Peugeot 908 RC concept

Peugeot concept cars in recent years have tended to have had little relevance to the brand or the development of the brand's production car design language. The view of many designers we spoke to at the show was that the 908 RC was no exception; that whilst the Metisse and Nepta were logical design progressions of past Citroen and Renault concept cars that clearly inform the direction of their new production cars, the 908 RC was another Ferrari-esque flight of fancy from Peugeot's co-Director of Design, Gerald Welter that will have no consequence for future Peugeots.

We also understand that the 908, like other recent Peugeot concepts, was developed in an outside studio by Welter* and thus has had no involvement from the in-house design team except for the interior which was led by Amko Leenarts. Speaking with Gerome Galix (the other Peugeot co-Director of Design) at the show, it was clear that he also had little part in the car.

Instead of the 1966 Ferrari 275GTB inspired 907 that we saw two years ago, the 908 has the flying buttresses and shallow upright wrap around rear screen first seen on the 1967 Dino 206. But this mid-engine configuration also relates to the mid-engine Peugeot Le-Mans races cars (coincidentally also managed by Gerald Welter) and the classic Peugeot mid-engine concepts; the 1984 Quaser, 1986 Proxima and 1988 Oxia. Along with the four door cabin, this mid-engine configuration also makes a unique package and set of proportions.

A voluptuous form sweeps back from the busy and rather baroque front face to the leading edge of the front doors where a separate surface runs down the flanks (a classic mid-engine car design feature) to then stop where the rear fenders arch rearward dramatically. Inside the 908 has a contemporary and simple theme, unusual steering wheel form, and innovative secondary control interface design in the centre console. These elements combine with muted grays, dark oak wood and a Bell and Ross clock to give a reserved premium sporting identity, and seem likely to influence the forthcoming 608 production car.

[* In response to the following remark "Like other recent Peugeot concepts, (the 908) was developed in an outside studio by Welter, and thus had no involvement from the in house team" Peugeot Design has asked us if we would run the following disclaimer. Which we are doing here: Peugeot Design would like to make it clear that "this is not true...all our concept cars are imagined, designed, modelled and assembled in-house by the same team of designers, computer modellers or sculptors that conceive our production vehicles. This applies to the 908 RC, the 908 LM and all previous concept cars."]

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Renault Koleos concept

The Koleos concept of 2000 signposted that Renault was set to move into the SUV crossover sector. Six years later the Koleos concept being shown at Paris suggests that this move is now imminent.

Looking remarkably similar in proportion and concept to the Nissan Qashqai production car that debuted also at Paris, the Koleos is presented as a concept that appears to be close to its final production form (although we heard that it won't be produced for several years). A long way from the dramatically modernist original concept that had a simple large ellipse side motif, the new design has many small surface elements that seem less well resolved and give a busier feel than any other Renault.

Overall the car has a contemporary but slightly conservative aesthetic which also contributes to its lack of a premium quality which might have been expected given Renault's ambitions to move the brand's centre of gravity up-market. This is a missed opportunity for a brand that has progressively gained a valuable reputation for innovative and avant-garde cars and disappointing after the original Koleos concept.

Koleos will offer a unique proposition within the Renault range of cars of being an SUV crossover, and depending on when it is produced, will be amongst the first of this type of car in Europe. Much of the success of this type of car derives from their tough and leisure orientated SUV style image mixed with MPV practicality, so given Renault's strong MPV credentials, Koleos will be a logical, if rather conservatively executed, forthcoming addition to the range.

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Toyota Auris Space concept

The Auris is one of the most important new car debuts at Paris. For this is the car that will replace the Corolla, the world's best selling car. With its new name, it is clear that the Auris is looking to establish a different image from that of the competent but rather dull Corolla. But within the first few seconds of seeing the car it is clear that it will fail in this.

Designed at ED2, Toyota's European design centre, the Auris is presented as a concept car preview of the production car. Large wheels, colors, materials, lamp details and bumpers will change, but even these mild modifications to the showroom model do not disguise a car no more remarkable than was the current generation Corolla at launch in 2001.

Initially it appears that the Auris is very close proportionally to its predecessor and other cars in the European C-sector that it is targeting in particular, but at 1530mm it is tall - 80 mm taller than a Focus and half way between Golf and Golf Plus. This added height combines with some of the best technical packaging in the class (witness the shorter than competitors front overhang despite conforming to the new pedestrian impact legislation) to mean that the car has leading interior space just as its smaller sibling the Yaris does in the class below. But the added height also contributes to the car looking dumpy which is then exacerbated by the DLO that kinks up at both ends and full-depth body colour sides.

At the front is the car's strongest design feature: a recessed surface running over much of the hood, down through the front and then picking up in the lower grille graphic. A slight bustle back tail, well integrated logos, and a storage space behind the high positioned gear lever (similar to the Volvo S40) are other notable features.