Peugeot has unveiled the e-Legend concept, which will be heading to the Paris Motor Show next month. The fully-electric two-door coupe pays homage to the automaker’s classic 504 coupe, five decades after the latter came on to the scene.
In general terms, the shape of the chunky, angular 4.65 metre-long offering has plenty of American muscle-car overtones and presence, but some elements of those lines do draw a parallel to another study from not too long ago, the Nissan IDx from 2013.
Unique styling propositions come in the form of twin module headlights and a lower front bumper offering a throwback to an era of chrome-plated stainless steel bumpers through its projected shape. The rear, meanwhile, features the signature three claw graphic for the tail lamps. Within heavily flanked wheel arches reside 19-inch wheels, and the study is finished in a shade of grey subtly tinted with champagne, giving it a varied shade depending on lighting conditions.
The external styling may be a bit old school, but it’s all cutting edge under the skin. The e-Legend is powered by an electric powertrain that features two motors, one driving each axle. The system has 456 hp and 800 Nm in terms of output numbers, and performance figures include a 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds and a maximum speed of 220 km/h.
In terms of other technical parameters, the system wasn’t detailed thoroughly, but there’s a 100 kWh battery which gives it around 600 km of travel as rated under the new WLTP protocol, and the automaker says that 500 km of charging distance can be accomplished in 25 minutes via fast charging, with wireless induction charging also catered for.
A total of four drive modes are available for the car, two being manual drive modes. The first is a cruising mode called Legend, in which three small display headset screens recall the analogue dials seen on the 504 coupe, while the other, Boost, offers a wide field of immersion with projection of the road via a single large screen.
The other two modes are autonomous, the e-Legend having been designed for level four autonomous driving. One of these is called Soft, which minimises the level of information display and digital projection to provide more serene surroundings. The second autonomous mode is Sharp, which provides full connection to all digital activities.
In these modes, a new iteration of the automaker’s i-Cockpit retracts the drive-by-wire, compact steering wheel under the console to offer a clean, unfettered flow to the front fascia, which houses a 49-inch curved screen and a Focal audio soundbar. The main drving controls remain accessible via a centre console integrated in the driver’s seat, and this houses a rotary controller and a six-inch touch screen.
The front seats also recline and the side armrests deploy automatically, opening up a large storage area and an induction charging area for smartphones. A 12-inch display screen built into each of the sun visors offers occupants the ability to either watch a movie or indulge in a spot of video gaming. The doors also each feature a 29-inch screen, so there’s no shortage of visual projection.
For those autonomous moments, the e-Legend comes equipped with a voice-activated personal assistant to limit the need for physical interaction in accessing functions. Working with Soundhound, the automaker has come up with a system that allows voice commands to control a wide range of operational aspects.
In a simple sentence, the driver can change their driving style, listen to their favourite playlist or even open or close the electrified doors of the vehicle. The system responds with a digitised voice in up to 17 languages. Peugeot says that a version adapted to its production vehicles is just within two years of a working debut.
The cabin itself features a strong presence of blue, the seats being in a turquoise shade of the colour. The upholstery is finished in silk velvet, which is interweaved with a modern technical mesh. Elsewhere, trim elements includes dark Paldao wood to provide a contrast to the primary blue. A fragrance diffuser completes the entire immersive experience.
