The PGO Cévenne Speedster is one water snake you won’t be afraid to swim with

By Nick Jaynes June 18, 2013

The PGO Cévennes Speedster — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Believe it or not, it’s the French who’ve built the classic German roadster you want to own, not the Germans themselves.

Called the Cévennes, it’s the latest roadster from French automaker PGO. Clearly modeled on the iconic Porsche 356, the Cévennes makes vintage German motoring a modern affair.

It’s not the first time that a country has copied an iconic automobile design from a former foe. The German company Weisman did the same thing starting back in the early late 1980s. Its cars, though powered by BMW-sourced motors, look like old British cars – a cross between a TVR and a Triumph.

The new Cévennes does away with the former Peugeot power and adds a 1.6-liter BMW inline four-cylinder, which has been mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, both of which are mid-mounted.

Before you scoff at the diminutive size of the Cévennes’s four-banger, realize the Cévennes only weighs 2,200 pounds. So its 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque will be more than enough to make your weekend. While we don’t know the 0-60 times yet, we do know the Cévennes has a top speed of 140mph, according to Motor Authority.

The production Cévennes is based upon the Water Snake concept from PGO. Unlike the water moccasin, we’d happily share the waterways with the dimwitted-looking Cévennes. Despite its foolish front end, it’s somehow distinctively German while also being undeniably French.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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