In what is shaping up to be a race between a whole slew of European car manufacturers, French automaker Peugeot has paid homage to its classic 504 Coupe with first images released of a new EV sports coupé concept prior to its launch at the Paris Motor Show next month.
While the original 504 (which this year celebrates its 50th year anniversary) emanated the sleek retro lines so characteristic of its heyday, the e-LEGEND seeks to achieve a ‘hyper-technological’ edge while at the same honouring those classic lines – but without a hint of nostalgia, says Peugeot’s style director Gilles Vidal.
Certainly, the side profile and narrow grille LED lights skilfully translate the original 504, but inside, there are tonnes of tech features that will have EV enthusiasts and and futurists alike eagerly awaiting more.
Capitalising on new electric drive technology being developed from next year by Peugeot’s parent company PSA, the design team have noted the extra opportunities available with the removal of technical constraints of having to build in a combustion engine and associated systems.
This has allowed them to fit into the 4.65 metres vehicle a 100kWh battery to achieve a torque of 800 Nm, with 340kW transmitted to all four wheels.
Going from 0 to 100 km/hr in less than 4 seconds and up to to 220 km/hr, the French automaker says that the e-LEGEND concept can drive up to 600km (WLTP) on a single charge – and that via an induction fast charging system, the battery can recharge to gain another 500km in 25 minutes.
