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The new 408's sphere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN UNEXPECTED SHOWCASE

Discover how we took the new 408 for a spin.

AN UNEXPECTED SHOWCASE

Discover how we took the new 408 for a spin.

THE SPHERE

EVERY DETAIL FROM EVERY ANGLE

“The Sphere” is a truly unexpected experience that we created to show off the new 408’s unexpected design from all angles. What is up? What is down? How can the new 408 spin upside-down or twist to move in such unexpected ways? This gravity-defying installation was the answer. An unexpected display that is just as alluring and unexpected as the car itself.

THE ALLURING NEW PEUGEOT 408

The striking allure and unexpected design of the new PEUGEOT 408 is characterized by its dynamic fastback stance.
Its modern elegance makes it stand out on the road. With ground clearance raised but height contained, its sporty design and fluid lines emphasise its aerodynamic and aesthetic qualities from every angle. 

DESIGN 

Fusing a fastback silhouette with a high driving position and low stance, the unexpected beauty of the new 408 is alluring from every angle. Its sporty design and fluid lines emphasise its aerodynamic and aesthetic qualities.  

NEW PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® 3D

The new PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® 3D invites you into a 100% digital universe. The 408 is equipped with an 10” capacitive touch screen, a configurable heads-up digital display, and a compact steering wheel with integrated controls.  

PLUG-IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

Hybrid or Petrol? The new 408s Plug-In Hybrid technology can fully charge in just 1h55min to from the 7,4kWh Wall Box with optional board charger. Or 3h40min from the standard board charger and Wall Box.  

HOW IT WAS DONE

How do you suspend gravity and rotate a full-sized car to any angle? It wasn’t easy. See how our talented team of engineers, technicians and designers come together to overcome unexpected challenges and create “The Sphere”. A truly beautiful object that suspends the new 408 as if it was weightless and revolves the entire car so it can be appreciated from every angle.

 

THE CONCEPT

We wanted to display the allure of the new PEUGEOT 408 from every angle. To do this, we needed to defy gravity and create a display that could effortlessly rotate the new 408 into any position and allow you to view the design from every angle. And of course, it had to be just as alluring and unexpected as the car itself. So we designed ‘The Sphere’.

 

STEP 1: 3D MODELLING
Our team started with a series of 3D models to visualise the idea and test that it could hold the entire body of the new 408 at any angle. From there, they made a series of small scale models to refine the design.
STEP 2: PRODUCTION
When form meets function in unexpected ways you can get some unexpected results.  Constructing ‘The Sphere’ and making it work both physically and aesthetically needed some innovative thinking and unexpected solutions.
STEP 3 : INSTALLATION
A beautiful object needs an equally beautiful setting, and the Louvre-Lens is just that. See how installing ‘The Sphere’ in this special venue needs to be planned from every angle.

STRUCTURE

The entire structure is made of high strength steel and finished in a protective silver epoxy. The transparent bubble/sphere is made out of flexible PVC, which allows the use of discrete air blowers to keep the bubble inflated while being barely visible. 

TECHNIQUE

The two big hoops (5.1m diameter) are put in motion thanks to a 4 wheel drive system powered by 3500watt electric motors. Most of the power is used to control the rotation of the sphere and maintain its centre of gravity as it rotates harmoniously at a steady pace. 

TEAM

A talented team of artists, engineers and technicians from Superbien in Paris, took the idea of ‘The Sphere’ and turned into a breathtaking reality that seems to defy gravity.  They specialise in creating beautiful, unexpected, one-of-a-kind installations. 

THE UNIQUE PLACE

The Louvre-Lens is a strikingly beautiful venue with an ultramodern aesthetic not.  Its sleek arrangement of curved glass and aluminium facades embodies a modern beauty that continues the grandeur of the Parisian original. So, it’s unexpected design and breathtaking allure made it the perfect venue to debut the new PEUGEOT 408.