Peugeot explores the autonomous driving car with Instinct Concept, unveiled today in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress. It will then be on display in Geneva next week.
“Designing a self-driving car is an exciting challenge. There are two opposing concepts – active driving and autonomous mode – and our job is to bring them together, with one clear objective: maintaining the enjoyment and arousing emotions. Instinct Concept is the first self-driving concept that keeps driving pleasure in mind”, says Gilles Vidal, Head of Styling at Peugeot.
Outside, the Instinct is a shooting brake with a timeless look. The long hood hints at the 300 hp delivered by its pug-in hybrid powertrain. Active aerodynamic features are integrated in the car’s clean silhouette. Instinct offers four ways of getting around: two active driving modes (Drive Boost or Drive Relax) and two self-driving modes (Autonomous Sharp or Autonomous Soft).
The project started from the interior, explain the designers: heart of the Instinct is the Responsive i-Cockpit, reinterpreting the passenger compartment to meet the needs of the self-driving vehicle. The interfaces can be configured – before, during and after use – according to the mode selected and the user’s profile. In Autonomous mode, drivers can give a command or make a manoeuvre via the i-Device on the central console.
According to Peugeot, this is the first time a car comes with a functional on-board Internet of Things platform, the Samsung Artik Cloud connecting the car with the user’s cloud. The vehicle integrates the data that the user wants to share with it from their smartphone, smartwatch or home automation systems. Instinct can therefore operate in total harmony with the full range of connected devices to create a brand-new approach to mobility.
