Designed by Roman Mistiuk, the Peugeot Metromorph Concept looks like a set piece from Minority Report or the discarded idea for a new Transformers character. That's because the Metromorph has dual modes: One as a battery-powered electric vehicle and the other as... a balcony. Cars that climb up buildings and park themselves right outside your bay window were first seen in the sci-fi thriller Minority Report starring Tom Cruise. The Metromorph, however, has a purpose other than as a landing platform for Tom Cruise during a chase scene.

The idea is that real estate for parking will be scarce in the future, so the Metromorph will go vertical up the side of your building and park outside your apartment, at which point it becomes a balcony. This is where the Transformers bit comes in, though we admit transforming into a balcony isn't likely to scare Megatron into a quivering mass of mechanized steel. Nevertheless, the Metromorph will save the humans by freeing up parking spaces for other uses, like a quidditch stadium or whatever else becomes the national past time in the future.

With space for two, the Metromorph features seats held by rotating arms to keep them vertical regardless of the car's orientation. Two in-wheel electric motors housed in the rear wheels motivate this balcony-on-wheels, while two giant doors will slide up and over the vehicle to allow entry and exit. Is this what the future holds for urban dwellers? Time, and the movies, will tell.

Follow the jump to watch a conceptual video of the Metromorph in action.



[Source: Roman Mistiuk]

It's mid-June and that means it's time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans again. If the past decade is anything to go by, the number one contenders will again be the factory Audis, which have won eight of the last nine races (all nine if you count the 2003 as the Audi it truly was). For the past two years, the big battle for overall glory has been between the diesel-powered Audi R10 and Peugeot 908, and this year looks to be no different aside from Audi having an all new car, the R15, still with TDI power.

While the Peugeots have shown superior speed the last two years, the Audis have had better reliability and pit work. This year, the R15s appear to have made up the speed deficit, and the Germans look set for victory again if the crew can keep them running. Unfortunately for Audi, the race won't start with one of its cars in the lead, as Stephane Sarrazin has once again captured the poll in his Peugeot 908 for a record third straight year. Alan McNish managed to qualify one of Audi's three R15s right behind Sarrazin, but the other two cars managed to qualify only sixth and seventh on the starting grid. Three other Peugeot 908s will start from third, fourth and fifth, respectively, which means diesel power penetrates all the way back to the fourth row on this year's starting grid.

For those interested in following Audi's progress this weekend, the automaker is following up up its Sebring Facebook coverage with even more social media stuff this weekend. You can find photos, videos and news at AudiR15TDI.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Our own Damon Lavrinc will also be reporting live from Le Mans this year, so keep an eye on Autoblog and make sure to follow our Twitter feed all weekend long.

[Sources: Yahoo Eurosport, Audi, AutoCar | Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images]

Judging by this latest round of spy shots taken by shooters in Spain, Peugeot's 308 RC Z is almost ready to take on the Audi TT which it so openly apes.

Said to be powered by the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder borrowed from Mini's John Cooper Works in its most powerful incarnation, the RC Z figures to be down on power to the German, so it's good that it figures to be less expensive as well. According to source at Pug, prices figure to start below below £20,000 (circa $33k USD), a useful savings over the Audi.

Other powertrains are also said to be in the mix, all with lower power (a 150 hp 1.6-liter turbo, as well as a 2.0-liter HDI engine giving either 150 bhp or 163 bhp). The 308 RC Z is widely expected to be offered in a front-drive only configuration, so the coupe figures to only challenge lower-end non-Quattro TT models.

The production RC Z is expected to debut at this fall's Frankfurt Auto Show – three years after it debuted in concept form – and go on sale next spring. Thanks for the tip, Andrus!



[Sources: Fastestcar.com; Autocar]

The drama has already begun at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, albeit not the on-track kind. Peugeot has reportedly lodged a protest against Audi's R15 racer, charging that elements of the car's front wing are illegal. Peugeot asserts that the flap-like sections at the rear of the front wing, where "Michelin" appears in the above pic, are bodywork elements that are not allowed by the technical regulations.

Article 3.6.2 of the ACO's technical regulations allows two aerodynamic elements at the front of the car, but beyond that, "Any bodywork element the function of which is only to generate down force" is prohibited. Said Aston Martin's race head after the car was questioned at March's 12 Hours of Sebring, the components act "exactly like a flap on a wing, with the splitter arrangement acting as the main plane."

Peugeot raised its concerns earlier this year, but the Audi has been scrutinized every race since. Peugeot says it doesn't want to hurt the competition, it simply wants the rules clarified. However, if the Le Mans stewards rule against the French team, it says it will take its case all the way to the FIA. And if that happens, Sunday's result will be unofficial until the high racing court decides. Thanks for the tip, mforty!

[Source: Motorsport.com]

It's buddy-up time in the European auto industry, and French automaker PSA/Peugeot-Citroen does not want to be left all by itself. With Fiat gobbling up automakers large and small, and General Motors poised to sell off its European assets, the Peugeot family, which owns a controlling interest in parent company PSA, wants to pursue a merger. And towards that end, the family has stated its willingness to dilute its own interest in Europe's second-largest automaker.

Currently, the Peugeot family – headed by the normally reclusive Thierry Peugeot (above, right), chairman of the company's supervisory board – holds 30% of PSA's shares, and controls 45% of its voting rights. The Peugeots would be willing to give up some of its shares, as long as it remained the largest shareholder. The announcement came the day before the company's annual shareholders meeting, at which Philippe Varin (above, left) was presented as PSA's new chief executive to replace the ousted Christian Streiff.

[Source: Automotive News Europe – Sub. Req.]

The French are known for two things: style and love. Trouble is, the product of the latter tends to cramp the former. So what's an amorous Frenchman to do? If the legion has grown too large for the cabrio, then perhaps you get one of these: the new Peugeot 5008. The French automaker's latest MPV (that's Euro-speak for "minivan") offers a wide variety of configuration options to accommodate loads of cargo or up to seven passengers in a tech- and glass-intensive cabin to make cruising in this Très Grand Véhicule as comfortable as a ride through the Alps in a rail-bound TGV.

Among the gizmos incorporated into the new 5008 are a head-up dashboard display, Snow Motion traction control, a choice of nav systems and, of course, a full multimedia array to keep the kids placated while watching Asterix. There are a couple of gasoline engines available – 1.6-liter turbos with either 120 or 150 horsepower – but most buyers will probably opt for one of the four diesel options, ranging from 109 horses up to 163. When the 5008 makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this coming September, we doubt anybody will be falling in love – but the svelt brood buggy could come in handy if you already have. High-res gallery below, full details in the encyclopedia press release after the jump.

To kick off the launch of the 308 CC, French carmaker Peugeot has enlisted the musical services of the high-heeled female string quartet Bond. Peugeot touts the car as "the only convertible in its class that is adaptable to every season" because of its Airwave Neck Heating System, à la Mercedes-Benz's Air Scarf on the SL Series.

To complement this notion, Bond's services have been retained to record its take on the four concertos that make up Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Think Vivaldi-meets-Ibiza, and you're pretty close. Bond will be begin to leg out a British tour with the car next month, so for now you can read the full press release and watch the video after the jump. Or you can download all of the tracks – after handing over some information and signing up for a newsletter – at www.opentoallseasons.co.uk.



[Source: Peugeot]

Jean-Marc Gales, who has been running Citroën since leaving Mercedes-Benz in February, is aiming make Citroën Europe's third-largest brand. During a recent interview with an Italian newspaper, Gales stressed the importance of collaborating with other automakers and focusing on product, not just volume. "It's not important for us to produce 6 or 7 million cars to survive... We have another strategy, we believe in alliances, we cooperate with Ford and BMW on engines and gears, the most expensive parts to develop in a car," Gales said.

Even with the mentioned alliance with Fiat S.p.A. for commercial vehicles and vans, Gales is going to have his work cut out for him. Citroën is currently ranked seventh in European sales, behind sixth-ranked Peugeot. Far above both brands is Volkswagen, currently holding the spot on the top podium.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

General Motors is very close to selling its Opel unit, with Canadian supplier Magna and Italian automaker Fiat among the suitors. If Magna and its Russian partners Gaz and Sberbank scores the winning bid for Opel, the parts supplier has big plans for the German brand and its factories. Automotive News Europe and German newspaper Welt am Sonntag both have quoted sources within Magna stating that the supplier could produce vehicles for other automakers. Furthermore, both Ford and Peugeot are reportedly interested in using the factory space, which makes sense considering the cost of opening new facilities.

While GM will have the final say regarding an Opel sale, the German government will have considerable sway in the matter. After all, the German government is likely providing up to 3.3 billion euros in financial support to keep Opel afloat. That may give Magna an advantage, since Fiat has said that it would close the Opel factory in Kaiserslautern, Germany, while Magna doesn't plan to close any German facilities.

[Souce: Monsters and Critics]

PSA Peugeot Citroën has announced plans to introduce a new diesel hybrid drivetrain that will conveniently do away with the need for a complex system of driveshafts and transaxles. The clever HYbrid4 system – sometimes referred to as a through-the-road hybrid – is contained inside a new rear axle assembly that incorporates an integrated electric motor. This arrangement will allow for any combination of front-, rear- or all-wheel drive, with power coming from the diesel engine alone, the electric motor alone or from the two powerplants combined.

Due to its modular design, the technology can quickly spread across the automaker's entire line. The first model slated for the fuel-saving tech is the Peugeot 3008 crossover, prototypes of which are already in the testing phase. Next down the line will be the Citroën DS5. All told, the automaker expects to see a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions with an attendant improvement in fuel efficiency.



[Source: PSA Peugeot Citroën]