Peugeot is merging past and future with its stunning e-Legend Concept, set to be revealed to the public at the 2018 Paris motor show in early October. The all-electric design study is a retro-futuristic ode to the late 1960s 504 coupe, and it does a great job of reimagining it with modern cues.

The e-Legend isn’t just a pretty face, showcasing autonomous driving tech, a strong electric powertrain, and a gigantic 49-inch infotainment screen. Peugeot says that one-charge range is 372 miles, according to the new measurement protocol and it offers four driving modes, of which only two grant the driver control.

Technological manifesto is how Peugeot refers to the e-Legend and it previews a near future when you will let your sporty retro-inspired electric car do most of the driving on the boring bits of motorway and in stop-start traffic, as you sit comfortably reclined in your seat, then take control as you near your destination if it’s at the last leg of the journey is a twisty driving road.

Peugeot e-Legend Concept Video

Exterior

Peugeot has really outdone itself with the e-Legend concept, blending the old 504 design with new trends without making anything seem forced. And the clean, flat roof is a statement in and of itself.

There is one shot in the official press photo pack, showing the concept and inspiration driving side by side, with the lower part of the 504 obscured by the new car. In that shot you can really see just how true the designers were to the classic shape, right down to the black detail on the bottom of the C-pillar.

Even from the rear, they reproduced the three individual light per side design of the original’s rear clusters, albeit with modern LED strips and a more sculptural overall aesthetic.

Interior

Outside details may have been kept true to those of the classic, but inside, Peugeot designers went crazy in several ways - good ways. Firstly, the powerful blue upholstery that covers the seats and part of the lower cabin immediately catches your eye, but once you get over it, those seats actually look pretty comfortable.

Not the best solution for resting your elbow, but it’s very aesthetically pleasing to behold. Wood is also present on the small and very flat steering wheel, as well as on top of the doors, and it does succeed in maintaining the retro vibe - as does the shape and style of the seats.

The main feature of the e-Legend’s wrap-around interior is a huge 49-inch infotainment screen located essentially underneath where a conventional dashboard would have been. It’s curved and tapering, but from either of the two seats, you get a clear view of it. As truly spectacular as it may be, it doesn’t really encourage safety being placed so low.

Drivetrain & Performance

The Peugeot e-Legend stores its power in a big 100-kWh battery pack which grants it a range of 600 kilometers or around 372 miles on one charge.

Its all-electric powertrain provides 455 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Peugeot says it sprints to 62 mph in under 4 seconds thanks to all-wheel drive. Top speed isn’t high at 136 mph, but as with most powerful electric vehicles, it’s probably restricted to limit wear on the battery and other components.

Autonomous driving, which when selected automatically reclines the seats, is split into two modes: Soft, when it tries to drive as gently as possible to provide maximum occupant comfort and even dims most of the screens and Sharp which is apparently a mode focused on allowing occupants to do social media activities and... arrange electronic calendars.

Two manual modes are offered too, namely Legend, which aims to reproduce the classic driving experience and even goes so far as to show wood textures on some screens, as well as a digital reproduction of the classic dials. Boost is “more dynamic and stimulating” and not only does it put the car in its most aggressive mode, but also projects the road ahead on the large infotainment screen.

Conclusion

Peugeot doesn’t specifically say what the e-Legend is for, calling it “its vision for the future of mobility.” We don’t know if it’s going to influence the styling of future production models, but that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all - Peugeot’s current lineup is mostly comprised of attractive looking cars, but nothing looks anywhere near as sporty as this study.

But as it sits, it’s probably just going to lend a few styling cues to future models here and there and just remain a very pretty design study for a car Peugeot doesn’t seem likely to make.

Even as a static work of art with no consequence for the future of the Peugeot range, it’s still a sight to behold, and it’s sure to draw huge crowds at its public unveiling next month.