Peugeot unleashes EX1 concept

By Tom Phillips

September 2010

Peugeot knows how to celebrate! This is the EX1 – a dramatic two-seater concept car built to commemorate Peugeot’s 200th anniversary.

Designed to offer futuristic styling, coupled with a high power all-electric drivetrain, the EX1 is one of two concepts Peugeot has created for the Paris Motor Show. However, the car won't be displayed at the event itself, instead it will star at the firm's flagship dealer on the Champs-Elysees.

The EX1 has been created with efficiency in mind, so the aerodynamics have been refined to cut drag while also offering what Peugeot calls an exoskeleton appearance designed to make the EX1 look light weight.

Measuring just 0.90-metres high and 1.77-metres wide, the EX1 looks like a water droplet from above, thanks to it being wider at the front than the back.

The nose of the EX1 references the SR1 concept car from Geneva and the new 508, while the kinked lines around the reverse-opening doors are borrowed from the BB1. The rear is dominated by the tightly-spaced rear wheels.

The two-seat interior features bucket seats integrated into the doors, with each getting a information screen relaying the car’s vital statistics. The EX1 is driven using hand controls to give a video-game-style experience.

Power comes from a lithium-ion battery which supplies two electric motors, one on each axle, giving four-wheel drive. Combined power output is 340bhp, with 240Nm delivered to each axle.

Built from carbon fibre, Peugeot claims that the EX1 has already broken several standing start acceleration world records for electric cars, and can pull over 1G of force off the line. However, the firm is yet to reveal full performance details and technical specifications.