Peugeot e-Legend Concept Takes Retro Design Into The Future In Paris

Retro design looks to the past. Electric propulsion looks to the future. But automakers have been apt to show us they needn’t be mutually exclusive, like Peugoet has with the new e-Legend concept.

Set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next month, the Peugeot e-Legend is draws its stylistically inspiration from the classic 504 coupe and applies it to a futuristic form about the size of a Nissan GT-R – but with a radically different approach.

Underneath the neo-retro sytling, for starters, sits an array of electric motors and batteries to imbue the show car with 456 horsepower (340 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.

Backed by 100 kWh-worth of batteries, it’s said to rocket to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under four seconds, top out at 137 mph (220 km/h), and zip along for up to 373 miles (600 km) on a single charge. And 311 miles (500 km) of those can be unlocked with just 25 minutes of rapid induction charging.

“Peugeot e-Legend Concept is not just a technological manifesto,” said brand CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato. “This is the vision of a brand, Peugeot, actively focused on an optimistic and ultra-desirable future. For Peugeot, autonomous and electric are synonymous with even stronger sensations. Boredom will never be part of our DNA.”

The concept is also designed to run completely autonomously in either relaxed Soft mode or a quicker Sharp setting, or put the driver in control in Legend mode for cruising or Boost for a more spirited experience.

The French automaker also teamed up with Soundhound on the voice-activated personal assistant technology, and Focal for the audio system in a cabin space that adapts to the chosen driving mode.

All of which paints a picture of a cutting-edge show car, but it’s the design that will make it stand out in the City of Lights, and you can check it out now in the photos and video below.

“A modern, sharper Coupé, this ultra-technological archetype of automotive pleasure finds its deep strength in the DNA of the Peugeot 504 Coupé,” added design director Gilles Vidal. “Peugeot e-Legend Concept projects us in the near future without any nostalgia. It formalizes our approach to a Peugeot design that addresses the new technological challenges of the automotive industry.”