Concept We Forgot: 1988 Peugeot Oxia

That time when Peugeot made a supercar capable of hitting 217 mph (350 kph).

1988 Peugeot Oxia concept

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Sep 14, 2016 at 1:30pm ET

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Name: Peugeot Oxia

Debuted: 1988 Paris Motor Show

Specs: mid-mounted biturbo 2.8-liter V6 engine with 670 hp (500 kW) and 535 lb-ft (720 Nm), six-speed manual gearbox, AWD, four-wheel steering, 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg) weight

Why We Remember It Now:

Well, just read the technical specifications one more time in case you’re still not convinced this is a concept worth remembering. Named after a region on Mars, the Oxia was truly a marvelous piece of engineering, featuring a lightweight body made from a combination of carbon fiber and Kevlar on an aluminum honeycomb structure. The whole chassis tipped the scales at just 180 lbs (81.6 kg) and Peugeot’s engineers installed both front and rear limited-slip differentials.

The dramatic concept was basically a race car for the roads, with some mind-blowing performances for a car of the late 80s. Speaking of which, Peugeot was rather conservative when it listed the top speed at 187 mph (300 kph), because the Oxia was actually able to reach 217 mph (350 kph) in the hands of Michelin test driver Jean-Philippe Vittecocq at the Nardo test track. The 0-60 mph (0-96 kph) sprint performance in less than five seconds still holds up even today, proving the car was in some ways ahead of its time.

But there was more to the Oxia than its remarkable specs, as it also had a futuristic shape and a very modern interior for those days. The two-seater cabin was able to provide a continuous airflow even when the car’s engine was not running thanks to the energy stored in the 18 solar cells installed at the base of the windshield. Electrically-adjustable seats and a CD player were also interesting to find on a car from that era, as were the spectacular butterfly doors.

Peugeot Quasar concept

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An evolution of the 1984 Quasar concept pictured above, the AWD machine with four-wheel steering was described by its creator as being “the very essence of the dreamer which lies hidden deep in the heart of modern man.” Peugeot also teased everyone back in the day by saying it's the car “all would like to own but nobody can.”

Here’s a quick reminder of our three most recent concepts from the series: Toyota CS&S, Pontiac Rageous, and Ferrari Rossa.