Peugeot is going through a difficult time but the Paris show is “proof of our ongoing product offensive”, said incoming Peugeot brand boss Maxime Picat.

“We’re adding emotion to our brand and will emerge stronger from this crisis,” added Picat, who moved to his new role this week from Peugeot in China.

Emotion is key to the Peugeot brand, he said, speaking at the unveiling of the Onyx concept car which he described as a “symphony of different materials.”

The concept uses carbon, felt, copper and ‘newspaper wood’ and hints at future production models, noted design chief Gilles Vidal.