Paris preview: Peugeot EX1 concept is electric sex

Peugeot will soon be celebrating its 200th anniversary and, to help strike the proper tone, it has created an all-new electric sports car bearing the alphanumeric appellation EX1, which it will show at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. Apparently, the French automaker decided to put all of its oh-la-la into the design rather than the name because this, friends, is electric sex on wheels.

Don't believe us? Run through the images in the gallery below that detail the machine's journey from design and building sculpting, through to the day when it was taken to the asphalt of the Aeroport Lleida Alguaire in Spain. The very last trio of images depict one blessed driver, French explorer and film-maker Nicolas Vanier, after taking the concept's virginity and breaking several FIA records for an electric-powered terrestrial vehicle. The look on his face says pure driving satisfaction as he walks away from the ride thanking God, the devil and, just maybe, Peugeot.

What makes the EX1 so special? Well, look at it! From the front, the sides, from above. Even from the rear (hey, it is French). Head on, you'll see design elements from the provocative SR1 concept, while the side is a high-tech portrait of power dedicated to forward motion. A bird's eye view reveals the aggressive stance of the front wheels and the carbon/honeycomb composite monocoque body tapering like a rain drop towards the trim narrowed rear. Hover there while the "suicide" doors open and you'll discover the near-horizontal seating swivel outward to invite any and all passersby to experience the thrust of 250 kilowatts (340 horsepower) from electric motors attached to each axle.

Excuse us while we go take a long cold shower. You go ahead and hit the jump for all the libidinous details in the official press release.

[Source: Peugeot]

PRESS RELEASE

The Peugeot EX1

The 100% electric Peugeot's latest concept car is a visually striking two-seater roadster with a futuristic styling and an original architecture, designed to offer intense driving sensations as a celebration of the Marque's 200th anniversary.

It's 100% real. The EX1 has already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start. It owes its stunning performance to its streamlined aerodynamics, its ultra-light structure and its two electric motors, which give the car a cumulative maximum power of 250 kW (340 bhp) and four-wheel drive. As the preparations for the commercial launch of the iOn near completion, Peugeot demonstrates with the EX1 the exciting possibilities for electric power.

200 years of adventure

The powerful spirit of inventiveness is always present in Peugeot's design offices and helps create an unceasing flow of ideas. The most daring, interesting and exciting of these ideas sometimes come together, to give the body and soul to an extreme dream car.

With the desire to unveil a stunning creation to celebrate Peugeot's 200th anniversary, some of these exciting ideas quickly became associated with another ambition: that of highlighting the enormous possibilities offered by the use of electric power in the realm of creating new driving sensations. To this end, engineers and stylists explored the Marque's history to find the
most radical technical solutions to use as a basis to produce a futuristic performance car dedicated entirely to creating new driving sensations yet at the same time presenting responsible environmental credentials.

The original architecture is reminiscent of previous charismatic concept cars like the Asphalte and 20Cup, while also benefiting from all of the Marque's historical expertise in the field of electric vehicles. At a time when the electric motor once again becomes 100% real for Peugeot, with the i0n about to go on sale, the EX1 propels us into a new dimension of raw emotion.

Efficient styling

The pure styling of this two-seater roadster is in keeping with its mechanical design, like a kind of "exoskeleton" highlighting the light-weight nature that guided the vehicle's creation. The design of the body incorporates Peugeot's new stylistic design codes,
first seen on the SR1 concept car earlier this year, with its "floating" front grille and flowing contours. Polished aluminium components adorn the door surrounds in a reference to the RCZ and BB1.

Architecture, structure and suspension. at the service of maximum efficiency

Far from being a "classic" roadster, the EX1 concept car is based on an architecture shaped like a "water droplet", with a rear section built around two closely set rear wheels. Based on the experience gained from creating the 1996 Asphalte concept
car and the two 20Cup models from 2005. The chosen architecture of the EX1 has enabled the size of the passenger compartment to be reduced for optimal weight distribution and ensure that there is no extra weight at all in the overhangs.

The suspension employs a number of technical solutions that ensure road holding of a very high level. The front suspension consists of a drop link double wishbone arrangement. The rear suspension comprises of a single "swinging arm" linked to a centrally mounted shock absorber which is connected via a rocker arm to provide a variable damping rate.
The monocoque body structure is manufactured from a carbon/honeycomb composite to optimise weight and rigidity. It also incorporates all of the mounting points for the car's mechanical components.

Finally, the dimensions of the car (0.90 m high with a width of 1.77 m) contribute to overall efficiency, a lowering of the centre of gravity and improved aerodynamics.

Engines: PEUGEOT expertise in the field of electric power

The electric motor is a potential source of new driving sensations thanks to its exceptional acceleration capabilities, but also because it is silent in operation and makes the car very easy to drive (no need for a gearbox). On the EX1 concept car, two electric motors are used, one on each axle, each with a peak output of 125 kW (250 kW / 340 bhp in total), and an immediately available constant maximum torque of 240 Nm at the front and rear.

This mechanical architecture allows not only the optimisation of weight distribution, but also four wheel drive. This reflects the positional benefits of HYbrid4 technology, available as standard on the 3008 from 2011, featuring an HDi FAP diesel engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear.

A futuristic and sophisticated passenger compartment

The driver and passenger climb into the passenger compartment through a reverse-opening door, giving access to the two sports bucket seats. This unusual arrangement instantly immerses the occupants in a futuristic and sophisticated environment, as does the on-board instrumentation (instrument panel screens for each occupant showing in particular the vehicle's instantaneous performance) and the chosen materials (e.g. "pure" metals and embossed leather).

The driver, seated at floor level in a driving position that helps enhances the sense of excitement (legs outstretched), drives the vehicle with two control handles, providing an experience similar to that of an aircraft pilot or. video game. As well as the presence of harnesses inside the car, the occupants are also protected by the height of the carbon passenger cell, which has sufficient overhead clearance to include a roll-over protection bar. Similarly, the wind deflector, perfectly integrated in terms of style, allows the car to be driven on a daily basis without a helmet.

An electric dream car designed to be a record beater

The EX1 concept car benefits from characteristics that give it a high enough level of performance not only to leave behind the city centre, the preferred territory of electric vehicles, but also to challenge acceleration records. Its lightness, weight distribution and aerodynamics, the torque and power of its two electric motors and its high-output lithium-ion battery are just some of the characteristics that make this a car capable of lightning acceleration: the latter can exceed 1 G of gravitational force.

Indeed the EX1 concept car has already broken the following international records (approved by the International Automobile Federation) for an electric-powered terrestrial vehicle. This series of records was established, by Nicolas Vanier, the famous French explorer and film-maker ("The Last Trapper", "Wolf") who drove the EX1 concept car.

Between now and the end of the year, China, the world's largest car market, will be the setting for the EX1 to pursues other world records.