Similar to that of your smartphone or laptop, electric cars seem to become exponentially better with each passing year. Specifically, it is their charging times, battery capacities, and performance capabilities that are edging closer and closer to what we all really want out of these kinds of vehicles. Unfortunately, however, there is one attribute of electric cars that have been progressing significantly slower than that of the others: Aesthetics.
First of all, there is no question that electric cars of today are typically better looking than the ones we had become accustomed to seeing throughout the early 2010s. Cars like that of the Reva G-Wiz, the original Nissan Leaf, and the BMW I3, are just some examples of the aesthetically challenged vehicles we saw throughout this time period. However, despite the clear improvements we are seeing in the designs of electric cars of today, there still seems to be a preconceived notion of what an electric car should look like.
Thankfully though, it appears that Peugeot has decided to break from this EV recipe via the introduction of their e-Legend concept. Though it is currently just a prototype, you may be interested to know that Peugeot has recently mentioned a possible starting price for if/when it hits dealership parking lots.
So, let's talk about what you'd get with the e-Legend concept and how much it would set you back if you were to purchase one.
First Of All, It May Be The Best Looking EV Of All Time
As mentioned earlier, the e-Legend does not conform to the typical EV mold. Instead, Peugeot found the inspiration for its newest EV by looking to the past. Specifically, the e-Legend’s design is based on the 1970s Peugeot sports car: The 504 coupé.
As a result of this meshing of old and new designs, we are met with an electric car that truly stands out from all of its competitors (and in a good way!). From its long sweeping bonnet to that dramatic-looking rear fascia, the e-Legend is without a doubt an electric car that will turn heads whenever you drive it down any city street. In fact, not only is it good looking for an EV, it’s good looking for a car, period.
It's As Fast As It Is Good Looking
Thankfully, unlike many interesting-looking EV concepts of today, the e-Legend actually has the performance to back up its devilishly good looks. To accomplish this, Peugeot decided to integrate a slew of 100 kWh batteries into the coupe’s chassis, which work together to produce 800 Nm and 340 kW of power. In layman’s terms, this means that you’ll be able to travel from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and watch the speedometer climb all the way to 137 MPH (which is quite an impressive top speed for any EV of today).
After hearing these power figures, you may be wondering how efficient the e-Legend is; especially, when on the topic of range. Fortunately, you may be pleasantly surprised with the answer to that question, as Peugeot claims that the car can travel up to 372 miles on a single charge! Better yet, supposedly, drivers can also expect to be able to travel up to 310 miles on only a 25-minute charge when a special fast charger is used.
The Inside Is Also Visually Pleasing
Just as Peugeot has done with the exterior of the e-Legend, the interior is also a nod to their old 504. This is seen with the color schemes and patterns, as well as the suede-like material that is utilized for the seats. However, that is where the similarities to the old car end.
In addition to the vintage touches, you’ll also find that there are tons of intelligent and modern touches that have been added. This includes numerous screen and digital accents that have been seamlessly embedded into the dashboard. Further, there's a giant center console-based entertainment system, as well as a touchpad that serves the role of gear selector.
Despite all of these amazing features, the best has been saved for last. The steering wheel that has been fitted to the e-Legend truly steals the show. Not only is it funky and weird-looking, but it literally folds into the dashboard automatically whenever you shut off the car! Yes, there are other cars that do this, but it still doesn't make it any less cool!
The E-Legend Is Considered A Level 4 Autonomous Car
To further add to the e-Legend’s glowing resume, you should also know that this car will be able to drive itself… like, completely drive itself.
Supposedly, Peugeot claims that when the e-Legend goes into production, it will be a Level 4 autonomous vehicle. In a nutshell, this means that the car will be so capable of handling the task of driving that its occupants will actually be able to sleep temporarily (however, we’ll believe that when we see it).
Sadly, there is some bad news regarding the e-Legend. For starters, this thing probably won’t actually be fully autonomous (just seems like we're a bit far away from that reality as of 2021). Secondly, it’s currently only a concept, which means we might never see it on the road anyways.
And finally, there is the price, which hovers around (and there's no way to sugar coat this) $95,000. And you thought a Tesla Model S was expensive! That said, this ride could prove exceptionally cool and used versions would likely depreciated in value years after first going on sale.