Car Auto

Despite Peugeot's presence in the United States being limited to visiting race cars and the occasional vintage import, the French company's Peugeot Onyx concept, scheduled to debut at the Paris motor show 2012, is worth a look.

Peugeot says the car weighs 1,100 kilograms, but we know they mean 2,425 lbs. They also say it comes with a 680-hp diesel-hybrid engine. Peugeot, you have our attention.

The Paris motor show concept has a striking exterior, made of concept vehicle staple: carbon fiber. In addition to the lightweight material, Peugeot has clad the fenders and doors of the Onyx in copper sheets. While not the most weight-conscious material, it was used in an effort to let the car earn a patina over time, according to the company's release.

The front intake collects air for both the cabin and for two additional roof-mounted intakes that supply oxygen to the engine. The sculpted exterior has a drag-coefficient of just 0.30.

The Onyx sports a 3.7-liter V8 diesel-hybrid HDi FAP engine that could make 680 hp. It's mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Eighty of those horses come from kinetic energy recovery, which produces electricity that is stored in lithium-ion batteries until it's used during acceleration. No torque specs were available.

The passenger compartment comprises more carbon fiber, in addition to aluminum arches. Generous applications of PolyMethyl MethAcrylate—or shatter-proof glass—keep the weight down and safety quotient up.

The interior of the Onyx is a compressed and stretched piece of fully recyclable felt, and there are no stitches throughout.

Even the dashboard and center console are made from recycled newspaper. Compressed newspapers appear in a marbled pattern as a “new wood,” says Peugeot. The “grain” of the material even mimics that of natural wood, except for the printed characters that are visible upon close inspection.

In the center console is a very unique fuel gauge. It is a blown-glass chamber with chiseled indicators that allows occupants to see fuel consumption. No word on if tapping the glass provides a more accurate reading.

Presumably, the Onyx has as much chance of seeing production as this author does at becoming the next Calvin Klein underwear model.