Paris concept: Peugeot Prologue

Peugeot has used the 'Prologue' name on several show cars in the past, indicating that its latest concept is destined to be more than just a crowd pleaser in Paris. It also packs a wealth of new equipment and PSA's new hybrid technology.

What's all the fuss about?

The Prologue appears to fall into the class of concept cars that actually have a very real possibility of making it to the showroom. Already some people are calling it the '3008'. Although the concept features a further interpretation of Peugeot's current 'gaping mouth' grille, it obviously previews new styling themes in the Peugeot range, including shapely rear lights. There's nothing particularly radical about the exterior of the Prologue, though it's a good-looking family car and, if burgeoning sales of crossovers are anything to go by, exactly what buyers are looking for. Likewise, the interior looks closer to production than most concept cars at the show.

Any new technology?

Under the high-set bonnet of the Prologue concept sits a 200bhp turbodiesel engine, shared with Citroen. Thanks to a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain (called HYmotion4) Peugeot claims that its show car emits just 109g/km on the combined cycle and that it has an electric-only mode for low-speed manoeuvring and stop-start traffic. Despite that, it boasts 200bhp from its diesel engine and uses the rear-mounted electric motor to enable four-wheel drive.

Will it ever see the light of day?

As the Prologue's powertrain is also utilised by Citroen in its cars in Paris we reckon it can't be too long before the PSA Group go ahead and produce a diesel-electric car for sale. However, the Prologue is much closer to reality than Citroen's Hypnos concept car and we confidently predict that Peugeot will reveal the showroom-ready version at the Geneva Show in March.

Shane O' Donoghue