Peugeot unveiled the '5 by Peugeot' at Geneva, and despite referring to the number '5' in English in an otherwise French-spoken presentation, this large sedan - the basis for the forthcoming 407 replacement known as the '508' - marked an attempt to hark back to the days of more restrained French elegance than some of the firm's more recent offerings.
The '5' showcases the company's latest hybrid technology, using a diesel engine combined with an electric motor for 200hp and four-wheel drive. But it's also a taster for the new era of Peugeot grilles: the gaping mouth has given way to a more sophisticated grille - first seen on the SR1 concept - that echoes the familiar three-bar arrangement of some classic Peugeot models, such as the 205 and 405, via the negative space between the chrome slivers. The newly revised Lion badge also makes an appearance at the front of the power dome on the hood.
LED lighting in the front lamps is framed by illuminated surrounds, that flow from their top edge to the back of the vehicle in a gentle arc. The side DLO captures the same shape for its lower edge, with a thick, brushed alloy strip flowing around it and, it has to be said, a rather predictable treatment for the C- pillar. The same body line that flows off the headlamps also cuts through the rear lamps, where it's covered by three 'claws' of LEDs that Peugeot hopes will make the car instantly recognizable at night.
The '5' has a slightly cab-forward stance, but otherwise, devoid of the highlights and shorn of the more eye-catching materials, it's quite a sober design. It remains to be seen whether this will translate into genuine elegance for the production car, and whether such a quality in its understated form will excite the current motoring marketplace.
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