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Peugeot Exalt concept is a 340bhp hybrid saloon

Feast your peep holes on Peugeot’s five-door Exalt concept saloon.

Exalt means to raise in rank, character or status. A fitting name, then, for Peugeot’s latest bonkers concept car, which is made from a plethora of unusual materials and packs one hell of a hybrid punch. The Exalt follows in the footsteps of the Onyx supercar concept from 2013.

Each material used to build the Exalt has been picked for its efficiency as Peugeot wanted to do away with superfluous materials. The 4.7m body is made from bare steel hand-formed by a ‘master panel beater’ and covered in a unique ‘Shark Skin’ texture, which is said to improve aerodynamic performance and fuel consumption.

The Exalt’s i-Cockpit interior is comprised a wool-based mixed fabric known as chiné, ‘warm toned wood’ of the black ebony variety, carbon fibre, basalt fibre and leather. Plastic clearly has no place in this earthy, stylish cockpit.

Continuing the natural vibe is an air purification system Peugeot calls Pure Blue. This air cleaner is designed to keep volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other nasty particles out of the cabin and your lungs.

Power comes from a plug-in HYbrid4 drivetrain that outputs 340bhp to all wheels: 270bhp from a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre THP petrol engine developed by Peugeot Sport at the front and 50kW from an electric motor contained in the rear-axle. A 6-speed automatic takes care of gear changes.

Although performance figures are unknown, a 1,700kg car with 340bhp is going to be pokey at the very least – even when tasked with spinning-up those sizable 20-inch bare steel alloy wheels.

Technology features heavily in the Exalt. There are two fold-out touchscreens, 14 toggle switches (what they do can be customised), sound system and a satnav.

“Our approach is to have a responsible attitude. PEUGEOT EXALT is made of raw and natural elements associated with innovative and efficient materials,” Peugeot colours and materials stylish Sophie Gazeau commented.

“The idea was to finish the car with useful touches and to do it intelligently with the constant objective of optimising processes to economise on the use of materials and reduce waste,” she added.

The Peugeot Exalt concept will be on show at the Beijing motor show later in April 2014. Be sure to stop by for more details and check out the pictures below.

Peugeot Exalt concept pictures

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