2004 Peugeot 907 Concept

Classically Proportioned but Radically Modern

Mazda5, Ford Focus, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Hyundai Sonata; each of these volume models are vehicles that you might expect to

The gorgeous 907 Concept is Peugeot's finest supercar to date, blending state of the art technologies with concours grace. (Photo: Peugeot)

highlight a prestigious motor show. For the automakers that make them, the 2005 Paris Salon is an event to which the world can catch a glimpse of what will be on the road in the months to come. But there's one car that's expected to upstage all these at this year's Paris Salon, the Peugeot 907, a six liter V12 powered concept described as a "classical modern" supercar. This is Peugeot's answer to the recent supercar wave, capped off recently by the front-engined Mercedes-McLaren SLR, and it will definitely be the event's showstopper.

Unlike previous supercar concepts that the French firm created in years past, such as the late '80s Proxima, Oxia and Quasar, as well as last year's beetle-shaped 4002, the 907 is a front-engined, rear-wheel driven vehicle, a non-traditional design as far as the record books show. The two-seater supercar could almost fall into the category of 'Grand Tourer', but it's faster, lighter and sportier than your average boulevardier. The dramatic 22nd-meets-21st century 907 measures in at 4.37 meters (172.0 in)

The 907 applies the shape of any serious front-engined sports car, which includes a gracefully long hood up front, a pushed back cockpit and short tail end. (Photo: Peugeot)

long, 1.88 meters (74.0 in) wide and 1.21 meters (47.6 in) high, while riding on a relatively long 2.50 meter (98.4 in) wheelbase.

Any serious front-engined sports car, including all Aston Martins, Corvettes, Vipers, Jaguar E-Types, Nissan Zs, the Ferrari 575 M, or for that matter a 250 Testarossa or even the Batmobile, feature a long-nosed layout necessary for balancing weight. It's always up to the design team to find a style that works with this physical design. The new corporate face, single-handedly introduced by Peugeot's 407 sedan has been applied to the 907: a massive, mouth-like intake on the car's lower valance, cat's eyes headlamps which stretch back into the fenders, and a large, single ornament on the trailing edge of the car's nose.