Peugeot e-Legend: specs and technology in detail

The Peugeot e-Legend concept was revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2018, featuring a fully electric drivetrain and autonomous technology that could appear on future models. It's inspired by the Peugeot 504 Coupe (above, left), but features some modern styling cues. The e-Legend has a 100kWh battery capable of returning 370 miles of range.

Two electric motors – one for the front wheels and another for the rears – develop a combined 456bhp, with 0-62mph taking less than four seconds, on the way to a top speed of 137mph. Rapid charging should allow an 80% battery top-up in around 25 minutes, and while Peugeot admits these figures are theoretical for now, it claims they’re a realistic representation of what electric cars will be able to achieve in the near future.

Sitting on 19-inch wheels, the e-Legend is 4.65 metres long, 1.93 metres wide and 1.37 metres tall. At the front, the concept features four-piece headlights reminiscent of the original 504 Coupe, although they’re broken up by Peugeot’s more recent ‘triple claw’ signatures.

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The false front grille (a real grille isn’t needed, as electric cars don’t require as much cooling) is also a nod to the past, with illuminated Peugeot badges giving away the car’s concept status. Aluminium beams – finished in black – represent classic-car bumpers and protect the front and rear ends of the car; they’re something Peugeot has expressed an interest in adding to future models. Meanwhile, cameras are used in favour of side mirrors, displayed on small screens at the bottom of each C-pillar. Such technology is already offered on the Audi e-tron and Honda e.

Prior to the e-Legend’s big reveal in 2018, the company was sure “the reaction would be positive”, the company’s brand planning manager, Philippe-Emmanuel Jean told our sister title Auto Express. “But it was surprising to see such an interest in the car. It’s important to work on something compact and realistic; what Peugeot will be in the future,” says Philippe-Emmanuel Jean. “It won’t go into production, but elements of the design and technology will appear in the future.”

Peugeot e-Legend concept review

While it’s almost certain we’ll never see the e-Legend on sale, Peugeot went to the trouble of hand-building a one-off working model in order to prove its commitment to electric cars and driverless technology. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include the 456bhp powertrain, although our short stint behind the wheel was enough to get a flavour of the e-Legend’s intricate interior.

Getting in is easy thanks to touch-sensitive doors, which open on their own after you’ve placed your finger on the B-pillar. Inside, the seats and surfaces are lined with a blue velour trim, with digital displays present on the centre console, behind the steering wheel and on the sun visors.

Most impressive is the enormous, 49-inch display located in the footwell (above). Here, drivers can watch films, play games and use social media; just some of the many available forms of entertainment. The car’s main functions – including the Level 4 autonomous technology – are controlled on the central touchpad. Engaging this causes the entire dashboard to lift up, allowing the steering wheel to retreat behind it as drivers relax on the move. Meanwhile, the pedals sink into the footwell to free up more legroom.

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And it’s the sheer amount of space that leaves the biggest lasting impression: because the e-Legend is an electric car, there’s no need for an engine or gearbox, which frees up copious room for those inside. With the e-Legend concept offering such a tantalising combination of comfort, performance and style, it’s a real shame that a fully fledged production model looks unlikely to materialise.