The French are no strangers to the supercar, with Bugatti originally hailing from the country, and as the Veyron reaches the end of the production line, a rival model is being introduced, namely the Genty Akylone. At first glance there seems to be nothing outstanding about the design, but the beauty of this beast lies in its incredible performance. Powered by a twin turbocharged 4.8-liter V8, the Akylone produces 1000bhp and 940lb-ft of torque promising a 0-62mph of 2.7 seconds.

Matching the time set by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the immense power will be channeled to the rear wheels via an Xtrac 7-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters, whilst the chassis will be a blend of carbon-fiber and aluminum.

Described by Genty Automotive as representing "the ultimate expression of pleasure and automotive passion", the Akylone "symbolizes the values of the prestigious French craftsmanship industry [that] embodies the subtle alchemy between pure performance and emotion that can only be conveyed by a work of art." Pretty prose for a monstrous supercar that delivers a top speed of 220mph and that can accelerate from 0-124mph in 7.2 seconds. With just 15 units to be produced you can expect a hefty price-tag that should be made public when the Akylone eventually takes a bow at the Paris Motor Show 2012.