The ultimate cockpit, just for the driver. An in-depth analysis of the unique cockpit design of French cars

Sport is the word most often mentioned by car companies, but it is also the word that car companies are least willing to pay for.

This is not to say that car companies are stingy and unwilling to spend time on it. On the contrary, car companies are afraid of not being able to get users and not being appreciated for their efforts. This also leads to a phenomenon that car companies are often conservative when designing cockpits, starting with the stitching of seats and central control and ambient lighting.

So, is there a more radical sports cockpit design?

There are exceptions. What I want to share today is the ultimate sports cockpit design, a cockpit that is designed for driving from the concept, layout, and function definition. Especially when you sit in it, you will feel that the entire cockpit is surrounding you, and you are God.

Ingenious golden ratio, asymmetry under the symmetrical center console

If we observe the design of car cockpits, we will find that most car cockpits are T-shaped and symmetrical. Europeans are the advocates of sports cockpits and they were the first to break this convention. In the cockpits of Audi and Volkswagen models, you can see many asymmetrical center consoles, which means that the center console is obviously biased towards the driver. As shown in the picture below, you don't even need to sit in it. Just by looking at it, you feel that this car is made for me.

(Audi e-tron, asymmetric cockpit)

(Peugeot, asymmetric cockpit)

Peugeot has developed this concept by dividing the cockpit according to the golden ratio through a high-gloss chrome trim strip in the electronic gear lever area, which creates a visual atmosphere that makes people feel that this car takes great care of the driver.

The steering speed is 11.5% faster, and the interesting small racing-style multi-function steering wheel

The second biggest factor in creating a sense of sportiness is the steering wheel, especially the racing-style steering wheel that feels great. Once you’ve touched it, you’ll never go back. Peugeot’s solution is to make the steering wheel smaller. The small racing-style steering wheel used in the new 4008 Night Edition is 10.4% smaller in diameter than a normal steering wheel, and 11.5% faster in steering speed. In addition, it has the smallest turning radius of 5.3m in its class, so it can be said to be both fast and accurate.

The second is to add some sports functions to the steering wheel, such as shift paddles. But if you use shift paddles, the car will start to be picky about the gearbox. From a mechanical point of view, CVT has no gears, and you can only choose between DCT and dual clutch.

Peugeot chose the 8AT gearbox imported from Aisin. Because the DCT gearbox does not have a torque converter, it cannot be smooth and reliable. My actual experience is that no matter how fast you press the paddle, the gearbox can respond immediately. Especially when driving on a continuous uphill curve, I like to use the manual 3rd gear and run it in one gear. This can avoid shifting gears and the power will not be interrupted.

Unusual instrument panel, high-position display makes driving more focused

French cars also have a particularly interesting design - high-position LCD instrument. The new 4008 Night Edition adopts this design concept. Its convenience lies in the fact that you no longer need to look down at the instrument. For example, when navigating, you don't need to look down at the map at all. Because the map information displayed on the instrument panel and the road are at the same visual height.

The screen quality of the LCD instrument is also very high. The 12.3-inch full HD screen of the new 4008 Night Edition has very fine fonts and images without any graininess. In terms of color, it supports wide viewing angle and wide color gamut. Wide viewing angle means that the screen will not be biased from any angle. Wide color gamut refers to the color accuracy and richness of the screen. If we look at it according to the broadcasting standard, most car screens can only display 45% of the colors, while the wide color gamut is 75%.

In terms of function, the new 4008 Night Edition instrument screen supports map and vehicle driving information display. In terms of switching between the central control map and the instrument map, it has a faster method than double-finger flying screen, and it can be switched directly on the steering wheel button.

Refinement is the greatest comfort, this is the most powerful cabin in its class

The sports cockpit emphasizes the driving atmosphere, but can it guarantee comfort?

Peugeot responded to the comfort with exquisite details and high-end design sense in the new 4008 Night Edition. For example, in the picture above, the central control screen is not just a big screen, but the shape is optimized. In terms of material, a high-gloss acrylic panel is used to reflect the exquisiteness. The screen frame is also as narrow as possible. In small details such as the air outlet, we can also see the simple design concept of "less is more". At the same time, the chrome-plated metal texture is also used in a restrained way.

Among the common center console buttons, the new 4008 Night Edition also has a very design sense. The top row is piano keys with a full metal texture, and the bottom row is exquisite acrylic buttons. The combination of the two sets of buttons has a strong visual impact, making people feel that this is not a family car, but a European sports car that combines classical and modern designs.

The gear lever can not only stimulate the driver's desire, but also become the symbol of a car or even a brand if it is done well. The new 4008 Night Edition uses four materials on the gear lever. The top of the gear lever is made of acrylic material, and the high-gloss treatment is for a more refined look. The bottom of the gear lever is covered with leather, which feels more like skin. The outer ring of the manual-automatic switch button is metal chrome-plated, and the inner ring button is frosted.

Comparing these details with Toyota RAV4, you will find that the new 4008 has spent much more time and effort on the cabin than the Japanese. RAV4 is more rough and wild in design and materials.

These design details are just some of the general features. As a French car, the new 4008 Night Edition has many details that you can tell at a glance that it was designed with great care. Seeing is believing, and friends who like French cockpits can go to the store to experience it in person. Moreover, the new 4008 Night Edition has now adopted the official website direct sales model, with a starting price of 170,700 yuan, which is quite a surprise. Ordering a car online at a fixed price can enjoy rich benefits and peace of mind such as halving the purchase tax + 5,000 yuan replacement subsidy + 3-year value-preserving repurchase + 5-year/150,000-kilometer warranty.