Just after photos of the upcoming Peugeot Fractal concept were leaked, the Gallic lion brand has revealed the full lowdown on its stunning French droptop ahead of its world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. As we’ve seen earlier, it’s a right beauty, this one.
Measuring just 3.81 metres long and 1.77 metres wide, the Fractal has clearly been designed with urban mobility in mind, sitting between A- and B-segment hatchbacks. The 19-inch “Tall&Narrow” wheels (um, whatever you say, Peugeot) are pushed to the four corners of the car, resulting in front and rear overhangs of just 0.52 metres.
Dressed in a two-tone gloss white and matte black colour scheme, the concept sticks to Peugeot’s current edgy design language. Claw-like LED headlights feature strips of light that flow into the grille, while namesake patterns are featured on the side sills and rear valence. The tail light extends across the width of the car – they also form a battery charging status indicator for the inductive charging system.
Open the suicide doors and you’ll find a minimalist, driver-focused cabin encircled by black oak and copper trim, with the white panels below featuring a 3D-printed motif inspired by anechoic chambers. White leather and 3D texture mesh upholstery covers the seats.
A holographic head-up display provides eye-level readouts, complemented by a 45-degree polycarbonate strip that shows additional functions. The 12.3-inch high-definition display, customisable to drivers’ preferences, sits behind a squared-off steering wheel with touchpads that control the Fractal’s various features.
Toggle switches are located on either side of the wheel, while a spar rises out of the centre console with controls for volume and engine start. Next to it, a 7.7-inch AMOLED display controls all of the car’s functions, and rear passengers also have a panel to adjust their immediate surroundings.
Audio-inspired design cues are featured everywhere on the Fractal, so it’s no surprise to find a high-end “9.1.2” sound system (five mid/high-range speakers, four tweeters, three woofers, a subwoofer and a two-channel tactile bass system).
The speakers, by French audio specialist Focal, have been configured to work differently with the hardtop installed or removed, and will even channel navigation instructions to different parts of the car depending on the route. The bass system, by American startup Subpac, uses the seat structure as a medium for bass to travel, rather than air.
Two 102 hp electric motors send power to each axle, with a combined output of 204 hp and four-wheel drive (it’s rear-wheel drive below 100 km/h). Coupled with the low 1,000 kg weight, the Fractal sprints from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. Juice is supplied by a 30 kWh lithium-ion battery mounted under the central tunnel.
Into electronic music? You’ll be pleased to know that the car’s sound signature – alerting pedestrians and cyclists to its presence at low speeds – was designed by none other than Amon Tobin.
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