The French car brand Peugeot collaborated with the historic French piano manufacturer Pleyel to create a piano. The project began in 2011, and designers and engineers from both companies spent a year and a half developing a piano that is both technically and visually revolutionary.
The action mechanism is set low, aligning the piano lid with the keyboard. This allows the performer's hands to be viewed from all angles, allowing players to enjoy a completely new sound. The lid's support structure, borrowed from the structure of a car trunk, allows it to be lifted with one hand.
Instead of the traditional three legs, the entire piano is supported by a single beam extending from the left side, creating the visual effect of the piano floating. The music stand can also be completely retracted when the lid is closed. While the piano body and soundboard are made of wood, the legs and lid are made of lightweight, acoustically efficient carbon fiber.
Peugeot Design Lab, which was involved in the production of this piano, was founded in June 2012, leveraging its 200 years of experience in manufacturing products and 120 years in automobile manufacturing. It actively works with clients outside the automotive industry to create new brand value. It undertakes projects in a wide range of genres, including private planes, yachts, and art toys featuring the lion, Peugeot's coat of arms.
Pleyel is the world's oldest piano manufacturer, founded in 1807. It is known for being a favorite of 19th-century composer Frederic Chopin, and the second-generation president, Camille Pleyel, was a friend of Chopin.
