To mark its 200th anniversary, French brand Peugeot has revealed an ambitious overhaul of its product lineup with a goal of moving from its current 10th place in the global automotive pecking order up to seventh by 2015.
A stream of 14 new products within the next two years is just the starting point and Australia will see the first of these - the 3008 and RCZ sports coupe - in the second half of this year.
Highlighted by a new corporate Lion badge and bold new styling, Peugeot's new signature is MOTION & EMOTION.
To showcase its new direction, the company has unveiled initial photos of the SR1 concept car which will debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show.
Peugeot has labeled this curvaceous and high tech vehicle a 'Grand Touring Car'.
It's a hard top with an ingenious three-seat configuration. The back seat passenger sits in the middle and accesses the seat via a center console which slides forwards.
Power comes from Peugeot's Hybrid4 technology (to be launched in Europe with the 3008 model). The 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine drives the front wheels while the 70kW electric motor drives the rear wheels.
When combined, the two powertrains deliver 230kW of power in four-wheel-drive. Combined fuel consumption is low - 4.9l/100kms and the emissions are rated at 119g/km.
The SR1 is also a four-wheel steerer - the turning angle of the rear wheels controlled as a function of vehicle speed via motorized inks in the rear suspension wishbones.
