Peugeot SR1

Peugeot has announced a new concept car called the SR1. It's a Grand Tourer that comes with two doors and a hard top. The design is a glimpse of what the French marque plans to do in terms of future design direction.

Typical of a GT, the SR1 features a large sculptured bonnet, flowing wings, a low centre of gravity, sweeping sides and a chiselled rear design. LED headlights are a highlight, as is the new redesigned Lion badge.

The interior layout pattern is a 2+1 type which places two passengers up front and one in the middle rear. Leather and wood accents are evident inside the cabin while so-called high tech materials like nickel and satin-finished chrome adorn various parts. A chic touch is an exclusive wristwatch that fits into a dedicated housing on the fascia panel.

Power is supplied by HYbrid4 technology consisting of a 1.6-litre THP petrol producing 160kW (218hp) and a rear electric motor of 70kW (95hp). Total system output is 230kW (313hp) and AWD is engaged when the two systems are working together. Average fuel consumption is 4.9 litres per 100km while C02 emissions are pegged at 119g/km.

Through the Peugeot SR1, the Marque reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models. The concept car embodies the new world of Peugeot, refl ected by the new Lion badge which adorns its body.

Dynamic, balanced, sensual, with an exclusive high-tech interior, this “dream car” explores and reinterprets the theme of the “Grand Touring Car”. The use of HYbrid4 technology allows the Peugeot SR1 to offer an engineering specifi cation in keeping with its styling: 230 kW (313 bhp) with emissions of only 119 g/km of CO2 (0 in electric mode), 4-wheel drive and steering... for an ideal blend of excitement and effi ciency.

The project is part of a broad-based move by PSA bosses to sharpen Peugeot’s brand image during 2010, its 200th year as an industrial entity.

It brings a welcome end to the 'wide mouth' era of recent Peugeot design, notably used on the best-selling 207 supermini, in favour of a much more elegant, technical look. Ploue also hints that the first production Peugeot with the new look will be the 207’s replacement, due next year.

The SR1 is a generously proportioned soft-top roadster, whose 4.4-metre length, 1.8-metre width and 2.6-metre wheelbase make it almost identical in size to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. However, the SR1 features a single, central rear seat, and its power unit is a 240bhp, four-cylinder, downsized petrol turbo engine (Peugeot won’t reveal how small) mounted transversely in the nose to drive the front wheels through a twin-clutch paddle-shift transmission.