Remember when Peugeot built a car out of copper and recycled newspaper?

Published on Feb 18, 2022 at 11:50 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis

Last updated on Apr 28, 2022 at 4:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Peugeot is a brand not afraid to experiment and that’s just what they did in 2012 when it launched a prototype car called ‘Onyx’.

In my view, this still remains one of the most fascinating concept cars ever created: a mid-engined, 2-door coupe with what Peugeot calls ‘half-scissor’ doors. 

Powered by the same 3.7-litre V8 hybrid-diesel that Peugeot used for the 2011 Le Mans race, it puts out 680 hp and it only weighs 1,100 kg which is why it manages to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 360 mph. 

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Peugeot being Peugeot, threw convention out the window and used carbon fibre and copper, yes copper, to build the bodywork. 

The seats? Convention was thrown to the wind with those too, making them from recycled newspapers. 

And on top of that, they also made a bicycle and a sofa using the same design language, similar materials (apart from the sofa, which is made of rock, literally) and the same name.

Unfortunately, and rather unsurprisingly, Peugeot never actually built a production version so the Onyx is simply a museum piece that they own and can use to showcase what they’re capable of. 

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Experienced content creator with a strong focus on cars and watches. Alessandro penned the first-ever post on the Supercar Blondie website and covers cars, watches, yachts, real estate and crypto. Former DriveTribe writer, fixed gear bike owner, obsessed with ducks for some reason.