Peugeot 406 Toscana rather looks like the 1990's Batmobile
One Piece We first found how unique of this car, when we've seen it on the status of the French automaker in Twitter some time ago. After searching, turn out the car was one of Peugeot' prototypes that has a quite interesting shape named the Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept is presented at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show.
1996 Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept sat on display at the Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot (Peugeot Adventure Museum) in Sochaux. (Picture from: VroomVroom)
Besides its name refers to the Tuscany region in Italy, it could be interpreted as an early anticipation of the French' marque in partnership with the Italian coachbuilder based on one of their famous production models.
In fact the 406 Toscana Concept was designed by Pininfarina based on the Peugeot 406 series, and wasn't intend to realize into production version, but rather to announce the arrival of a new body version in the Peugeot 406 family, which for many known as one of the most beautiful cars in the history of the French brand.
1996 Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept is built based of the Peugeot 406 saloon, ranging from the nose, taillights, body swage lines to the sci-fi canopy. (Picture from: ABCMoteur.fr)
At that time the French manufacturer said that the Toscana concept borrowed the ideals and classic proportions of Renaissance architects, and made it a kind of natural evolution of the 406 sedan as its basis. And when making the Toscana, the Peugeot designers are like creating a sculpture in movement.
1996 Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept sat on display at the 1996 Geneva International Motor Show. (Picture from: DrivenToWrite)
Besides being designed by the famous Italian auto design company Pininfarina, it turns out that the concept vehicle is also produced at the coachbuilder's production facility in San Giorgio Canavese near Turin, Italy. A few months after finished, the Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept was presented at the 1996 Paris Motor Show.
The concept car comes with a body that combines the main style elements of the 406 saloon, ranging from nose treatment, rear lamps, body swage line to the sci-fi canopy. So it is not surprising if many seen that the front of the prototype is identical to the first generation Peugeot 406, as is the rear (except the spectacular airfoil).
1996 Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept 's interior looks similar to the 406 Coupe production version. (Picture from: ABCMoteur.fr)
Although in this case, it's no longer a sedan, but a kind of targa-type convertible featured with a capsule-style glass surface, with a wide windshield, windows narrow, and a retractable glass roof, so it rather like a yacht than car.
Its cabin also looks similar to the 406 Coupe production version, although the showroom model uses more striking color combinations, such a combination of green and salmon tones. What is clear from such car' appearence, there're some who say that the Toscana is a frivolous concept even though it's still built based on a production model.
1996 Peugeot 406 Toscana Concept designed by Pininfarina and built at the coachbuilder's production facility in San Giorgio Canavese near Turin, Italy. (Picture from: VroomVroom)
Not only that, there are some doubtful design attributes if they're coming from Pininfarina. Yet if it's an internal work, it shows Gérard Welter's sense of humor as being somewhat leftfield. Furthermore, it would be reminds us of some of GM's Motorama concepts of the 1950s or even Adam West's Batmobile.
Surprisingly, the Sochaux-based automaker's ad execution for the Peugeot 406 models (at least in the UK) featured the hit single 'Search For the Hero' from M People. In the case of Toscana Concept, no search is required, and its driver instantly granted superhero status. Guess what the Toscana Concept actually is? A Gallic' batmobile or a 406 Speedster? All of your guesses are as good as mine. What it was however, is it really worthy of being a Batman's car ride?😌 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OLDCONCEPTCARS | DRIVENTOWRITE | PEUGEOTUK ON TWITTER ]
Surprisingly, the Sochaux-based automaker's ad execution for the Peugeot 406 models (at least in the UK) featured the hit single 'Search For the Hero' from M People. In the case of Toscana Concept, no search is required, and its driver instantly granted superhero status. Guess what the Toscana Concept actually is? A Gallic' batmobile or a 406 Speedster? All of your guesses are as good as mine. What it was however, is it really worthy of being a Batman's car ride?😌 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OLDCONCEPTCARS | DRIVENTOWRITE | PEUGEOTUK ON TWITTER ]
