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Peugeot has made a show stopping supercar concept for its home motor show. To be unveiled in the flesh at Paris, the Onyx is a study of new 'raw' materials for the firm that combines the hi-tech of carbon fibre with untreated metals like copper and even a felt interior.

Exterior

Designed by enthusiasts, it would be unfair to call the Onyx ugly, so let's work with striking instead. There's carbon fibre everywhere, except on the doors, which showcase a natural copper covering; one that will weather and age with time, changing its appearance almost infinitely. There's a transparent canopy with a double-bubble roof in homage to the RCZ models, LED running lights and a distinctive vertical grille.

Interior

One single piece of felt has been stretched all the way around the cabin, covering the floor, seats, doors and dashboard - with no joins or stitching to be seen. The material even de-humidifies the air inside and replaces the soundproofing. To add to the list of wacky materials the dashboard panel is a synthetic wood made from compressed newspapers - with the letters still visible in the grain - and the instruments display their information with metal keys like those found on a piano.

Mechanicals

Having bowed out of the Le Mans endurance series the French firm clearly had some hardware left over - so the carbon fibre chassis is mated to a 600hp 3.7-litre V8 engine. The hybrid HDi FAP motor is mounted in a central rear position driving the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. The HYbrid4 system recovers the kinetic energy normally lost through braking to boost performance under acceleration automatically, and the lightweight nature of the car means it has an outstanding power-to-weight ratio - less than 2kg per hp. A flat carbon floor and movable spoiler keep the aerodynamics in check and the carbon disc brakes ensure it can stop as quickly as it accelerates.

Anything else?

The chassis has been designed with the help of Peugeot Sport, with inboard suspension and 20-inch wheels for the ultimate in handling and grip. And those copper doors may look weird, but they hide a trick opening system - the copper sheet rotates on opening, separate from the main door skin, allowing for easier entry and exit - something that is often a problem with supercars.

Graeme Lambert - 12 Sep 2012