The Peugeot Inception Concept will make you cry (or laugh out loud)

We’re not saying that, that’s what Peugeot says, because the press release literally says: “The Peugeot Inception Concept […] promises intense emotions as soon as you approach, touch or step on it.’ So bring tissues…

All PR madness aside, the Inception Concept is an important car for Peugeot. He is a statement. A foretaste of the future, which according to Peugeot should become reality from 2025. From then on, we’ll find design cues from the Inception in production models.

Peugeot Inception without Cobra teeth

The design of the concept car is clearly an evolution of the current Peugeot design, but even sharper. Funny detail of how the windscreen merges into the “bonnet” reminds us a lot of another Peugeot study model, the spectacular 1988 Oxia.

The front of the Inception immediately catches the eye, where Peugeot’s characteristic Cobra teeth no longer appear. Instead, only the three vertical stripes are present (as with the more expensive versions of the 208 and 2008). The grille isn’t a grille anymore, because of course the Peugeot Inception is all-electric.

New platform with 800 volt technology

Standing on Stellantis’ new STLA Large platform, it measures an impressive 5 meters in length. With its 100 kWh battery, the Inception should be able to reach a range of 800 kilometers. Thanks to the use of 800-volt technology, like the one used in the Porsche Taycan, the Peugeot can charge extremely quickly: 150 kilometers in 5 minutes. Inductive charging is also possible.

The power of the Peugeot is typical of a concept car: 680 hp from two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear. This accelerates the Inception to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds. The Peugeot is only 1.34 meters high and stands on aerodynamically optimized 20-inch wheels.

Peugeot Inception with Hypersquare

We cannot describe the Peugeot Inception as very ready for series production. Just look at the interior, where the designers have gone a bit wild. Peugeot uses a new operating system, an evolution of the existing i-Cockpit, with the small steering wheel and instrument cluster above it.

Peugeot doesn’t explain exactly how it works, but it certainly doesn’t sound very intuitive. The steering wheel is rectangular, with four circular controls at the top that you can operate with a finger touch (make physical buttons great again, we say). The center of the steering wheel is a kind of tablet.

Peugeot calls the new type of control and operation “Hypersquare” and wants to introduce it before 2030. Of course, the Inception has a steer-by-wire system, otherwise you have to overpack. And we’ve seen the Tesla Model X Plaid with “yoke” steering wheel not work for a meter.

Peugeot wants to become completely CO2 neutral

Needless to say, the Peugeot Inception is partly made from recycled materials such as leftover fabric and recycled polyester. Peugeot wants to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50 percent within the next seven years. In 2038 the manufacturer must be completely CO2 neutral.