Peugeot is a notable success story in French automotive manufacturing, but it has traditionally made the vast majority of its income from production cars – not super cars. Soon though, the company will be displaying what will arguably be the brand's most ambitious vehicle to date – the Onyx.
As soon as you take a look at the images of the new concept car, any prejudices about Peugeot being a production car maker that ought to stick to its core market – are likely to evaporate.
The design is arguably as striking and unique as the latest Lamborghini or Ferrari, but also offers a number of fresh manufacturing processes that have not been seen before. At just 1,100kg, the car is extremely light considering the power of the engine. The 12 part central structure of the Onyx will be made of carbon fibre, while the windows and roof will be made of PolyMethyl MethAcrylate.
The hand built wings and doors will be made from a single copper sheet, which over time will develop a patina.
A key concept behind the car is that the materials used should undergo as little processing as possible. This organic approach is also seen inside the cabin, which is a one-piece cockpit covered in felt, which is itself made of boiled wool. The dashboard is made of Newspapers Wood.
The hybrid engine will recover kinetic energy from the braking process and stores it in the car's lithium ion batteries. As the driver accelerates this energy will be released, adding an extra 80bhp to the machine's credentials.
Backed up by various technologies and manufacturing processes developed in both Peugeot's production and racing activities, the Onyx should also be a reliable car; calling the car's Annual Breakdown Cover provider should not be a regular event.
The Onyx will be on display at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September.