Peugeot Quartz Concept: Hard-core hybrid packs 500 horses

One of the most intriguing one-offs to debut at the Paris Auto Show will be the Peugeot Quartz Concept. Representing the French automaker’s take on an "SUV for the future," this high-intensity hybrid crossover combines avant-garde styling with the latest in lightweight construction and a megadose of motive might. That latter is courtesy of a special version of Peugeot’s HYbrid drivetrain.

Flashy, fast and ready to roll

Based on Peugeot’s current EMP2 platform and built around a low-mass composite structure with bonded-on body panels, the Quartz Concept complements its aggressive exterior contours with full LED lighting, oversize air intakes, short front/rear overhangs, a decklid spoiler and boldly-flared fenders that house huge 23-inch wheels fitted with aero-enhancing active flaps. Large scissor doors and the absence of a B-pillar allow easy access to all four of its well-contoured bucket seats, with each featuring an exposed frame and tawny leather trim. The Quartz Concept’s driver-centric "i-Cockpit" boasts a multifunction steering wheel with shifter paddles and drive-mode selectors and a configurable head-up instrument display.

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The heart of the Quartz Concept is the aforementioned Peugeot HYbrid setup that teams a front-mounted 266-horsepower/1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine developed by Peugeot Sport with a pair of 114-horse electric motor/generators – one at each axle – that can alternatively draw power from or recharge the car’s 400V lithium-ion battery pack. Completing the drivetrain are a 6-speed automatic transmission and a pair of limited-slip differentials. 

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Three-mode operation

The Peugeot Quartz Concept can operate in three distinct modes: Pure EV that offers up to 31 miles of zero-emissions driving, a Road configuration with the engine and front motor activated and a maximum-performance Race setting that also engages the rear motor. This enthusiast-oriented hauler also features a pneumatic suspension system that uses both cameras and navigation system to effectively scan the road ahead and alter the ride height by nearly two inches to optimize ride and handling.

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