There's no question that the French know more about cool car design than most of the other car-building nations. However, the guys at Peugeot have really taken things to the next level with the Exalt concept. This cool four-door is familiar to us ever since its debut in Beijing, back in April. But Peugeot has announced that a second version of the car will be making its way to the Paris Motor Show as well.
A full photo set released today shows the changes Peugeot designers have made in order to impress the home crowd. Most of the exterior design has remained the same, a cool combination of unpainted, hand-crafted metal and a synthetic fabric called "Shark Skin" that's stretched over the hind quarters.
This sharp new design language has already been used for a production Peugeot model, the facelift 508 sedan which is also coming to Paris.
Motivation for this complex-looking concept comes from an impressive powertrain combo. The same 270 PS 1.6-liter turbo engine from the RCZ R sportscar is used here, in combination with a 50 kW (68 hp) electric motor mounted on the multi-link rear axle. Combined, they deliver 340 horsepower, which is more than any current production Peugeot model.
All this is used to move along 1.7 tons of sexy lines that stop when the Exalt reaches 4.7 meters in length. That's right, even though it looks long, this thing is only slightly longer than a VW Jetta, not the size of a CC.
These compact proportions are especially exiting when you take a look at the inside, packed with exotic-looking but renewable materials. Peugeot has perfected the "Newspaper Wood" finish created by using pages of major business dailies. You can't actually tell it's not real wood any more and it has a lovely "distinctive salmon-pink hue" as well.
“The PEUGEOT EXALT is athletic, powerful and sleek, sporting an array of original materials. Its cabin, trimmed in natural materials, is dedicated to comfort and instinctive driving. This innovative concept makes the saloon even more attractive and more versatile, in particular the tailgate, with its unique opening mechanism and large boot.” says Pierre Paul Mattei, Peugeot Exalt Styling Manager.
This sharp new design language has already been used for a production Peugeot model, the facelift 508 sedan which is also coming to Paris.
Motivation for this complex-looking concept comes from an impressive powertrain combo. The same 270 PS 1.6-liter turbo engine from the RCZ R sportscar is used here, in combination with a 50 kW (68 hp) electric motor mounted on the multi-link rear axle. Combined, they deliver 340 horsepower, which is more than any current production Peugeot model.
All this is used to move along 1.7 tons of sexy lines that stop when the Exalt reaches 4.7 meters in length. That's right, even though it looks long, this thing is only slightly longer than a VW Jetta, not the size of a CC.
These compact proportions are especially exiting when you take a look at the inside, packed with exotic-looking but renewable materials. Peugeot has perfected the "Newspaper Wood" finish created by using pages of major business dailies. You can't actually tell it's not real wood any more and it has a lovely "distinctive salmon-pink hue" as well.
“The PEUGEOT EXALT is athletic, powerful and sleek, sporting an array of original materials. Its cabin, trimmed in natural materials, is dedicated to comfort and instinctive driving. This innovative concept makes the saloon even more attractive and more versatile, in particular the tailgate, with its unique opening mechanism and large boot.” says Pierre Paul Mattei, Peugeot Exalt Styling Manager.