FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Peugeot Fractal

Peugeot has lifted the lid on a futuristic two-door coupe concept called the Fractal, which could provide clues to the replacement for the new 308 CC convertible and will make its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show on September 15.

Described as a "prospective electric urban coupé design", the Fractal produces a unique sound to alert pedestrians and cyclists of its presence and presents an evolution of the French car-maker's i-Cockpit concept.

Although it's a compact three-door coupe – measuring just 3810mm long and 1770mm wide, "allowing it to weave through heavy traffic" -- the Fractal has a removable roof that turns it into a four-seat roadster, although it's unclear where the hard-top would be stored on the move.

Further manoeuvrebility is provided by 19-inch 'Tall&Narrow' wheels that are positioned to leave overhangs of just 520mm at both ends, and a variable ground clearance system that "allows the vehicle to adapt to different types of terrain" by lifting the body over a 40mm range.

"The 7cm clearance for motorway driving improves aerodynamics to range and boost battery life," says Peugeot. "This can be increased to 11cm in urban environments, allowing the car to take speed humps and car park entrances in its stride."

Powering the Fractal is a 30kW/h lithium-ion battery located in the centre tunnel and connected to 75kW electric motors on the front and rear axles, providing a total output of 150kW and a combined-cycle driving range of up to 450km, says Peugeot.

The car-maker says the electric motors have different gear ratios "to take into account weight transfer considerations". The rear motor provides acceleration up to 100km/h, with the front-axle motor gradually taking over beyond that, meaning it's rear-drive most of the time and four-wheel drive when required.

Peugeot says that with a kerb weight of just 1000kg, the Fractal can hit 100km/h in 6.8 seconds and the standing kilometre in 28.8 seconds.

At all times the Fractal produces unique "enhanced acoustic sensations" to appease both its occupants and alert those outside of its oncoming presence.

The system was developed by Science Technologies Exploratory Lean Laboratory (StelLab), a partnership established in 2010 between PSA Peugeot Citroen experts and academics from countries including France, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Brazil, the US and China to identify and develop new technologies for future vehicles.

The resulting ‘9.1.2’ sound system – "the numerical explanation for the effect of the number of speakers, bass-boxes and other sound systems contained within the vehicle" – comprises speakers built into the back of each seat and was created by Brazilian sound designer Amon Tobin.

In what Peugeot is describing as a world premiere, the system incorporates a two-channel tactile bass system developed by American start-up SUBPAC and said to provide a new sensory experience.

The system "allows the bass to travel through a solid medium rather than through the air, meaning the sound waves reach the inner ear through the listener's body," says Peugeot. "This gives the seat occupant a more intense and exclusive bass experience, without causing unwanted interference in the surrounding environment."

Apart from simply playing music, the novel sound system gives a voice to functions such as the ignition, indicators, hazards, lights and various navigation features.

Of course, it also alerts outsiders to the car's presence via different sounds for acceleration, deceleration and cruising, providing the car's electric drivetrain with "its own acoustic identity, a world away from any associations with internal combustion engines".

An equally significant aspect of the Fractal – which Peugeot describes as "an ideas incubator that explores new design and manufacturing processes" -- is the i-Cockpit cabin concept, 80 per cent of the interior trim surfaces of which are 3D-printed.

It combines a compact two-spoke steering wheel with a large colour touch-screen and huge 12.3-inch head-up display featuring a high-definition holographic screen and a 45-degree polycarbonate strip with 7.7-inch AMOLED screen that creates an impression of depth and delivers customisable information.

Owners of the Fractal – if it's ever produced – wear a Samsung Gear S smartwatch, which provides continuous information on the car's battery status, interior temperature and vehicle location, as well as the ability to open the doors and operate climate and sound systems.

The Fractal will make its world debut in Frankfurt alongside the 308 Racing Cup.

Rather than a successor for the RCZ Coupe, which Peugeot has said won't be forthcoming, the Fractal could suggest design cues for the new 308 CC -- the first convertible version of the latest 308.

Peugeot boss Maxime Picat told Autocar at this year's Shanghai show that the RCZ will not be directly replaced, as part of a model cull that will reduce the number of vehicles it produces from 26 to 13 by 2022.

“If I tell you that the 13 most important silhouettes that we sell account for 95 per cent of all our sales and more than 100 per cent of all our profits you will understand why this is necessary," Picat told Autocar in April.

"I love the RCZ, but I want us to focus on making the best of our core models, from Peugeot 108 upwards, and to exploit what we then have to the best of our abilities. For each of those cars we can choose attributes and be the best. Chasing niches is for premium brands; for us it has been a distraction.”

Peugeot is, however, on record as saying that a coupe will be among the range of models to be developed from the same EMP2 platform that underpins the latest 308.