Peugeot FRACTAL is an electric urban coupe revealing a prospective design for the PEUGEOT i Cockpit that explores the sense of hearing in addition to sight and touch. It makes driving even more instinctive, creating an unparalleled on-board experience.
PEUGEOT FRACTAL has an interior and exterior identity developed for the first time in partnership with sound designer Amon Tobin. In the city, the car is in sync with its environment.
The head-up display features a high-definition holographic screen and a 45-degree polycarbonate strip that delivers additional information and creates an impression of depth. This allows the driver to customise the way information is shown.
Peugeot FRACTAL is an ideas incubator that explores new design and manufacturing processes. 3D-printed parts represent more than 80% of the interior trim surface. The anechoic materials were made through generative design – an incremental, stochastic process used to achieve the perfect component.
The 30kW/h lithium-ion battery powers the electric motors on the front and rear axles to provide a total output of 150kW/204hp and combined-cycle autonomy of up to 450km (280 miles).
Weighing in at just 1,000kg, PEUGEOT FRACTAL goes from 0 to 62mph in 6.8 seconds while offering a new sensory experience for the ears, and can cover 1,000metres from a standing start in 28.8 seconds.
Variable ground clearance allows the vehicle to adapt to different types of terrain. The 7cm clearance for motorway driving improves aerodynamics to range and boost battery life. This can be increased to 11cm in urban environments, allowing the car to take speed humps and car park entrances in its stride.
PEUGEOT FRACTAL is extremely compact, at 3.81m long and 1.77m wide, allowing it to weave through heavy traffic. The 19” Tall&Narrow wheels are positioned at either end of the car, with an overhang of just 0.52m front and back to maximise space utilisation and improve manoeuvrability.
The FRACTAL’s styling also embodies the car’s ease in an urban environment, which is reflected in the dynamic lines that flow along the length of the smooth body. The Coupe Franche finish further enhances the sense of vitality with a sharp shift from intense pearly white to matt black at the door hinges. The upper body features a removable roof to turn the coupé into a cabriolet.
An LED strip above the vent at the rear shows the battery charge status via an equalizer-type display. These LEDs also act as rear lights when PEUGEOT FRACTAL is moving. The light signature in the front starts below the grille and flows over the headlamps. It also includes scrolling indicators.
PEUGEOT FRACTAL has a unique sound signature to keep it in sync with other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists: any pedestrians about to step out into the road without looking will be alerted to the PEUGEOT FRACTAL’s presence.
The concept also makes everyday life easier for the vehicle owner through the use of a Samsung Gear S smartwatch, which provides continuous information on the status of the battery, charging time, interior temperature and vehicle location. The watch gives the driver one-touch access to open the doors and customise interior features such as the air conditioning and sound system.
PEUGEOT i-Cockpit: amplifying the senses
The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit offers an unparalleled experience combining instinctive ergonomics with an unprecedented ambience. The choice of materials is inspired by auditoriums and recording studios: black oak decorates the instrument panel, door panels and bucket seats; copper trim reminiscent of audio connections runs through the interior, with 3D-printed anechoic motifs enhancing acoustic comfort. A 3D textile mesh covers the seats and is offset by white leather trim.
To ensure constant control, the driver’s seat provides kinaesthetic feedback based on the FRACTAL’s handling. The intuitive, compact steering wheel features a touchpad integrated into each of its two spokes. These thumb-controlled sensors control a range of FRACTAL’s functions and equipment.
The head-up display provides a holographic eye-level digital readout with a 45-degree polycarbonate strip delivering additional information. Drivers can customise the 12.3” HD digital display to suit individual preferences.
The center console hosts a 7.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen display part of the infotainment system and works with a 9.1.2 sound system encompassing three mid/high-range speakers, two tweeters, two woofers and a subwoofer at the front while in the back there are two mid-range speakers, two tweeters and a woofer. Moreover, the back of each seat incorporates a two-channel tactile bass system to provide the ultimate aural experience as the bass travels through a solid medium instead of going through air, so the sound waves reach the inner ear through the body.
PEUGEOT FRACTAL is an ideas incubator that explores the use of 3D printing to create shapes that cannot be obtained through any other process. The resulting parts and components represent more than 80% of the interior surfaces and offer a combination of new styling and real functionality. The touchpad wires run through the spokes of the compact steering wheel.
The anechoic surfaces cover more than 15 square metres of the cabin interior and were produced by generative design. The computing power of today’s machines makes it possible to explore all variations of shapes and structures for a given part. Generative design recreates the natural evolutionary process through the use of algorithms to create efficient shapes and develop the perfect part in each case. PEUGEOT FRACTAL uses just the right amount of material to ensure acoustic efficiency.
