2023-12-31 17:00:00
For Peugeot, it is an image battle once morest Audi, BMW or Mercedes. A few months later, Peugeot will drive the point home at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show.
Arrival of the Paladine
The Paladine is presented at the Geneva Motor Show in the form of a 607 with an extended landaulet-type body. Its name is the contraction of Palace and Limousine.
The project was studied and carried out by the coachbuilder Heuliez in its workshops in Cerizay.
Extended at its center to exceed 5 m in length, its main characteristic is its two-part hard roof, only the rear part of which can be electrically retracted into the trunk like a convertible coupe.
The interior is treated with very high-end equipment.
A tailor-made creation
Mounted on 18-inch wheels, the 607 Paladine benefits from specific suspensions and acoustic and athermal laminated glass glazing.
The 607 Paladine might accommodate five people (two in the front, two in the rear, the so-called “prestige” seats, plus a rear-facing folding seat, facing the right rear seat).
A tiny tank!
In its rear part, it might be transformed into an office or a living room, and had very high-end equipment: multimedia installation, bar, plasma screen, computer, blue and cream leather covering by Hermès which added prestigious fabrics and brushed titanium panels.
Resurrected in 2007
On May 16, 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy, newly elected President of the Republic, went up the Avenue des Champs Elysées to lay a wreath to the unknown soldier in an unknown car: the 607 Paladine which was very officially making its first turn of the wheel.
A vehicle not at all designed for this because it only has a 10 liter fuel tank. The services of the Elysée lived in fear of running out of fuel…
This rare bird had been in the Peugeot reserves in Sochaux for 7 years, with around fifty kilometers on the clock.
Reviewed and corrected for the needs of his office
A team from the manufacturer will work for several days following removing the tarpaulin that covered it.
The first job was to bring the front up to date by adapting the grille from phase 2 of the 607. Then, it was necessary to check all the functionalities of the car, the roof of which only works under 24 Volts.
The roof kinematics are special: the system initially drives the rear window followed by the rest of the roof which retracts into the rear trunk.
At the same time, a half-moon of glass slides discreetly forward to convert the sedan into a convertible and at the same time facilitate a possible standing position.
The desired effect was achieved: an investiture ceremony carried out in a ceremonial sedan, a French one at that. Since then, the car has returned to Peugeot, to the adventure museum.
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#single #copy.. #run #years
