The Peugeot Touareg is a concept car presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1996 alongside the Peugeot Asphalte. It was an open, roof-less leisure four-wheel-drive vehicle with electric propulsion.
Peugeot Touareg at a glance
| Type | concept car, leisure 4×4 |
|---|---|
| Shown | Paris Motor Show, 1996 |
| Drive | electric |
| Battery | nickel-metal hydride |
| Off-road range | four hours |
| Range extender | small petrol engine with an alternator |
| Regeneration | the motor works as a generator on descents |
| Structure | carbon fibre |
| Body | moulded plastic shell, open with no roof |
based on one short source; no free photographs of the car were found, the existing thumbnail stays
History of the Peugeot Touareg
An electric off-roader
The Touareg was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1996 next to the Peugeot Asphalte. It was a four-wheel-drive leisure vehicle powered by electricity from a nickel-metal hydride battery, with enough charge for four hours of off-road driving.
The range extender
To extend the range, the car carried a small petrol engine fitted with an alternator, called a range extender. It acted as a small generator set that could refill the batteries from a small reserve of petrol. When the vehicle was going downhill and engine braking came into play, the motor worked as a generator, producing current that was stored in the batteries.
Construction
The structure was made of carbon fibre and the shell of moulded plastic. The vehicle was not enclosed and had no roof, which suited its role as an open leisure machine rather than a car for everyday use.
Design and features
- Electric 4×4: an off-road concept with four driven wheels.
- NiMH battery: enough energy for four hours off road.
- Range extender: a small petrol engine and alternator to recharge the batteries.
- Regenerative braking: the motor generated current on descents.
- Open body: carbon structure under a moulded plastic shell, with no roof.
Peugeot Touareg versions
- Touareg (1996): the single concept vehicle.
The Touareg was shown with the Peugeot Asphalte and belongs with Peugeot’s early electric studies, which later produced cars such as the iOn. More in the Peugeot collection.
Video: Peugeot Touareg
Video by on YouTube.
Sources
- Peugeot Touareg, French Wikipedia: presentation, electric drive, range extender, construction
