Paris show: Peugeot Exalt concept gets more wheels

PEUGEOT’S Exalt concept from this year’s Beijing motor show is coming to the Paris motor show in October, but this time it will include a “shark skin” tail, “newspaper wood” interior and a foldaway electric scooter.

The French car-maker calls it the Exalt its “vision of the sedan” and it features design cues from the striking Onyx concept from the 2012 Paris show. A broad bonnet meets the slim-line grille, while dual headlights are integrated into the bumper, which also features large gaping air-intakes.

It also features a narrow glasshouse, heavily raked windscreen and coupe-like lines that extend to a hatch opening at the rear.

New additions for the Paris iteration includes the grey colour of the ‘shark skin’ on the rear section of the car, whereas the Beijing concept was bronze.

The company says the coating has a texture similar to the big fish’s skin and improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

The cabin is another new feature for Paris – the ebony timber, which decked out the interior of the Beijing car has been swapped for what Peugeot calls “Newspaper wood” obtained from “recycling business papers, creating a distinctive salmon-pink hue”.

Peugeot calls the Exalt a “dynamic hatchback” with a tailgate that offers a low load sill – handy for stowing the electric scooter, which is also new to the Paris car.

Called the HYbrid-kick concept, Peugeot says the scooter is “an integrated, innovative solution to cover last-mile mobility needs”. The scooter folds up and is stored below the boot floor.

The Exalt is powered by Peugeot’s plug-in HYbrid4 drivetrain, which uses the same 201kW/330Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine found in the RCZ R matched with a 50kW electric motor contained in the multi-link rear axle.