Peugeot has introduced an updated version of the Exalt concept that bowed in Beijing last April.
Taking the form of a sleek four-door coupe, the Exalt borrows styling cues such as its slim, angular radiator grille, its rippled hood and its sharp headlights from the Onyx concept that was presented at the 2012 edition of the Paris show. 20-inch alloy wheels and sculpted flanks accentuate the car's sporty silhouette.
Interestingly, the Exalt's rear end is covered in an innovative grainy textile called Shark Skin that allegedly reduces the car's drag coefficient. The rest of the Exalt is crafted out of bare steel.
Inside, the Exalt concept boasts an upscale cabin with an integrated air purifier and a new infotainment system dubbed Peugeot i-Cockpit. The bulk of the controls on the center console have been replaced by nine toggle switches arranged in two groups located on either side of the steering wheel. The toggle switches were inspired by the equipment found in a recording studio.
The ebony trim found inside the Exalt shown in Beijing has been replaced by Newspaper Wood, a new salmon-colored material that is made from recycled business newspaper. Basalt fiber trim adds a finishing touch to the interior.
Power comes from a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 270-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine borrowed from the RCZ R and a 67-horsepower electric motor mounted over the rear axle. The two power sources send 340 horsepower to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, but Peugeot has opted not to publish performance and fuel economy figures.
A folding electric scooter called HYbrid-kick Concept can be neatly stored under the trunk floor. Pictures of the scooter are being kept under wraps until the start of the Paris show.
Read more: Leftlanenews
