Holy Croissant Batman, it's the 907

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Tue Sep 21, 2004  And you thought the new 407 looked aggressive. The covers come off Peugeot's V12-engined ultimate GT car in Paris this week.

And you thought the new 407 looked aggressive with its supercar-style gaping grille.

Meet Peugeot's 907, the French car-maker's crack at how an ultimate GT should look. The covers officially come off the car -- together with the fuel-cell Quark quad and more conventional 1007 RC concepts -- at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday.

Yes, there are 12 intake trumpets -- count 'em -- clearly visible through that transparent panel on the long bonnet. And, yes, it's a 6.0-litre V12 lurking under there with a claimed 368kW -- a neat 500 horsepower in the old language.

There's also a sequentially-controlled six-speed manual gearbox in the mix, located ahead of the rear axle, partly we'd guess for weight distribution but also because there's not a lot of room left up front after the V12 has been shoehorned in.

Both that Batmobile-like body -- especially around the rear -- and the monocoque shell are carbon fibre. The four double wishbone suspension units have been bolted, Porsche GT-style to the shell.

Inside, the two-seater is said to be functional, too, and with some retro touches: plenty of leather and Alcantra trim and wood on the steering wheel and gearlever.

In another nod to the classics, the instrument panel is digital but the display itself is analogue. However, the centre console is decidedly this century, with a touchscreen connected to computers which control the sat-nav system and MP3 player.

Don't even ask how much it is; the 907's strictly a concept, at this stage at least. Here's hoping.