Another day, another stunning Peugeot concept car that we wish would make production, but that will almost certainly never see the light of day. Destined to be displayed on the Paris Motor Show stand alongside the similarly outlandish Exalt concept, this is the French carmaker's take on a crossover - the Peugeot Quartz. Concept. Sorry.
Exterior
Looking like it has been hewn from a piece of the jagged rock from which is takes its name, the Quartz is chunky but reasonably short. It's just 4.5 metres long, although it is 2.06m wide and sits on 23-inch alloys to give it plenty of presence. The design features short overhangs, a long, louvered bonnet and the same sort of front-rear two-tone look as the Exalt, albeit the Quartz isn't clothed in shark skin. Instead, it is simply mineral grey at the front (we wonder why...?) and matt black at the rear, with the occasional splash of red to lift it.
The car has LED lighting and a funky Peugeot lion badge, which is in the centre of the grille as usual but which has a chequered pattern that 'shifts' depending on the angle you view it from, kind of like a hologram. The wheels probably deserve further mention, as they're clothed in composite flaps that optimise aerodynamics and aid brake cooling. Finally, there's a glass roof on top with two spoilers at the rear - yes, two.
Interior
Built on the same EMP2 platform that underpins the Peugeot 308, the Quartz's interior is accessed by scissor doors, thanks to the lack of a B-pillar, and retractable steps. The missing B-pillar is because the car has a composite structure and bonded panels, which both save weight and make the body very stiff.
Once inside, no less a stony substance than basalt is to be found clothing the dash. This igneous (volcanic) rock is formed when magma quickly cools, and is very strong and light; probably lighter than making the entire console out of quartz, that's for sure. Elsewhere within are digitally woven textiles (a world first in cars apparently), black leather on the floor pan, door cards and roof lining, tawny leather on the seats and doors milled from a block of composite material. The Quartz features the same tiny steering wheel i-Cockpit set-up as found in the current Peugeot road car range and there are four individual bucket seats for the occupants, plus a retractable four-point harness.
Mechanicals
The Quartz, as befits any self-respecting crossover concept of the 2010s, is a hybrid, specifically a plug-in (PHEV) version that can run in three driving modes. Up front is the 270hp, 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol (THP) engine developed by Peugeot Sport, as seen in the RCZ R. Making 330Nm and delivering almost 170hp-per-litre, it is supplemented by two electric motors - an 85kW (115hp) item on the front axle, which charges the 400V battery during deceleration and assists the 1.6 with gearchanges, with another 85kW motor on the rear axle for propulsion and battery charging. The total combined output is therefore in the region of 500hp.
Running on electric, zero-emissions mode, the Quartz can go 50 kilometres on a single charge, which is noble. In 'Road' mode, the 1.6 and front electric motor combine to make the car quick, while also maximising battery charging during deceleration. 'Race' mode is the best, of course, with both electric motors fired up with the THP engine to get the most out of the chassis, incorporating a limited-slip differential for maximum driving pleasure.
At the front are MacPherson struts with a multi-link set-up at the rear to house the on-board electric motor. The Quartz has pneumatic suspension that adjusts ground clearance between 300- and 350mm, controlled automatically by an optical system that uses on-board cameras and the satnav to read the road and anticipate changes in its surface.
Anything else?
Maxime Picat, Peugeot's CEO, said: "With the Exalt and Quartz Concepts, the brand is showcasing its vision of the high-end automotive market. Peugeot is committed to developing exclusive concepts for its customers through outstanding design, innovative materials and unparalleled sensations."