French concept cars that are a decade older in 2022

This year, more than twenty French concept cars gain a decade. Panorama of prototypes that each embodied an era.

Alpine A110-50, Citroën Citela, DS4 Racing, Peugeot 607 Pescarolo or Renault CX15 and Zoom, all these concept cars are celebrating their 10, 20, 30 or even 60 years in 2022. Panorama of those who, at some point, represented the future of automotive brands. What remains today?

In 2022, many of the concept cars and prototypes from the style centers of French brands will have another decade on the clock. Time markers, anticipators of trends, they tried, each in their own way, to invent a future ahead of time. But have they aged well? Here is a retrospective of the prototypes that were the stars of Motor Shows between 1962 and 2012.

>> French concepts that spend a decade in photos <<

Alpine

In 2012, the Alpine brand celebrated its 50th anniversary. At the time, the return of the berlinetta was not yet fully recorded. Also for rekindle the flame that went out in 1995 with the A610, Did Renault offer itself this communication coup by repainting in blue and slightly modifying the Renault DeZir concept car presented in 2010.

Alpine A110-50 Concept (2012)

TO READ. French concept cars presented at the Paris Motor Show since 1990

Citroen

Citroën SM Coupe Prototype by Frua (1972). Exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show in 1972, the SM prototype designed by Pietro Frua was not based on a Citroën SM, but a DS. It embeds, on the other hand, the V6 Maserati engine of 170 hp of the SM.

All of Citroën’s know-how, from the relevant Citela city car to the exclusive SM Presidentielle with coachwork by Chapron, is illustrated here. Let’s not forget the models from the pivotal period before the creation of the DS brand, such as the DS4 Racing and Number 9.

Citroën GS Camargue (1972)
Citroën SM Presidential by Chapron (1972)
Citroën SM Coupe Prototype by Frua (1972)
Citroën Citela Concept (1992)
Citroën C-Airdream Concept (2002)
Citroën DS4 Racing Concept (2012)
Citroen Number 9 Concept (2012)

Michelin

The Clermont-Ferrand manufacturer has always had a close link with Citroën, a brand which he owned from 1935 to 1976. Therefore, it is logical that the French tire specialist has developed prototypes adapted to the development of its envelopes, based on double chevron models.

Citroën SMA “Proto Michelin” (1972)
Michelin PLR (1972)

Peugeot

In terms of prototypes, Peugeot has raked wide. From the Taxi H4 imagined by Heuliez to the 607 Pescarolo who aspired to attack the BMW M5 E39, passing through the small mid-engined coupés RC Pique and RC Carreau, the creativity of the men of the Lion has hardly any limits.

Peugeot 305 Prototype (1972)
Peugeot 204 Taxi H4 Heuliez (1972)
Peugeot 607 Pescarolo Concept (2002)
Peugeot Sesame Concept (2002)
Peugeot 307 CC Concept (2002)
Peugeot RC Pique and RC Carreau Concept (2002)
Peugeot Onyx Concept (2012)

TO READ. Peugeot prototypes. Unusual projects signed Heuliez

Renault

With its false airs of Citroën DS, the Renault CX15 Prototype of 1962 did not remain anchored in the memories. La Fuego Cabriolet cut by Heuliez either. On the other hand, the Elektro-Clio of 1992 is clearly the ancestor of the Renault Zoe, which will be born twenty years later.