Peugeot Unveils Next-Generation Electric SUV, E-3008, Ahead of Global Launch
In an effort to create buzz and anticipation, Peugeot has revealed its highly anticipated next-generation electric SUV, the E-3008, ahead of its global launch in February next year. While Peugeot may not be getting much attention in Korea, where imported cars with practical features are often associated with luxury, the French automaker aims to change this perception with their latest model.
Interestingly, France has a rich history in car manufacturing, particularly when it comes to prioritizing practicality. While the first cars were made in Germany, it was in France that automobiles evolved into more user-friendly and practical structures. This fact, unfortunately, remains widely unrecognized. One notable example is Panhard Levassor, a French car company founded in 1889, which later merged with Daimler and Benz. They pioneered the front-engine and rear-wheel-drive configuration, a structure that continues to define modern cars. This focus on practical vehicle technology has shaped Peugeot’s design identity.
Peugeot’s design philosophy revolves around the concept of the Feline look, which draws inspiration from the expression and agility of feline animals. However, this design concept faced challenges when applied to mid-sized models with larger proportions, as the previously rounded and cute image did not translate well. In recent years, there has been a shift towards a more slim and refined Feline look, enhancing the design aesthetics of medium-sized models.
The E-3008 SUV showcases Peugeot’s latest design evolution, called the Pelin look, which embraces geometric and digital elements. The overall body posture of the E-3008 resembles a hatchback or fastback, rather than a conventional SUV, with a wide rear window and a high deck height, exuding a dynamic and athletic stance.
Peugeot’s design personality isn’t limited to the exterior; it extends to the interior as well. The emphasis on functionality and a futuristic image is evident in the horizontal instrument panel, characterized by a combination of wide openness and digital technology. The steering wheel, with its D-cut top, mirrors this innovative and modern approach.
Peugeot’s interior and exterior design language, especially the interior, gives off a fashionable yet casual impression. It’s akin to the experience of biting into a baguette, the traditional French bread known for its crispy exterior and soft interior. Just like baguettes, there is a range of shapes and flavors in Peugeot’s design repertoire, allowing for variety rather than a one-size-fits-all concept.
French cars, characterized by their intuitive design tendencies, are more inclined towards introducing new efforts and ideas, as opposed to incremental improvements on existing vehicles. This creative inclination sets them apart from German car manufacturers who focus on rational and systematic design to achieve perfection through iterative refinements.
Peugeot’s distinct French design identity, reflected in the E-3008 electric SUV model, showcases these unique characteristics. While these traits may be considered too strong or individualistic for the Korean market, which tends to favor universality, we live in an era of diverse values and cultures coexisting. As such, we hope that the new E-3008 electric SUV will be embraced as a model with French creative tendencies, adding variety to the automotive landscape.
By Professor Koo Sang, Automotive Designer
Peugeot revealed the E-3008 as its next-generation electric power SUV model. The global launch is said to be in February next year, but it seems they are trying to create excitement by revealing it in advance. It’s true that Peugeot doesn’t get much attention in Korea. A Peugeot with practical features is an imported car that people paid a lot of money for, but I think it might not be well received because it gives people the perception that they have buying an ‘ordinary car’ rather than a luxury car.
There is also a historical background to the fact that French cars value practicality. The first cars were made in Germany, but it was mainly in France that such automobiles developed into structures that were easier to use and more practical. It is surprising that this fact is not widely recognised. Panhard Levassor, a car company founded in 1889 by Rene Panhard (1841-1908) and Emile Levassor (1843-1897) of France, merged with Daimler and Benz. same structure as cars today, with an engine mounted on the front of the car body and a transmission used to drive the rear wheels, which was completely different to the car body structure. One example is this. This technological trend led to the development of practical vehicle technology.
Peugeot’s design identity is based on the concept of the so-called Feline look, and shows a front design that incorporates the expression or claws of a feline animal. This Feline look also went through several evolutions. The Feline look design along with the rounded curves of the early 2000s was a cute image that went well with small models like the 206, but didn’t go well with mid-sized models with voluminous. It was also visible. Since then, in the 2010s, there has been a change to the Feline look that follows a slim design, and the completeness of the design of medium-sized models has improved significantly.
Peugeot’s recent Pelin look, which appears later, shows a change in geometric and digital images. The E-3008 SUV model we are looking at today also shows the Feline look created by such digital modeling.
The overall body posture is more like a hatchback or fastback than most space-oriented SUVs, with the rear window wide. And by setting the height of the deck high, it shows a dynamic body stance like an athlete standing on the starting line.
Peugeot’s design personality is distinctly different from other car brands, especially in interior design. The horizontal instrument panel emphasizes functionality and a future-oriented image through a combination of wide openness and digital technology. The same goes for the steering wheel, which has a D-cut top.
The interior/exterior design image of the French car body symbolized by Peugeot, especially the interior design, seems to give a fashionable but casual impression. At first glance, it reminds me of a Baguette, a traditional French bread that is crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Of course, there are many different shapes and flavors of baguette recipes, so it should be accepted as a variety rather than the concept of good or bad.
From that perspective, it seems that French cars are more likely to be developed through new efforts rather than improving existing vehicles. This stems from a creative tendency, and can be said to be a French characteristic compared to ‘intuitive’ art, in contrast to German ‘rational’ design which pursues completion by supplementing previous vehicles.
This intuitive French tendency is reflected in the design of the Peugeot brand, and it is also reflected in a strong image in the E-3008 electric SUV model, which we looked at today. And these characteristics are part of diversity, and sometimes they are considered too strong individuality in the Korean market, which seems to aim for universality. However, the 21st century is a time where diverse values and cultures coexist. We hope that the new electric SUV model E-3008 will appeal to people as a model with French creative tendencies as a kind of variety.
write Professor Koo Sang / Automotive Designer
Copyright © Iotoka Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
#구상 #교수의 #디자인 #비평 #Peugeots #electric #SUV #emphasizes #creativity #E3008 #SUV
.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
