No motor show would be complete without some self-driving electric car concepts being showcased. Next month’s 2018 Paris Auto Show will be no exception as Peugeot has announced it's bringing a retro-inspired electric sports car concept to the French capital.
Called the e-Legend Concept, the sleek-looking EV concept is a tribute to the classic 504 Coupe styled by Pininfarina in the 1960s. It retains the original’s styling cues such as the double headlights, square front fascia, and a faux grille while also previewing Peugeot's future design language.
To update the 504 Coupe for the modern age, the concept is equipped with a fully electric powertrain and advanced autonomous tech.
According to Peugeot, the EV’s 100-kWh battery pack provides enough juice to last 373 miles in the WLTP cycle, resulting in a range that's comparable to the recently unveiled BMW Vision iNext autonomous concept. Impressively, it can also deliver a range of 311 miles after being charged for 25 minutes. This setup enables the e-Legend to send 456 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels and sprint from 0-62 mph in under four seconds before topping out at 137 mph.
Peugeot also doesn't want driving enthusiasts to feel alienated. Case in point: the e-Legend has four driving modes but only two of them are autonomous, so it offers the best of both worlds. When driving autonomously, choosing “Soft” mode will prioritize passenger comfort and reduce the number of activated screens, while “Sharp” keeps these screens on for occupants who want to work or get their social media fix.
The two manual driving modes are called Legend and Boost. Legend features a cruising mode and a retro dashboard inspired by the 504 Coupe with dials and virtual wood displayed on the various screens, while Boost provides “dynamic and stimulating driving” and 180-degree immersion with a projection of the road on a single large screen.
Sadly, Peugeot hasn’t said if the stunning e-Legend concept will enter production. If it does, it could eventually be sold in America as Peugeot’s parent company PSA Group is hoping to sell cars in the US again by 2026.
