Peugeot HX1 revealed

Sensational new six-seater HX1 blends huge practicality with sleek look and scissor doors

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Jack Rix

August 2011

This is the Peugeot HX1 Concept – a stunning six-seater that previews a novel take on the MPV.

The newcomer is longer and wider than a BMW X5, but lower than a 1 Series, and follows the DS5’s lead by distilling people carrier proportions into a sportier shape. With its short overhangs and stubby bonnet, the HX1 aims to blend a spacious interior and a sleek profile. And Peugeot tells us it doesn’t only showcase future styling from the brand; it previews a luxurious production MPV.

The exterior has been styled with aerodynamics in mind as much as aesthetics – it has an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.28. At the front, the floating grille seen on the SR1 and HR1 show models is reinterpreted, and flanked by narrow raked LED headlights and aggressive lower air intakes. But there’s more to the HX1 than meets the eye – all four doors open upwards and outwards in a dramatic scissor style, creating one huge opening for easy access to the interior.

Peugeot has adopted active aerodynamics, so fans extend from the spokes of the alloys at higher speeds to create a smooth surface. A roof spoiler also deploys above 62mph.

As you’d expect with an MPV, designers have paid just as much attention to the interior – and it uses the finest materials. Natural oak with inlaid optic fibres trims the floor, while there’s brushed metal and swathes of leather. Hi-tech features include a head-up display, a digital instrument panel and a central touchscreen.

But what marks out the HX1 is its unique seating layout. It owes more to a London black cab than a conventional MPV, with two permanent seats in the front, two more in the rear and a further pair that fold out from the front seatbacks. Passengers in the back are well catered for, with a minibar and coffee machine integrated into the white marble centre console.

Providing the power is the same HYbrid4 system as already found in the 3008 and RXH. This uses a 204bhp 2.2-litre HDi diesel to propel the front wheels and a 95bhp electric motor to turn the rears; when the two work together, the car has all the benefits of four-wheel drive.

What’s more, the set-up allows the car to go 18.6 miles on electric power only, with the batteries feeding the motor rechargeable via a household socket. As a result, the HX1 claims 88.2mpg fuel economy and 83g/km CO2 emissions.

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9 Comments

Yea right...

Never going to happen and if it does it will end up looking like a bus as usual.

However promise to keep to design, stick it on stilts and make it a 4x4 and I will order one now

By agards on 30 August, 2011, 11:18am

Gripper

All very flash - but I'd like to see a photo of six adults actually sitting in this!

By iamsuperman69 on 30 August, 2011, 12:36pm

Looks impressive!

What a thing! It looks great, after the RCZ, Pug's first good looking car in ages, apart from the 908 executive saloon concept, it's good to see they've stepped up to keep things looking up.

Obviously, scissor doors etc never make it to production, but the introduction of adaptive aerodynamics (even if it is only starting with fans on the wheels) is very promising, it's the sort of thing that all cars should be looking for, not just for improved downforce like the 458 Italia or the Huyura, but for better efficiency. It's a very logical application of ideas that crop up in racing.
Top work.
@AllyHeathThinks

By AllyHeath on 30 August, 2011, 12:44pm

Stunning!

But it will never make production like that, which is a shame because I would be at the front of the queue for a more car derived six seater.

By BigMartyn on 30 August, 2011, 1:03pm

Not a six seater

This car is good looking but it isn't really a six seater in the truest sense. I don't think I'd fancy a 100 mile journey in the back with four people in there. So why not be honest and say it is a spacious four seater.

By monstermagnet666 on 30 August, 2011, 2:02pm

a better styling job than......

Well, Peugeot 's present head of their styling department has done a better job than Renault 's Dutch chief designer who so far has not shown much imagination even though the R-Space was a step into the right direction.

And yes, the production version of most concept cars will usually end up looking less daring than the showmodel.
Still, an excellent job Peugeot, chapeau!

By takata on 30 August, 2011, 7:33pm

Four-seater with room to stretch?

I agree with all those who have questioned whether this can actually take six. Of course it can't. If it could, it might look lmore like a MB R-class. At best, this Peugeot might be a four-seater with room to stretch out in the back [although those rear seats look like they are half-reclined and set down l-o-o-o-o-w]. Which sort of reminds me of a number of French attempts to get into the limousine market in the past. Is it the Renault Avantime that I am thinking of?

By PMinAU149 on 31 August, 2011, 2:45am

Erm...

"stick it on stilts and make it a 4x4 and I will order one now"

Erm....why ruin it by doing that? You want a chelsea tractor go buy one.

By everton2004 on 31 August, 2011, 5:19pm

of course the scissor doors won't make it neither will the interior (those lovely seats!!), but leave the architecture as is and I will line up. It's absolutely gorgeous (for the vehicle type) , easily the best design from Peugeot in a long time.

By Decool1 on 5 September, 2011, 1:58am

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