Unlike a standard all terrain vehicle, this jumbo-sized Peugeot has no intentions of taking its two riders into deep backwoods forests. It does, however, have a load-carrying capacity of 140 kg (309 lb) on top of its two person occupancy, which should be ample for bringing a few shopping bags home from the market provided you can find a place to store them in the slim, motorcycle-inspired body.
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| Each of the Quark's four wheels is driven by an individual electric motor. (Photo: Peugeot) |
The Quark is driven much the same way you would drive a scooter or motorcycle, with controls for steering, braking and throttle actuated via handlebars, but unlike the simplistic two- and four-wheelers, steering is power-assisted.
Powering the Quark is not one or two, but four electric motors located on each wheel's hub. The motors are fed power through a complex hydrogen fuel-cell system developed by Montreal-based hybrid-specialist TM4. The benefit of electric power isn't in horsepower, with each wheel-mounted unit only peaking at 10 with continuous output only 3.4, for a peak total of 40 hp. Torque is what really moves the Quark, its engines featuring a constant surge of 74 lb-ft with a peak of 295 lb-ft, and that from zero to redline. This allows it to jump to 50 km/h from a standstill in 6.5 seconds, before topping out at 110 km/h. Not bad at all.
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| The quad-engined, hydrogen-fuelled Quark has a range that is between 100 and 130 km. (Photo: Peugeot) |
The body and appearance of the Quark concept has been structured around a central I-Beam chassis with a car-like double-wishbone suspension system mounted front and rear. Ground clearance is minimal, and off-roading capabilities are further restricted by road-biased springs and dampers with little travel. The additional width of the central chassis has allowed Peugeot's stylists to give the Quark a look similar to their road-going cars. Cat's eyes headlamps, which stretch back over the hood, and a massive mouth-like grille all contribute to an unmistakable identity.