Attack not only in the retro segment! Peugeot scooters of the future

Poky: "We are here in a fine Parisian townhouse for the static presentation of the New Django. Where is Peugeot Motorcycles heading?"

Laurent Lilti, Global Product, Marketing & Communications Director, Peugeot Motorcycles: "The portfolio of brands and products under the Peugeot umbrella is growing and growing. In addition to acquiring the traditional BSA brand, our new electric motorcycle brand DAB Motors, and Peugeot Motorcycles, the strong name Django will stand on its own in the future, without the Peugeot addition. We are differentiating our brands and also the customers we want to target, while simultaneously expanding our offerings."

Poky: "Talking about the coming years: Will the near future be electric, or does the internal combustion engine still play a significant role in these plans?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "The internal combustion engine is still more than important; it is crucial for us. From our perspective, electric drives currently make the most sense, especially in urban areas. However, the reality of life for many two-wheeler riders goes beyond that in the truest sense of the word, as many people also live in the outskirts of cities or in rural areas. Electrification is important, and we are developing in this area, but the internal combustion engine remains our focus for the near future."

Poky: "The current Peugeot portfolio offers bikes ranging from 50 to 125 to 400 cc. Which segment is the most important in Europe?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "In Europe, the most important market is the A1 class, even though we aim to aggressively enter new markets with products like the XP 400, which holds a certain priority."

Poky: "Peugeot Motorcycles produces and sells products in many Asian countries, such as China, Vietnam, and India. How does the situation differ in Asia?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "Not much. The scooters for the Asian market are built on the same platform as those for the European market, but they have 150 cubic centimeters due to the conditions there. However, the Big GT segment (models between 300 and 400 cc) is also becoming increasingly important in Asia."

Poky: "Europe is divided into two camps when it comes to riding scooters. In the DACH region and further north, there is a riding season, while further south, riding is year-round. Interestingly, three-wheeled vehicles, such as the Peugeot Metropolis, are significantly more successful in the south than in Northern Europe. Why is that?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "In cities and metropolitan areas with traffic conditions like Paris (laughs), many people have given up driving cars because you simply can't get anywhere. I have a beautiful car in the garage that I use at most 7 times a year. Many car drivers feel the same way, and because (at least) in France you can drive three-wheeled vehicles with a car driver's license if they have more than 125cc, they are so popular here."

Interjection Poky: "This is no different legally in Germany and Austria."

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "The second reason for the success is that with this offer, we appeal not only to car drivers but also to ex-bikers who left the motorcycle world due to safety concerns. The third wheel provides confidence and thus brings people back into the saddle."

Poky: "Let's get back to the Django. The New Django, with its TFT display and the modern, more powerful liquid-cooled engine, moves slightly away from the retro concept. Is this a farewell to the retro wave, and will the New Django replace the Django in the medium term, or will retro still be important after 2024?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "Retro is immensely important, and the market offering is more likely to increase than decrease. In the scooter segment, an Italian brand almost has a monopoly, which we naturally want to challenge. Especially since Peugeot has a really long history with two-wheelers. We have been producing motorcycles since 1898. The ancestor of the Django dates back to 1955! The New Django complements the Django line-up, but the Django (Classic) will also be upgraded to meet the Euro 5+ standards and will certainly remain an important product in the segment for a long time to come."

Poky: "Today, we had the chance to not only check out various Django models but also to take a glimpse into the future. The SPx concept also references a classic from Peugeot's history: the 103, which is essentially the equivalent of the Austrian Puch Maxi. This concept is said to be close to production-ready and is electrically powered. Will urban traffic automatically mean e-mopeds in the future?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "The closer you get to the (historical) centers of cities, the higher the chance that only electric vehicles will be allowed to drive there. In these areas, small vehicles with removable batteries and shorter ranges are sufficient. If you want to travel outside these areas, you can't avoid fixed batteries. To achieve a satisfactory range, the battery capacity should be at least 10, preferably 14 kWh. Batteries of this size are expensive and heavy. Consequently, vehicles that offer this will hardly be available for less than 10,000 euros.

We could build this product. Some competitors, like BMW with the CE04, are already doing this, but if you look at it realistically, it has a range of around 100 km, which is too little for the customer. We are working on technology carriers that better meet customer needs, but it will take about 4-5 years before they are ready for the market."

Poky: "The top range at Peugeot in terms of scooters is currently the XP400 and the XP400GT. I have already seen the vehicle but haven't been able to test ride it. I was somewhat shocked by the weight of 231 kg wet weight. The competition, such as the Honda ADV 350, is almost 50 kilos lighter. Why?"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "The XP400 was developed with the goal of being the most robust and versatile vehicle of its kind. The Peugeot engineers have invested a lot of work and time to develop an insanely resilient vehicle with sophisticated technology. The chassis can easily survive a fall from one meter height, we've tested that. Just hop on and keep riding.

But there's another reason for the higher weight: If you look at the rear suspension, you'll notice that an innovative system provides 40 mm more suspension travel than usual in a scooter: The dual-arm swingarm of the XP400 is connected to a crossbar via a u-shaped linkage that acts on the shock absorber. This construction is hardly visible from the outside as it is hidden behind the right side fairing. The result speaks for itself; the XP400 rides stable without being sluggish. Additionally, it offers genuine off-road capabilities.

I see the ADV 350 only partially as competition because it can't deny its Forza base, even though it is visually trimmed for adventure. Moreover, it lacks 50 cc and over 7 hp of power. The XP400, on the other hand, is a true blend of motorcycle and scooter."

Poky: "I hope we can soon take the XP400 for a test ride. We still need to do that test! Thank you for the conversation!"

Laurent Lilti, Peugeot Motorcycles: "Anytime! Thank you too!"