates a subtle dialogue between the two.

The metallic pigments in its bodywork are coloured according to the environment, and its glass surfaces are able to absorb heat and ultraviolet rays thanks to NARIMA® glass (a process initially used for the visors of astronaut helmets by NASA).

The three claws: an emblematic signature

The three claws: a futuristic signature

The stern of the PEUGEOT Inception, which reflects the new front-end design, has been given a high-tech overhaul. The three-clawed signature seems to enter the car infinitely, thanks to the two layers of glass, creating a truly magical effect.

The stern of the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT, which reflects the new front-end signature, has been given a very high-tech treatment, with the three claws seeming to enter the car infinitely, thanks to the two layers of glass, creating a truly magical effect.

The front grille, spanned across its width by three thin horizontal bars, is made of a single piece of glass, which houses the luminescent PEUGEOT logo with a 3D effect in its centre. Once again, we find the luminous signature composed of the three claws. In addition, a flush screen called the Tech Bar passes through the skin of the doors to broadcast messages to the outside of the car.

The front grille, crossed across its width by three thin horizontal bars, is made of a single piece of glass which houses the luminescent Peugeot logo with a 3D effect in its centre. Once again, we find the luminous signature composed of the three claws. In addition, a flush screen called the Tech Bar passes through the skin of the doors to broadcast messages to the outside of the car.

The wheels combine aerodynamics and aesthetics to great effect. Inside, the brake caliper is recovered with mirror glass. Forged textile inserts enhance the aerodynamic design. This offbeat design aspect echoes the glass parts of the new Hypersquare i-Cockpit®, bow and stern of the Concept Car.

Je suis Telva Somoza et je vis en Espagne. Je suis gestionnaire de la communauté du groupe d’édition Prensa Ibérica, qui compte plus de 22 journaux nationaux tels que El Periódico de Catalunya, Sport, Levante ou Faro de Vigo, entre autres.

Excellence: supercar performance

The PEUGEOT Inception Concept Car is designed on one of Stellantis Group's four future 'BEV-by-design' platforms. The arrival of this new range of platforms from 2023 onwards will revolutionise the PEUGEOT of tomorrow. The STLA Large platform, on which the Inception is based, has the silhouette of a low (1.34m x 5m) and efficient saloon.

The Inception is 100% electric, and is equipped with 800V technology. Its 100 kWh battery allows it to travel almost 500 miles on a single full charge, the distance from London to Inverness or from Brussels to Berlin. Its fuel consumption is remarkable at only 12.5 kWh per 100km. The battery charges the equivalent of 18 miles of range in one minute, or 93 miles in five minutes.

Thanks to its two compact electric motors, one at the front, the other at the rear, the PEUGEOT Inception is equipped with four-wheel drive for fully controlled dynamic driving. The combined power is close to 680 HP (500 kW), and it can accelerate from 0–60mph in less than three seconds.

The Inception is packed full of next-generation technology, namely the Steer-by-Wire system. It does away with the steering wheel as we have known it for decades in favour of a Hypersquare control where digital electric controls replace the mechanical links.

Emotion: a sublimated feeling

A dream made real

The PEUGEOT Inception propels you into a new dimension, somewhere between dream and reality, promising intense emotions as soon as you approach it, touch it or enter it.

The interior is the result of advanced research into the profound transformation of onboard ambience. Here, black has been completely banished in favour of playful reflective surfaces, created by the combination of light filtered by multi-chrome glass and materials with relatively neutral metallic tones.

The PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT propels you into a new dimension, between dream and reality, promising intense emotions as soon as you approach it, touch it or enter it.

The interior of the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT is the result of advanced research into the profound trans-formation of the on-board ambience. Here, black has been completely banished in favour of a play of reflections created by the combination of light filtered by multi-chrome glass and materials with relatively neutral metallic tones.

Hypersquare and Halo Cluster: new sensations with an avant-garde i-Cockpit®

Hypersquare and Halo Cluster: a sensational new i-Cockpit®

Get ready! From 2025 onwards, PEUGEOT cars will no longer have steering wheels. They'll be replaced by Hypersquare, a steering module in the form of a screen with four recesses for gripping. These cells have controls on the inside that are easily accessible with the tip of the thumb, and are controlled with a gesture similar to using a smartphone, which offers an increased level of safety. Above, the Halo Cluster is a mobile circular digital display. The dashboard disappears, as does the crossbar and the apron. With this totally open view of the road, occupants gain new perspectives and experiences, increasing the excitement of driving tenfold.

Get ready! From 2025 onwards, Peugeots will no longer have a steering wheel, but a control called Hypersquare. This is a steering module in the form of a screen with four recesses for gripping. These cells have controls on the inside that are easily accessible with the tip of the thumb. We discover a gesture close to the one we develop daily with our smartphones. The intuitive aspect offers a high level of security. Above, the Halo Cluster is a mobile circular digital display. The dashboard disappears, as does the crossbar and the apron. With this totally open view of the road, occupants gain new perspectives and experiences, increasing the excitement of being on board tenfold.

Steer-by-Wire: a revolutionary architecture

Prior to the development of this concept car, Peugeot tested and integrated the Steer-by-Wire technology on prototypes in order to develop this innovation and push the boundaries of ease of driving, safety and reliability for regulated use. The physical steering column disappears, allowing the new architecture on board.

Comfort Fit: a customised seat

The Comfort Fit is a seat that adapts to the morphology of each passenger. The seats and floor are covered in 100% recycled polyester velvet, with a metallic sheen to play with the light diffused by the glass capsule. The seats also have real adjustable mattresses at shoulder level. This electro-welded upholstery, which is easy to recycle, is made from inflatable pockets recovered from classic seats.

The Comfort Fit is a seat that adapts to the morphology of each passenger. The seats and floor are covered in 100% recycled polyester velvet, with a very metallic sheen to play with the light diffused by the glass capsule. The seats also have real adjustable mattresses at shoulder level. This electro-welded upholstery, which is easy to recycle, is made from inflatable pockets recovered from classic seats.

Hi-fi Premium FOCAL

PEUGEOT Inception is equipped with a premium sound system from FOCAL, a French brand specialising in hi-fi audio, amplifying the driving experience. The sound in the cabin is optimally distributed due to highly tailored speaker placement.

The new concept car is a showcase for the new techniques that the Marque au Lion will deploy to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 in Europe, and become fully Carbon Net Zero by 2038. The ambition is to bring most of these innovations to production vehicles by 2025.

Watch this video to go behind the scenes of the creation of the PEUGEOT Inception.

PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT is a showcase for the new techniques that the Marque au Lion will deploy to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 in Europe and become fully Carbon Net Zero by 2038. In addition, the ambition is to bring most of the innovations presented by PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT to production vehicles by 2025.

Go behind the scenes of the creation of PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT in video

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TAGS: Peugeot & Moi