1998 Peugeot Escapade Concept

Article

Born from the designers' desire to blend together very different materials and intentions, the Escapade is at once a city car, a four-wheel drive, an estate car, a saloon car… In short, an all-terrain leisure car that gives birth to a new concept: the 'multicar'. The exterior and interior deliver perfect two-part harmony, from, but the most astonishing part is to find yourself behind the wheel of a compact little car with the looks of an imposing four-wheel-drive estate car.

Characteristics
Not only have the Peugeot engineers succeeded in creating a completely new concept, but they have also developed a 4x4 estate model that feels like a softtop.

1998 Peugeot Escapade Concept

Their stiffest challenge was to integrate the two completely removable sunroofs. The front sunroof is an extension of the front windscreen offering unbroken panoramic vision, while the second is a continuation of the side windows giving a bright rear passenger compartment.

The Escapade's engineers and designers have combined very different materials in a vehicle that offers the combined advantages of different market segments. The filler cap and the front and rear bumpers are made of aluminium, as are the front interior door handles and the gearshift ball. The seats are partly leather-upholstered as are the exterior protective elements and wide wings that give the Escapade the look of 4x4.

The harmony between the interior and exterior enhance the open and breezy feel of the Escapade. The tyres also have specially designed tread for off-road driving.

The Story
The Escapade is part of Peugeot's adventure into the niche-vehicle market with its 206-based models. The launch of the new Peugeot will be given a extra push by these 206 derivatives, each of which occupies a specific segment of the automobile market.

The idea behind the Escapade was to develop a new vehicle design concept that offers an alternative to the conventional 3- or 5-door saloon or estate model. The Escapade offers the advantages of a city car, a 4x4, an estate, and a luxury, sporty saloon all rolled into one. This leisure vehicle is at home on all types of terrain and could herald the arrival of a new ' multi-range ' or ' multicar ' vehicle.

With the Escapade, Peugeot's engineers and stylists have demonstrated how a production model can be developed into a spacious concept car offering a high level of interior comfort. The Escapade also has the largest possible window area. The sun roof at the front of the car is an extension of the windscreen and the rear side windows are continued by a second removable sun roof towards the rear of the car. The Escapade comes close to offering a fully glazed passenger compartment

The bright interior is upholstered in shades of beige that make the passenger compartment feel even roomier. And the green-tinted windows are in perfect harmony with a spacious interior that is designed to accommodate 4 adults in individual and comfortable seats.

The Escapade is a dynamic vehicle and an original design that was greeted with great enthusiasm when it was presented at the recent car shows in Paris and Geneva.
The Escapade looks like a new car in its own right and much more than a simple derivative of a saloon model. And what better proof of success than that !

Source - Peugeot