Peugeot has appointed Gilles Vidal as its new Design Director, reporting to Jean-Pierre Ploué, Design Director for the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group.
Vidal, 37, is a graduate of the Art Centre College of Design in Vevey, Switzerland. He joined PSA in 1996 and has spent nine years working alongside Ploué to revamp the Group’s line-up. Since early 2009, he has been in charge of concept cars for Peugeot. He has also been actively involved in the creation of Peugeot’s new identity, to be unveiled early next month.
I’m curious to what this “new identity” is. Perhaps a phasing out of the “big mouth” look currently used across the range for a more sleek, subtle style? I remember reading a Jean-Pierre Ploué admission in Autocar saying that Peugeot last made a nice looking car in 1996 – the 406 Coupe.
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
i thought the 406 Coupe was designed by Pininfarina?
i thought 406 coupe was designed by Pininfarina?
Danny Tan says: Yes, it was penned by Pininfarina. I think what the Design Director meant was the last nice looking car that wore the Peugeot badge.
seriously…he is not handsome!!!Lotus always find good looking guys~hahaha
demio121 said,
December 23, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
i thought 406 coupe was designed by Pininfarina?
————-
That's the point Ploue wants to address. The last nice looking Peugeot wasn't designed by the Peugeot stylist.
The current Peugeot design had a bizarre look to it. They reminds me of clown faces. ^^
although the current stable is still sexy enough, hope the new guy would inject some real, gallic design.
citroen's current design language seems to adopt teutonic design, which is good, but slowly losing its gallic roots.
bring back "l'essence du gaulois" in peugeot, Vidal, we're counting on you!
Early next month? Wow.. Can't wait to see the 'new look'
Gosh! So adorable. I'm crush into him!
agreed with the 406 coupe.. that's is the best looking peugeot… unfortunately.. i can see none of it on our street.. with its 3.0 V6 engine.. wow..
can't wait to see their new design language..
Peugeot 407 is also a nice looking car.
he himself looks good XD
its about time they change their car 'identity'.
i'm ok with most of the 'big mouth' Peugeot (except a few e.g. 4007).
but its been there for quite some time.
guess its about right to freshen up the image and open up new possibilities in their design. hope it will not turn up ugly!
The new 408 from vidal can be summarized in one word- CRAP. 407 was a totally complete new concept on its own. Everything in 407 fits together coz it was a single design concept but the 408=308+406=CRAP.
407 MAY BE THE LAST GOOD LOOKING PEUGEOT. AM GOING TO GET MYSELF ONE BEFORE THEY RAN OUT.