After accidentally (or maybe not) letting slip one photo of its press photos, Peugeot is finally ready to show the world that they know how to make a cool four-door coupe. It's called the Exalt, and it's a concept car coming to this year's Beijing Auto Show, highlighting the French carmaker's new-found affinities for the Asian market.
The Exalt is cut from the fabric as the Onyx coupe from a few years back, being hand crafted from metal left exposed to the elements. This is a tribute to the 30s, when the limits of design were place in the hands of skilled metalworkers. At the back of the car, some of the body panels have been covered in a red material Peugeot calls "Shark Skin", very nicely textured and supposedly bestowed with superior aerodynamic properties.
As cool as the steely gray exterior is, it's got nothing on the cabin. We could call it a certain "je ne sais qui", but it's not that, it's serious craftsmanship, the kind you don't see any more. Deep-colored wood is engraved with different natural motifs while doors, dash and roof are trimmed in a natural wool-based ‘chiné’.
The heart of the lion beats strong and fast to the sound of 34 horses. They're delivered by a combination of high output 1.6-liter turbo engine, like the one found in the RCZ-R and electric motor.
Like PSA's road hybrids, the petrol engine drives the front wheels while the rear ones are motivated by electricity. No word on what model could be inspired by its design, but the Exalt has a hint of 508 replacement about it.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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