The abbreviation P.E.R.L.E. stands for Projet d'Études et de Recherches d'une Ligne Européenne (Project for Study and Research of a European Line).
Created by Chausson Ingénierie Carrosserie Automobile, it debuted as a scale model at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show before being shown as a full concept car at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show.
It was an early pioneer of the "monospace" (minivan/people carrier) shape, featuring a massive panoramic windscreen, large glass surface areas, and forward-sliding side doors. Inside, it featured a radical single-spoke steering wheel and a futuristic cream-and-teal interior.
It was built as a non-running prototype powered by a 4-cylinder engine borrowed from a Renault 11.
The striking vehicle made a brief appearance in Wim Wenders’ 1991 science-fiction film Until the End of the World. In December 2025, this exact unique piece of history was sold out of Renault's historic Flins collection at an Artcurial Auction for €16,254.