Peugeot 605 Presence: A Future Electric Premium Model?

These illustrations are not the work of Peugeot’s styling department, but by an independent designer based in Italy. An artistic perspective that raises the urgent question of bringing true high-end quality back to Peugeot.

Carlos Munoz Mardones is a Chilean designer based in Milan. After working on Lamborghini and Ducati projects, he recently started designing concept cars with names or labels already existing within the PSA universe. He first revealed the Space Tourer, a very long 5.80-meter vehicle inspired by the Citroën SM, and now the name 605 reemerges, this time associated with the word “Presence”.

The front of the concept, which echoes the current Peugeot design with its sharp features, features a massive yet elegant bumper that houses horizontal LED lights and a smaller grille. This grille contains the new Peugeot logo, featuring a copper-colored lion. This color expresses a tactile aspect of the material, already used in marketing by brands like Cupra.

The sides of this modern 605 are crafted with taut lines, somewhat reminiscent of Lexus, with large wheels blending into the overall body color thanks to their solid presence. There are no exterior mirrors but cameras, no door handles, and most notably no rear pillar — a liberty only possible in a concept car. The nose recalls the DS 9, as well as the Peugeot e-Legend prototype, a modern reinterpretation of the 504 Coupe that will never reach production. The rear bumper, quite aggressive and highly sculpted, appears somewhat out of place and contrasts with the overall look of the car. However, the “claw-shaped” lights evoke the current 508 PSE, creating a link between past, present, and future.

Large battery and extended range

The Peugeot 605 Presence features a 100 kWh battery and two electric motors mounted on the axles. This is twice what current models like the e-208 and e-2008 offer in smaller body formats. Given the advances in battery technology and energy management, it’s reasonable to expect such a vehicle could easily surpass 600 km of range. To ensure rapid charging, however, it would need a more advanced platform than what Stellantis currently offers, but this will likely come with time.

The interior, illuminated by the large panoramic glass roof, is highly futuristic. The most striking element inside the 605 Presence is a screen that spans the full width of the dashboard and continues along the sides, allowing passengers to control certain functions. The gauges, displayed as holograms within the driver’s wide field of view, add a “science fiction” feel to the whole. The rectangular steering wheel, not more innovative than Tesla’s Yoke, echoes the copper hue of the lion on the grille, visible in the wheel’s rim. The seats, apparently made of fabric, appear to be crafted from recycled materials rather than vegan leather, a term marketing stars use to describe faux leather or similar materials.

Both imaginative and realistic, could Carlos Munoz Mardones’s 605 Presence resonate with Peugeot and become a production model? Peugeot’s styling department declines to comment, but this concept caught the attention of Matthias Hossann, the brand’s design director, who praises “the brand’s ongoing inspiration for talented young designers” and its ability to “illustrate the desirability of the brand internationally.” Although comparing the Chilean designer to the legendary Italian designer Pininfarina is difficult, it’s worth recalling that in 1984, when Peugeot launched Project Z6 (which would become the 605), Gérard Welter’s design team at Peugeot and Pininfarina in Italy were in competition. Ultimately, it was the Italian team that won, with the French team tasked with finalizing the design.