Their birthday present makes its official debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and then proceed to impress a burgeoning automotive market by performing record attempts in China for the rest of the year. And to think, we were just going to buy them a card. Two 125 kW electric motors mounted at the front and rear offer all-wheel drive. They churn out a total of 340 horsepower and an immediately available constant maximum torque of 240 Nm. Peugeot claims force during acceleration can exceed 1g.

So what’s this mean on the track? How about six standing start records for an electric vehicle.

Peugeot says the EX1 broke three standing start acceleration records and set three more at the Montlhéry circuit with French adventurer and explorer Nicolas Vanier. The rundown on distances and times:

Eighth-mile: 8.89 seconds, 50.61 mph.
Quarter mile: 14.40 seconds, 62.4 mph.
500 meters: 16.81 seconds, 107 kph.
Half-mile: 23.85 seconds, 75.46 mph.
1,000 meters: 28.16 seconds, 127.8 kph.
One mile: 41.09 seconds, 87.6 mph.

Again, these are records for an electric vehicle. The runs were made according to FIA regs and the results are subject to FIA homologation. Many of these records have been held by an electric Opel GT since 1971, according to Britain’s What Car? To put the EX1 in perspective, it’s a bit fast from zero to 60 than a Tesla Roadster.

Twin rear wheels set close together are connected to a swingarm that rides on a single shock absorber. With a teardrop-shaped carbon fiber body and an “exoskeleton” that eschews extra weight, the EX1’s design is based on elements from the 1996 Asphalte and 2005 20Cup. Doors open from the rear, revealing a modern cockpit with “pure” materials of aluminum and leather. The car weighs just 750 kilos.

Though Peugeot says the car is both 100 percent electric and 100 percent real, we doubt it’ll end up in dealerships any time soon.

UPDATED: 2:15 p.m. Eastern to include the latest results.

Photos: Peugeot

Video: LeBlogAuto / YouTube

See Also:

• Peugeot Crosses Over to Diesel-Electric
• Peugeot Diesels To Race ‘Round the ‘Ring
• Sleek SR1 Hints At Peugeot’s Future Style
• ‘Electric Peugeot’ Is French for ‘Electric Mitsubishi’
• Peugeot Concept Bike Channels Tron

Authors: Keith Barry

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