9:55 am, September 28, 2016
ALTHOUGH the Paris Motor Show has been struck by a little drama in the lead-up to the event, with manufacturers like Mazda, Ford and Volvo withdrawing, it’s still an opportunity to see some important new vehicles.
As the show opens up its doors this week, we’re looking at the 11 most important cars there.
1. Nissan Micra
The Micra name, like the car itself, has withstood decades on sale and Nissan is keeping the car going with a new. Taking design cues from the Sway concept car shown previously, the new Micra should feature new technology and engines to bring the car back to the fore.
2. Citroen C3
Another mainstay of the city car sector, Citroen’s C3 gets a fairly vivid reinvention at the show. The characteristic Citroen ‘Airbumps’ so far only seen on the novel C4 Cactus make an appearance here, and Citroen says that the car will appeal to those who like to customise their vehicle’s appearance.
3. Peugeot 3008
Sister brand Peugeot has a some form with people carriers and showed off new versions of the 3008 and 5008 people carriers. The 3008 adds in the latest version of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit system, which aims to soothe the driver with relaxing sounds, ambient light, massage and even smells. Alongside the road cars, the 3008 DKR endurance rally car was unveiled.
4. Kia Rio
The Rio is Kia’s global best-seller, accounting for 16 per cent of the manufacturer’s sales in 2015, so the debut of this fourth generation model is a significant moment for the brand. Kia promises it will be the first vehicle in the sector to feature autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
5. Mercedes-Benz EV concept
Mercedes wants to show its green credentials too with an all-new electric car concept. From what we’ve seen of the car so far, it will be a futuristic-styled crossover – so it may not be one that reaches the roads, rather indicates the direction of future Mercedes brand models.
6. Honda Civic Type R Prototype
A sneak preview of the next generation of Honda Civic Type R, this one-off car is based on the new tenth generation Civic Hatchback. The production model will be unveiled next year and will, for the first time, be exported from Honda’s Swindon based to the USA.
7. Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Ferrari’s taking the opportunity to unveil two high-performance cars, with both the LaFerrari convertible – officially named ‘Aperta’ (Italian for ‘open’) – and the GTC4Lusso T, which uses a turbocharged V8 for the first time in a Ferrari of this type.
8. Volkswagen ID concept
Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen has been investing in electric technology recently. This new electric car concept is, like the Mercedes, unlikely to become a production model but act as an indication of the company’s future design and technology direction as it seeks to put Dieselgate behind it.
9. Renault Trezor
Sadly not a vehicle that’s going to make an appearance in production, the Trezor exists to show off new technologies and styling cues for future Renault vehicles. The 1,080mm tall concept car totes a 350hp electric powertrain, in a nod to Renault’s Formula E activities.
10. Skoda Kodiaq
Skoda’s first full-size SUV, the seven-seat Kodiaq represents a shift for the brand, with more SUVs in different sectors promised over the next nine years. Due to go on sale in February 2017, to Kodiaq claims the largest boot in the class too.
11. Land Rover Discovery
There’s few cars likely to be as important as the all-new Land Rover Discovery and it’s probably going to be the best-attended exhibit at the whole show. The brand is having something of a renaissance recently, with other new models attracting industry awards. The new design gives it more of a family face alongside the Discovery Sport and Evoque, and the updated interior should be the essence of a premium model.
MORE: Eastern Western opens flagship Nissan dealership
MORE: New assistant manager appointed at Poole Audi
MORE: Kia considers bringing fully electric Niro to market
On SuperUnleaded.com: Here’s a parking ticket you really can’t ignore
