Motors with Tony Conlon: Peugeot Inception Concept in keeping with company’s pledge to electrify its entire range

Peugeot has just given us a glimpse into what the future of driving might look like in less than a decade from now with the unveiling of a new concept car, called the Inception.

First announced at the Paris Motor Show last October, the Peugeot Inception concept was revealed at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The French carmaker has put together a team of its finest design brains under design director Matthias Hossann and given them free rein to design a car that is literally going to turn the automotive experience that we know today on its head by taking advantage of next generation electric platforms.

This concept vehicle marks the beginning of a new and exciting era for the respected French manufacturer, giving drivers a taste of the next generation of models by completely redesigning the interior space, reinterpreting how we drive through the latest generation i-Cockpit and creating new digital and physical experiences.

Its vision for the future of its cars promises to revolutionise driving enjoyment by offering new and intuitive ways of operating the vehicle. The most radical change is the removal of a steering wheel and all the usual switchgear we are used to today.

Using the i-Cockpit’s new Hypersquare control system will be more akin to playing a video game than using all four limbs to control the car. With the touch of a fingertip, you control all the driving parameters and the steer-by-wire technology designed to make driving more instinctive and simpler.

The Hypersquare with its digital electric controls consists of a screen with circular cells in each of its four corners which will control fingertip driving comfort, steering control and activation of the vehicle’s controls by using the thumb, a bit like how we use our smartphones today. Peugeot claims the intuitive aspect of all this will create a high level of safety.

The Skyspace panoramic glass concept also transforms the passenger compartment through innovative architecture and fills the cabin with natural light. In fact, the glazing is a key feature in the design of this concept car covering a surface area of over seven metres square.

The multi-chrome treatment the glass undergoes – like that used for the visors of NASA astronaut helmets – means it retains exceptional thermal and anti-UV qualities, diffusing flashes of light and modifying reflections, giving passengers a new experience in terms of the colours and materials environment in the cabin, according to Peugeot.

The highly distinctive front end sees a new Peugeot light signature incorporating three emblematic claws and a glass mask with the logo in the centre, magnified by a 3D luminescent effect.

The expressive rear end reflects the new front-end signature, with the three claws appearing to enter the car infinitely, thanks to two layers of glass. A tech bar runs horizontally through the door layer and embedded artificial intelligence makes it possible to recognise the driver in order to set up the comfort settings, like seat posture, temperature and driving mode desired by each occupant.

All the seat proportions have been reworked, offering more width and immersive comfort, adapting to the body shape of each passenger. The car is also equipped with a premium hi-fi system from French brand Focal which specialises in high-quality audio sensations.

Needless to say, the Peugeot Inception Concept is 100 per cent electric in keeping with the company’s pledge to electrify its entire range in the next few years. The car is equipped with 800V technology with a 100kWh battery enabling it to travel 800km on a single full charge.

The battery’s consumption is also impressive, at only 12.5kWh for 100km, and it will charge the equivalent of 30km of range in just one minute – or 150km in five minutes. Two compact electric motors (one at the front and the other at the rear) give a combined power output of close to 680hp. It will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in less than three seconds.

Peugeot’s ambition is to be the leading electric car brand in Europe by 2030, an ambitious vision that is paving the way for a radical transformation of the brand. But this transformation is clearly going beyond the sole ambition of becoming 100 per cent electric.

It is also about taking advantage of the new possibilities offered by electric technology and new software to offer new and enriching driving experiences