Étiquette : Peugeot

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PARIS 2014 – PEUGEOT EXALT: SUBLIMATION OF SEDAN

Introduced at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2014, the concept car Exalt returned to Paris at the Paris Motor Show with slight changes. This show car tends to prove that Peugeot is very interested in producing a high-end sedan in the coming years.
Make no mistake: the Exalt was not born Coupé to which designers would have added 2 openings. The Exalt is, according to in-house designers, the SUBLIMATION OF A SEDAN: a complete sedan with its codes and comfort…but with a dynamic and elegant appearance.
The standout element of the exterior designed by Romain Saquet, is clearly the “clean cut” on the rear part, delimitating the use of the microstructure material inspired by « sharkskin » which attracts and accelerates air cells in order to reduce aero drag. If it was ocher in Beijing, it is dark gray in Paris. The rest of the car body is still finished in untreated steel. The body will oxidize and will evolve throughout the years…
The interior architecture, according to its designer Alessandro Riga, is designed for the human body, around the human body. The lower part is comfortable and envelops the cabin up to the chest. Material choice is made around the idea of LOCAL SOURCING: depending on the location of sales and production, parts are manufactured with technical and local products. In Beijing the dashboard was carved in a wood coming from China, while in Paris and Europe the same part is made of recycled compressed paper to give the feeling of wood and remembering the business pages of major newspapers. We’re talking here about UPCYCLING since wood is « reincarnated » and somehow “back to life”. As Lavoisier (1743-1794, Chemist) said: “nothing is lost, nothing is created, and everything is transformed”.
The attention given to the cockpit (see 208 and 308) is part of the Design Manifest of Peugeot and Alessandro Riga gave a particular consciousness to the top part of it in the Exalt. The information is fully oriented toward the human with the head up display instrumentation. Detail of great importance, Alessandro told us that his theme was inspired by the universe of music with its impression of freedom given to hands especially with these 7 keys « piano » that are totally configurable.
The Exalt is using the “Hybrid4 system” developing 340Hp in theory for a total weight of 1.700 kgs.
By showing this car in Paris after Beijing, there is no doubt that Peugeot has something in mind…let’s be patient…
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GENEVA 2014 | Aygo, C1 and 108

Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot have released the replacement of the three sisters…
If the first opus was essentially three identical cars (with just small differences to provide identity), now we can talk about three quite different designs, even though the cars have been developed on the same platform.
Each car now reflects the spirit of its brand.
The Toyota Aygo has a very aggressive look, while the Citroen appears more product design oriented and the 108 more “chic”.
While the Aygo is graphically complicated and looks very sporty, the C1 is very Citroen-like, showing a friendly face using the superposition of lights similar to the C4 Picasso. The Peugeot is more into the French Chic with a simple shape, but using different color combinations for graphic effect.  Interiors emphasize the “onboard wellbeing” design philosophy.
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IAA 2013 | Peugeot 308

On the Peugeot stand, the 308 was introduced to the public. And, based on hearing and reading all the positive comments from German journalists, the Frankfurt debut was certainly no mistake. Basically the Peugeot 308 is seen as a serious challenger to the VW Golf. We think that he design team led by Gilles Vidal has done a very nice job. Volume is very simple. Lines are clean and mastered. One can say that it looks too much like a Golf. But in this category customers want a Golf, don’t they? The use of a small steering wheel, like the 208, is a must, Gilles Vidal told us: “once you have tried this configuration of steering wheel, you don’t want to go back…”We believe him.Knowing that the Peugeot mechanicals are usually good, it will certainly be a best-seller…perhaps beating the Golf? Why not…
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Peugeot Onyx

With the Onyx, Peugeot and Gilles Vidal demonstrate a new approach in the materials use. The exterior is very radical and looks like a supercar in terms of volume. The use of of pure copper, which is going to be altered by time is efficient. The interior is bright and natural. Warm and soft, the felt is derived from traditional production techniques. Obtained from boiled wool, with interwoven fibres, this material is completely recyclable and is an excellent thermal insulator. In addition, it improves the quality of the surrounding air by dehumidifying.

The dashboard is constructed with of a new type of ‘timber’ – ‘Newspaper Wood’. Produced from used newspapers, assembled and compressed to create a new material from which the parts are made. The illusion is interesting with veins of colour evident on the surface. On closer inspection the secret is revealed with the appearance of the print type.

Not to say it is only a concept car…

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Pleyel by Peugeot Design Lab

The piano manufacturer Pleyel and Peugeot Design Lab unveil a piano that overturns the conventions of the music world.

The Desgin lab was launched in June 2012 and has the goal to design non-automotive pieces for Peugeot and external clients in all business sectors. The team could work on a yacht, a tool…or in this first attempt : on a piano for Pleyel.

Obviously, the attempt is interesting. And instead of discussing line, technology and music here, and after saying that pianists say that the acoustic is like any other Pleyel piano,  please go through the photo gallery.

It says more…

 

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Peugeot design lab

The Peugeot design lab, a global brand design studio launched in June, unveilss here three main studies : a piano, a bicycle and a scooter, as well as product design pieces.

The Pleyel piano demonstrates Peugeot Design Lab’s first co-branding work with an outside client. The bicycle and the scooter are clearly inspired by the Onyx concept.