Peugeot 504

The renaissance starts here! That’s the dramatic promise from Peugeot’s new design boss, Jerome Gallix.

In an interview with Auto Express’s German sister title, Auto Bild, Gallix said he’d use the firm’s heritage to create a fresh family of cars. And he’s starting with the luxurious 504 coupé.

This exclusive Gallix sketch shows exactly how such a model could look. Although technical details are scarce at the moment, it’s thought the newcomer is similar in size to the current 407, and has a bold nose and curving waistline inspired by its predecessor.

Mechanicals are likely to be shared with Citroen’s C5, so the car could get a powerful 2.7-litre V6 diesel and air-suspension.

But Gallix’s plans for making the most of Peugeot’s past won’t stop there. He also admitted he is a fan of the original 204 and the 205. Successors to both these models could be essential to Peugeot’s future as it strives to become one of the leading manufacturers of low-CO2 cars.

The first Peugeot designed under the influence of Gallix was the sleek 308 RC Z concept, which was widely acclaimed on its debut at 2006’s Paris Motor Show. The two-seater will be seen in production form at the Frankfurt exhibition in 2009, and will arrive in showrooms here the following year.