If ever a motoring marque needed a new face, it is Peugeot. The current crop of Pugs wear gaping grilles so large, they threaten to swallow the whole car. Fortunately, designers at the 200 year old French concern agree and have been diligently dreaming up a whole new design language. It doesn't have a name as yet, but it does have a physical manifestation in the form of the SR1 concept. Peugeot says the SR1 reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models. (Expect the all-new 408 mid-size sedan to benefit substantially.) It also proudly displays a subtly redesigned Peugeot Lion badge.

Powering the coupe convertible's front wheels is a conventional 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 160kW, while a 70kW electric motor drives the rears. Peugeot calls the technology Hybrid4 and says the drivetrain will be launched as a 3008 model derivative in 2011. In 230kW four-wheel drive mode, combined cycle fuel consumption is 4.9 litres/100km with CO2 emissions a low 119g/km dropping to zero in electric only mode.

A stylish interior features an unusual 2+1 seating arrangement, with an emphasis on natural materials like patinated leather, wood and nickel. Access to the single rear seat is facilitated by a forward-sliding centre console. The Peugeot SR1 concept car is set to debut at March's Geneva Motor Show.

Finally a Peugeot worth staring at, or are you sad to see the end of Opera singing Pugs?