Peugeot unveils radical new Exalt Concept

Peugeot has unveiled its vision of the future for the lion brand at the Beijing Motor Show in the form of its radical new Exalt concept car, writes Trish Whelan.

In homage to the art of the French motor car from the twenties and thirties, bare steel bodywork - seen also on the Peugeot Onyx concept - has been hand-formed by a master panel beater.

The car's slender profile conceals a spacious cabin with an array of natural materials, aged leather, natural wool-based mixed fabric, and ebony wood. Two folding touch screens emerge from the dashboard - one gives access to the on board computer, the Hi-Fi and navigation systems while the second presents a control bar to provide access to the automatic air conditioning and Peugeot's new Pure Blue air purification system.

Nine toggle control switches are on the dash, arranged in two groups. This arrangement was adopted because of the human brain's ability to easily remember up to seven elements, for their position and function.

The Peugeot Exalt has a versatile boot with a low loading sill and wooden trim. A special mechanism allows maximum opening, while needing less space externally.

The car is powered by a HYbrid4 drive train with a total maximum power of 350hp shared between the four wheels. The bonnet houses the 1.6 THP 270bhp developed by Peugeot sport. There's a 50kW electric machine for electric or hybrid phases of operation at the rear. This also recharges the battery through energy recovery braking.

Peugeot say the Exalt Concept 'writes a new chapter' moving forward.