Peugeot has taken the wraps off its high-riding HR1 urban crossover at the Paris motor show, a concept car that hints at the new 208 supermini’s possible design.
The French firm claims the new concept is aimed at “young city dwellers smitten with design and innovation” and is a city car/coupé/SUV crossover.
The Peugeot HR1 is the latest car to incorporate Peugeot’s new design language, first seen on the SR1 concept earlier this year. That car’s front-end features prominently on the HR1, including its chiselled headlights design and ‘floating’ front grille.
The HR1 offers some important clues as to how the all-important forthcoming 208 supermini, due to reach showrooms in 2012, will look. Expect to see the concept’s front-end on the 208, as well as the overall Mini-style wheel in each corner compact design.
Other striking design features on the concept include electric scissor doors, an RCZ-stlye double bubble roof, flared wheel arches and a striking LED rear-light design. Also at the rear are roof bars which double up as a hinge for the one-piece tailgate.
An illuminated centre console separates the modular interior, while two glazed roof sections give the cabin a light and airy feel. All information is displayed to the driver through a head-up display.
The main control system (air-con, sat-nav, audio) is operated through ‘movement recognition’ technology. The clever tech allows the interior to be almost free of buttons and switches; the driver can pass over control of the system to the passenger with a sweep of the hand from left to right. The passenger also gets information displayed on a tablet PC.
Third and fourth seats can be added to the interior to boost passenger capacity or stored away to provide a larger rear storage area. The maximum load capacity is 734 litres; with both seats raised it is 180 litres. Rear passenger headroom is optimised thanks to the roof design.
The 3694mm-long, 1755mm-wide and 1492mm-high HR1 is powered by Peugeot’s Hybrid4 technology, this time incorporating a new three-cylinder 110bhp, 144lb ft 1.2-litre THP petrol engine to power the front wheels and a 37bhp, 148lb ft electric motor to power the rear wheels. At low speeds, the HR1 can be powered solely by electric power.
Thanks to: Autocar