Name the first French supercar that comes to mind – did anything pop up without looking at Wikipedia? We thought so. France's automakers may be quite able at creating successful compact models, but success in premium segments has so far, eluded them - and a supercar is definitely out of the question.
This hasn't stopped their designers from sharpening their pencils on extravagant concepts that grace auto shows all over the world. With the latest event taking place in Paris, something exciting was definitely on the menu.
Peugeot took care of that with its impressive Onyx concept, a 4.65 meters long and 2,425-pound (or approx 1,100 kilograms) supercar that is powered by a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain comprising a 3.7-liter V8 with 600 hp that drives the rear wheels and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) converting braking energy into electricity, which is then stored in the lithium-ion battery and offers an additional 80 hp.
A masterpiece in matte black paint, Onyx's most striking features are the two huge swathes of polished copper that adorn both sides. Each side is made from a single piece of copper and, other than extensive polishing, the material is unprotected from the elements. The goal here, says Peugeot, is that the copper panels will change and evolve over time with oxidation.
The interior of the Onyx is nearly as impressive as the body and powertrain, with a single, neutral-colored, floor-to-ceiling material that looks a lot like wall-to-wall carpeting, but in a cool French way. Seats are barely discernable from the non-seat portion of the interior, and the whole thing looks about as wild and impractical as you'd want from your typical billion-dollar steampunk concept supercar.
Despite being based on existing technology and featuring some production design themes, such as the new grille and the RCZ’s aluminum arches and double bubble roof, the Onyx will remain just a concept. (See Onyx scooter concept). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSCOOP | AUTOBLOG]
This hasn't stopped their designers from sharpening their pencils on extravagant concepts that grace auto shows all over the world. With the latest event taking place in Paris, something exciting was definitely on the menu. 
