340-HP Peugeot EX1 EV Concept

[Plex]

The Frenchification of the news continues, this time with Peugeot's latest addition: the EX1 all-electric sports car concept. Built with the look of a futuristic track-day toy, it packs a 340-horsepower, all-wheel-drive punch.

The EX1 also features an unconventional narrow rear track and single swingarm/rocker rear suspension. Despite the tail-happy looks, however, Peugeot says the EX1 can pull more than 1g in lateral acceleration.



Built around a lightweight carbon/honeycomb composite monocoque, the EX1's combination of power, all-wheel-drive, grip, and what is (presumably) a featherweight footprint, the EX1 is like a highlight reel of a speed fiend's dreams. Peugeot hasn't released the full specs on the car, so things like 0-60 mph, curb weight, range, and battery capacity remain unkown.



Don't expect to see the EX1 on the street anytime soon, however, especially not if you're over here on the American side of the pond. Price, technology, and what would be infinitesimal sales volume compared to the cost of the project are likely to keep the EX1 limited to pure prototype status. But as a proof of concept, we like what we see here.



Motorauthority

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Press Release

Electric sensations

* 100% electric - Peugeot's latest concept car is a visually striking two-seater roadster with a futuristic styling and an original architecture, designed to offer intense driving sensations as a celebration of the Marque's 200th anniversary.

* 100% real - The EX1 has already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start. It owes its stunning performance to its streamlined aerodynamics, its ultra-light structure and its two electric motors, which give the car a cumulative maximum power of 250 kW (340 bhp) and four-wheel drive.

As the preparations for the commercial launch of the iOn near completion, Peugeot demonstrates with the EX1 the exciting possibilities for electric power.

200 years of adventure

The powerful spirit of inventiveness is always present in Peugeot's design offices and helps create an unceasing flow of ideas. The most daring, interesting and exciting of these ideas sometimes come together, to give the body and soul to an extreme dream car.

With the desire to unveil a stunning creation to celebrate Peugeot's 200th anniversary, some of these exciting ideas quickly became associated with another ambition: that of highlighting the enormous possibilities offered by the use of electric power in the realm of creating new driving sensations.

To this end, engineers and stylists explored the Marque's history to find the most radical technical solutions to use as a basis to produce a futuristic performance car dedicated entirely to creating new driving sensations yet at the same time presenting responsible environmental credentials. The original architecture is reminiscent of previous charismatic concept cars like the Asphalte and 20Cup, while also benefiting from all of the Marque's historical expertise in the field of electric vehicles.

At a time when the electric motor once again becomes 100% real for Peugeot, with the i0n about to go on sale, the EX1 propels us into a new dimension of raw emotion.

Efficient styling

The pure styling of this two-seater roadster is in keeping with its mechanical design, like a kind of "exoskeleton" highlighting the light-weight nature that guided the vehicle's creation.

The design of the body incorporates Peugeot's new stylistic design codes, first seen on the SR1 concept car earlier this year, with its "floating" front grille and flowing contours. Polished aluminium components adorn the door surrounds in a reference to the RCZ and BB1.

Architecture, structure and suspension. at the service of maximum efficiency

Far from being a "classic" roadster, the EX1 concept car is based on an architecture shaped like a "water droplet", with a rear section built around two closely set rear wheels.

Based on the experience gained from creating the 1996 Asphalte concept car and the two 20Cup models from 2005. The chosen architecture of the EX1 has enabled the size of the passenger compartment to be reduced for optimal weight distribution and ensure that there is no extra weight at all in the overhangs.

The suspension employs a number of technical solutions that ensure road holding of a very high level. The front suspension consists of a drop link double wishbone arrangement. The rear suspension comprises of a single "swinging arm" linked to a centrally mounted shock absorber which is connected via a rocker arm to provide a variable damping rate.

The monocoque body structure is manufactured from a carbon/honeycomb composite to optimise weight and rigidity. It also incorporates all of the mounting points for the car's mechanical components.

Finally, the dimensions of the car (0.90 m high with a width of 1.77 m) contribute to overall efficiency, a lowering of the centre of gravity and improved aerodynamics.

Engines: PEUGEOT expertise in the field of electric power

The electric motor is a potential source of new driving sensations thanks to its exceptional acceleration capabilities, but also because it is silent in operation and makes the car very easy to drive (no need for a gearbox). On the EX1 concept car, two electric motors are used, one on each axle, each with a peak output of 125 kW (250 kW / 340 bhp in total), and an immediately available constant maximum torque of 240 Nm at the front and rear.

This mechanical architecture allows not only the optimisation of weight distribution, but also four wheel drive. This reflects the positional benefits of HYbrid4 technology, available as standard on the 3008 from 2011, featuring an HDi FAP diesel engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear.

A futuristic and sophisticated passenger compartment

The driver and passenger climb into the passenger compartment through a reverse-opening door, giving access to the two sports bucket seats. This unusual arrangement instantly immerses the occupants in a futuristic and sophisticated environment, as does the on-board instrumentation (instrument panel screens for each occupant showing in particular the vehicle's instantaneous performance) and the chosen materials (e.g. "pure" metals and embossed leather).

The driver, seated at floor level in a driving position that helps enhances the sense of excitement (legs outstretched), drives the vehicle with two control handles, providing an experience similar to that of an aircraft pilot or video game.

As well as the presence of harnesses inside the car, the occupants are also protected by the height of the carbon passenger cell, which has sufficient overhead clearance to include a roll-over protection bar. Similarly, the wind deflector, perfectly integrated in terms of style, allows the car to be driven on a daily basis without a helmet.

An electric dream car designed to be a record beater

The EX1 concept car benefits from characteristics that give it a high enough level of performance not only to leave behind the city centre, the preferred territory of electric vehicles, but also to challenge acceleration records. Its lightness, weight distribution and aerodynamics, the torque and power of its two electric motors and its high-output lithium-ion battery are just some of the characteristics that make this a car capable of lightning acceleration: the latter can exceed 1 G of gravitational force.

Indeed the EX1 concept car has already broken the following international records (approved by the International Automobile Federation) for an electric powered terrestrial vehicle.

This series of records was established, by Nicolas Vanier, the famous French explorer and film-maker ("The Last Trapper", "Wolf") who drove the EX1 concept car.

Between now and the end of the year, China, the world's largest car market, will be the setting for the EX1 to pursues other world records. Watch this space.

Worldcarfans

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Peugeot's Electric EX1 Sets Records on Test Track

Just the Facts:

* Peugeot EX1 electric roadster sets new records at the Montlhery racetrack in France.
* EX1 accomplished a quarter-mile run in 14.4 seconds at 62.4 mph.
* The four-wheel-drive EX1 has two electric motors that make a total of 340 horsepower.

PARIS — Peugeot's EX1 full-electric roadster concept went out on the Montlhery racetrack south of Paris this week and set or beat several standing-start records, all while drawing attention to the French automaker ahead of the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

The automaker said its EX1 accomplished a quarter-mile run in 14.4 seconds at 62.4 mph, 1,000 meters in 28.16 seconds at 79 mph and a mile in 41.09 seconds at 87.6 mph, among other numbers posted by the electric concept. Peugeot claimed that the numbers set or beat existing records. The figures are subject to FIA homologation.

The four-wheel-drive EX1 has two electric motors that make a total of 340 horsepower. Peugeot's intention was to create an "explosive" concept to celebrate Peugeot's bicentennial year. An electric vehicle was chosen, in the company's words, to highlight the "emotional" appeal of electricity at the time that the Peugeot iOn is slated to go into production, and to prove that "electricity rhymes with reality."

Adding to the high-profile nature of the event, the EX1 was piloted by Nicolas Vanier, a professional explorer who has run the Iditarod and many other expeditions, such as treks tracing the routes of early North American pioneers, and has several adventure-oriented books and films to his credit.

The EX1 is going on display at the automaker's Champs-Elysees showplace in Paris, Peugeot Avenue, alongside the Peugeot iOn starting on Wednesday and lasting through mid-November.

Insideline

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Press Release

Peugeot moves up a gear in China with the EX1 concept which is breaking new records in the Marque's bicentenary year.

The 100% electric Peugeot EX1 concept car, which already set several records in Montlhéry in September, has continued its record-breaking streak in the Chinese city of Chengdu, in front of 200 representatives of the Chinese and Western media.

Records set by Nicolas Vanier, the French explorer, and Han Han, the well-known Chinese blogger

The EX1 matched or surpassed 5 records in the series of runs made at the Chengdu military airport in the province of Sichuan. These various records were set by 2 drivers symbolising Franco-Chinese friendship:

Han Han, driver, writer and China's most popular blogger who has a massive fan base among the country's urban youth and Nicolas Vanier, French explorer, film-maker and driver who has a fascination for the Poles and is an untiring defender of the environment.

Han Han pulverised the official records initially set in Montlhéry for 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile with times of 7:08:62 and 12:67:54 respectively.

These records have been certified and will be approved by the Chinese Auto Sports Federation which validated the quality and accuracy of measurements made.

Nicolas Vanier achieved unofficial records for 0 to 100 km/h, in 3.49 seconds, and for the 400 m. He also achieved the symbolic longitudinal acceleration of 1G, over 39 m.

This series of performances represents a world benchmark in terms of acceleration for an electric vehicle and testifies to the advanced, high-tech know-how of Peugeot when it comes to alternative propulsion methods for the car.

6 image-enhancing events for Peugeot aimed at boosting development in China

These records achieved in Chengdu represent the 6th event already organised by Peugeot in China in 2010, the Marque's bicentenary year.

In January 2010, the Chinese 408 was put on static display in Beijing.

In April 2010, the Marque unveiled its new global image in China, on the sidelines of the Beijing Motor Show, when it initiated the market launch of the 408 on the 8th day of the 4th month of the year of the tiger.

In July 2010, Peugeot put on a monographic exhibition of the Marque's 200-year history in the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.

On 24 October, Peugeot organised in YSHU8, the emblematic site for Franco-Chinese relations, the static display of the EX1, as well as total immersion in the Peugeot universe. Nor should we overlook the recent victory of the 908 HDi FAP in the 1,000 km of Zhuhai, in southern China, enabling Peugeot to pick up the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup ahead of a prestigious German rival.

China: a strategic market for Peugeot

Peugeot has lofty ambitions for China, the world's biggest car market, where it has set itself the goal of doubling its market share by boosting vehicle sales to 500,000 units by 2015.

To achieve these objectives, the Marque has defined a highly ambitious product plan with the launch each year of at least one product manufactured in China over the coming years.


Worldcarfans

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Peugeot EX1 sets electric car record on the Nürburgring

EX1 concept racer took just over 9 minutes to lap the 20.8 km track of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

The Peugeot EX1 Concept has set a new record for an electric car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Driver Stéphane Caillet took just 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds to lap the electric racer around the 20.8 km (12 mile) Nordschleife track. The car clocked an average speed of 138,324 km/h (85.9 mph) on the run.

The feat beats the previous record for an electric vehicle on the Nordschleife track by over 50 seconds.

Peugeot is promising photos and a video will be available soon, so stay tuned.

Worldcarfans

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