Peugeot Onyx concept car revealed
* Peugeot Onyx concept for 2012 Paris motor show * Carbonfibre and copper bodywork * No plans for production version...
This is the Peugeot Onyx concept car, which will be unveiled at the 2012 Paris motor show later this month.
The Onyx is the latest in a line of Peugeot supercar concepts and, as with predecessors such as the Oxia and 907, there are no plans for a production version.
Instead, the Onyx highlights possible design and material cues for future Peugeot models. Although the Onyx's dramatic low-slung shape won't transfer to Peugeot's mainstream models, the shape of the front grille and headlights could give a clue to how cars such as the replacement for the current Peugeot 308 and 3008 could look.
Chief designer Gilles Vidal told What Car?: 'The front end will shape out personality. It takes our DNA further and we will will the shape of the lights and the grille in the future'.
Vidal also admitted that future models also feature a smaller grille in the mould of the recently launched 208 supermini. 'We need to look more environmental and articulate efficiencies,' he said.
Peugeot's next all-new model is expected to be a replacement for the 308 hatch - which will keep its 308 badge - rather than share a name with the old 309. It will go on sale before the end of next year.
Peugeot says the Onyx has been created using materials that have been processed as little as possible. The exterior panels are either polished copper or painted carbonfibre.
Onyx Concept car has a diesel hybrid powertrain that develops 680bhp
The interior is a 'one-piece pod' made of compressed felt, with no stitching or joins. The seat sections have foam areas beneath, to create padding.
Bodywork is constructed from carbonfibre and polished copper
Peugeot describes the material used for the dashboard as 'newspaper wood'. It's created from recycled newspapers, which are then compressed and formed into new 'logs'.
A Hybrid4 powertrain combines a 3.7-litre V8 diesel engine with an electric motor for a maximum of 680bhp.
