It’s been more than two decades since Peugeot pulled out of the U.S. market, a decision it has openly regretted ever since. But now, after years of mulling its options, the struggling French maker appears ready to stage a return.
Several top officials discussed their options during appearances at the Paris Motor Show in recent days, and the indications are that any revival would likely focus on Peugeot’s most exclusive brand, DS. The maker gave a hint of what Americans might expect with the unveiling of the new Divine concept car at this year’s auto show.
The occupants become one with a uniform part, which also reduces weight. Their sporting comfort has been incorporated with the insertion of foam, under the felt, in the areas of contact with the body.
Warm and soft, the felt originates from an ancestral tradition. Obtained from boiled wool, with intertwined fibres, this material is fully recyclable and provides excellent thermal insulation. In addition, it improves the quality of the surrounding air by dehumidifying it.
"For the interior, I was inspired by an everyday object, the egg box. With remarkable economy of material, it protects very fragile items. I adapted the concept into an intuitive space, with a minimum of connected parts, to become one with the car." Julien Cueff, Onyx Interior Stylist
On board, the driver finds each control without having to take his eyes off the road. The small steering wheel
with felt rim falls naturally into the driver's hands and gives an immediate feeling of agility. On its carbon hub the aluminium controls operate the functions of the Onyx, while paddles control the gearbox.
The dashboard is made of a new type of "wood", Newspaper Wood. It is produced from used newspapers, assembled and compressed to create new ‘logs' from which the parts are made. The illusion is perfect, with grains which run across the surface. On closer inspection it reveals the secret with the appearance of printed characters.
The dashboard houses the instrument panel in a head up position. On the instrument panel surround, the engine speed and vehicle speed are indicated by metal parts, appearing or disappearing like the keys of a piano. As for the operation of the hybrid engine, this is indicated by digital screens.
A panel of aluminium toggle switches is installed in the roof, including the engine starting switch. Immediately behind this, a strip displays the images from the rear view cameras: two located in the mirrors, the third, panoramic, in the rear capping.
Also made from Newspaper Wood, the console features a unique fuel indicator, shaped from blown-glass by a master craftsman. This fuel chamber, displays the level of fuel visible against finely chiselled indication marks. Also, diffused in the passenger compartment by its vents, the fragrance reproduces the essence of the materials used. Finally, the console houses the dual-zone air conditioning controls, with an aluminium bar with a milled detail finish.
Onyx, like its accomplished Peugeot Concept predecessors, exudes the skills of the talented engineers and designers, introducing new techniques and innovative materials to produce a stylish design with extreme performance that inspires excitement and desirability, while providing a glimpse of the theme of thinking with the future in mind.
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