The President of the Republic’s Scooters

A long-standing supplier of the Élysée Palace, Peugeot introduces two new models of scooters into the courtyard.

No, we will not be recounting once again François Hollande’s fondness for scooters. The models we are talking about here are very unlikely to ever be used by a future president, but who knows.

Peugeot Motorcycles announced this weekend its pride in contributing to the mobility of the Élysée Palace as a privileged partner. A proud showcase by the presidential institution of French industrial expertise with the maxi scooter XP400 GT and the three-wheeler Peugeot Metropolis, both made available to the prestigious fleet of the Élysée Palace. French prestige obliges, the two models, Metropolis SW and XP400 GT, are both manufactured in France at the Mandeure facility in Doubs.

The love story between the French brands of the Stellantis group, Peugeot and Citroën at the forefront, and the Élysée Palace has lasted for over a century now. Citroën and its cousin DS have written some of the most beautiful chapters of this romance on four wheels, with the DS 19 likely saving Charles de Gaulle’s life, the SM for Georges Pompidou, the CX for Jacques Chirac, or even the DS7 of Emmanuel Macron. Peugeot has also shone occasionally in the honor roll with the 604 of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing or the 607 of Nicolas Sarkozy, but it is on two wheels that the Sochalian manufacturer has claimed its lion’s share.

The selected models are equipped with the same engine, the PowerMotion 400cc, entirely designed and assembled in France. It develops a power of 35.6 hp with a torque of 38.1 Nm. These are also economical models, with a record consumption of only 4.3 liters per 100 km, providing a maximum range of 300 km thanks to a 13-liter tank. This fossil fuel frugality is certainly the minimum while waiting for the upcoming arrival of 100% electric models.