Peugeot Expert

Pininfarina has renewed its partnership with one of its long-term customers, Peugeot, but this time in a so far unexplored sector, that of commercial and combi vehicles. In fact, the interior of the Peugeot’s new Expert has been designed by Pininfarina. And that’s not all: Matra Automobile Engineering, the company acquired by the Pininfarina Group in 2003, has been involved in the development of this commercial monovolume and has been in charge of part of the performance tests of the vehicle.

The range of Expert vans, introduced in 1995, all developed by the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group in partnership with Fiat, has now reached its third generation. The cab of the new Expert designed by Pininfarina - showcased in Geneva in a special “show” version with leather trim crafted in cooperation with Salt & Turinmodel - has been developed with an eye on modernity, comfort and functionality: the driving position, designed like that of an MPV, assures easy access, while the forward position of the windscreen guarantees maximum visibility and a generous amount of light and a strong feeling of space, unusual for this type of vehicle.

The shape and color of the facia also recall those of a car. “We have created an original symmetrical design that forms an arch, closed towards the lower part of the facia, in front of the driver and passenger - explains Fabrizio Valentini, Pininfarina Chief Designer and Expert project manager. - The symmetrical arch-type design continues naturally also on the door panels and seats and is reflected in the characteristic features of the functional, elegant cab”. The design of the facia also exploits the great space available, especially in depth, guaranteeing excellent comfort for occupants and lots of stowage areas, both open and closed, in the lower and upper part. Obviously, the facia-mounted gearshift, one of the strong points of the Expert, has been retained. The steering-wheel is rake and reach adjustable.
Particular attention has been dedicated to the ergonomically-designed driver’s seat, also through virtual simulation at the design stage which made it possible to optimize comfort of the various parts of the body liable to stress when driving (ankles, shoulders, wrists, elbows). The trim levels proposed are, therefore, comparable with those of the most fully-equipped cars.