The Paris Motor Show is one of the most high-profile auto shows in the world, alternating with the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany every other year. The auto show attracts all sorts of brands and is a spotlight for all the latest designs and auto industry opportunities. The latest concept cars, green cars, supercars and so on can all be found here. The Paris Motor Show kicked off on October 2 and is expected to last until October 19. Here is a round-up of some of the most impressive vehicle reveals thus far:
Best Concept Car: Infiniti Q80
Infiniti made a statement in Paris with the official unveiling of the Q80 Inspiration concept sedan. This car is defined by its attractive fastback look, which involves neutral silver exterior paint, fastback lines, a glass-roofed greenhouse and “portal” style doors. However, there is no B-pillar to get in the way of entering or exiting the vehicle. It looks like a true modern luxury vehicle that’s beyond anything that Infiniti has ever made in the past.
As for its potential powertrains – Infiniti has mentioned that there would be a gas-electric drivetrain, but hasn’t specified power and efficiency.
Best Hybrid Car: Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Believe it or not, Porsche offers the greatest variety of plug-in hybrids of all the automakers. This year, the German automaker adds to its plug-in hybrid lineup the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid. The SUV is based on the recently-redesigned Cayenne, but it’s what’s under the hood what sets this vehicle apart from its predecessor.
The Cayenne S E-Hybrid gets a 3.0-litre V6 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission as well as an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack that generates 95 horsepower.
Best Supercar: Aston Martin V12
Aston Martin brought the V12 Vantage S Roadster to the Paris Motor Show for its European debut.
This supercar is equipped with a 6.0-litre V12 engine that can generate 565 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. This car launches from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of almost 325 kilometres per hour.
Best Economy Car: Updated Kia Rio
Kia has revealed a few updated cars at the Paris Motor Show, and the best-selling Rio was one of them. The design team focused on redesigning the exterior, interior and drivetrain of this car to top the 470,000 units that Kia sold in 2013.
The front grille and nose updates include a new bumper and the addition of fog lights. The wheels also get a new design, being offered in 15-, 16- and 17-inch sizes. New colour options and a new rear bumper round up the exterior changes. Interior upgrades include chrome accents around the air vents, a new centre stack and audio system. A new infotainment system with faster processing is also an optional feature. The powertrain is expected to stay almost the same on the U.S. market, with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine under the hood that can produce 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque.
Most Talked About Car: Tesla “D”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk made an announcement last week, stating that it is “about time to unveil the D.” All jokes aside, the rumours are getting a lot of attention about what this could possibly mean, and while we’ll have to wait until the official unveiling on October 9, we have a few ideas on what to expect.
A Tesla fan has recently spotted a new Model S with badging that read “P85D.” It is known that the P85 stands for the 85-kilowatt model; the “D” has remained a mystery until a recent press guide stated that Tesla was scheduled to reveal the “Model S All Wheel Drive.” The speculation is that the “D” stands for “dual motor” – as in one motor for the front axle and one motor for the rear. Musk has already said that the Model X crossover will have all-wheel drive, so the company is clearly already working on the technology.
Stay tuned for more updates as they come!
