The Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


The 2002 Paris Motor Show - September 2002

The Car Enthusiast have not covered the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile previously. Even though we are dedicated to reporting from the major international motor shows every year, we have not considered the Paris Show to be as important as, say, the British Motor Show. The 2002 Paris Show could not be ignored though. Not only was the show used to debut several key new models, it was also brimming with new concept cars - for which you have probably noticed, we have a weakness...

Only time constraints prevent us from giving you a detailed run down on each of the important displays. We have compiled a gallery of the cars on show and some press releases from the car makers themselves, which hopefully will satiate your appetite for information. Of course, the trouble with all these exciting new cars and dream concepts is that we want to drive them now! Well, we certainly hope to in the near future. Some of you will have noticed that the road testing of new cars has become a major part of the site. This is directly because of your feedback. Hopefully you approve. As you have already shown, you will certainly let me know!

In true Car Enthusiast tradition, we will be updating this page periodically as material comes in. With the British Motor Show but a few weeks away though, we certainly have our hands full. I hope you enjoy our coverage. Your comments, suggestions and ramblings are always appreciated via email.

Audi
Audi showed the all-new A8 to the public in Paris for the first time. The car looks great, though the VW Group brand strategy is beginning to confuse me...
  • 2003 Audi A8 - all-new model

    Bentley
    What can I say? Bentley have exceeded expectations with the new Continental GT. It manages to be utterly contemporary, yet unmistakenly a Bentley. It may not be British anymore, but you have to wonder if that is going to matter.
  • Bentley Continental GT - all-new model

    BMW
  • BMW at the Paris Show

    Honda
    The best-selling Accord has had its most radical overhaul to date. Honda have tried to give the saloon a sportier edge, and the new estate version (sorry, "Tourer") is not your typical work horse. The launch of the 30th Anniversary version of the Civic Type R is just another excuse for us to feature a photograph of the car... More worthy perhaps is Honda's dedication to hybrid technology. The 2003 Civic Hybrid was on show, and should be available in 2003.
  • 2003 Honda Accord - all-new model

    Jaguar
    The new aluminium-bodied Jaguar XJ is a very important new model for the British-based firm. It looks great, and in my opinion features useful technology, as opposed to some of Jaguar's rivals. It couldn't come a moment too soon either, as it is widely known that the Ford Motor Company (Jaguar's owner) is not particularly flush at present.
  • 2003 Jaguar XJ - all-new model
  • 2003 Jaguar XJ launch videos

    Nissan
  • 2003 Nissan Micra - all-new model

    Opel
  • Opel / Vauxhall Eco-Speedster - diesel-powered sports car concept

    Peugeot
  • Peugeot at the Paris Show - concepts and new cars
  • Peugeot 206 GTi 180 - new addition to the 206 range
  • Peugeot H2O fire-fighter - fuel-cell powered concept car
  • 2003 Peugeot Partner Combi - facelift

    Toyota
    The Toyota stand in Paris was not the most interesting one to the avid car fan, though more observant enthusiasts would have noticed the minor tweaks to the Celica and MR2. If you are into your off-road vehicles then the all-new Land Cruiser was on display, as was the heavily facelifted Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon. If I was being cruel, I could say that it is called the Amazon because it... never mind...
  • 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon - facelift
  • 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser - all-new model
  • 2003 Toyota Celica - minor tweaks
  • 2003 Toyota MR2 - minor tweaks

    Volvo
  • Volvo S60R & V70R - new sporting flagship models

    Just click on the thumbnails to view a high-resolution image.


  • The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The new Citroen C3 Pluriel joins the growing ranks of small cars sporting open tops. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The all-new 2003 Nissan Micra. Photograph by Nissan. Click here for a larger image. The Renault Ellypse concept car. Photograph by Renault. Click here for a larger image. The Peugeot H2O fire-engine concept car. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The new-look Subara Impreza STi. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image.

    Audi

    The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Audi A8. Photograph by Audi. Click here for a larger image.

    Bentley

    The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Bentley Continental GT. Photograph by Bentley. Click here for a larger image.

    Citroen

    The Citroen Berlingo Multispace has been facelifted for 2003. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The inspired Citroen C3 Pluriel. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The Citroen C-airdream concept car looks like a Bertone design from the eighties. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image. The Citroen C-airdream concept car looks like a Bertone design from the eighties. Photograph by Citroen. Click here for a larger image.

    Honda

    The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Accord. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image. The Honda Civic Type R 30th Anniversary model. Photograph by Honda. Click here for a larger image.

    Jaguar

    The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Jaguar XJ. Photograph by Jaguar. Click here for a larger image.

    Mazda

    The Mazda2 (Demio in Japan). Photograph by Mazda. Click here for a larger image. The Mazda2 (Demio in Japan). Photograph by Mazda. Click here for a larger image. The Mazda2 (Demio in Japan). Photograph by Mazda. Click here for a larger image. The muscular Mazda6 MPS concept car - hopefully a preview of a forthcoming Impreza rival. Photograph by Mazda. Click here for a larger image.

    Nissan

    The Nissan C+C concept is aimed squarely at the Peugeot 206CC. Photograph by Nissan. Click here for a larger image. The Nissan C+C concept is aimed squarely at the Peugeot 206CC. Photograph by Nissan. Click here for a larger image. The all-new 2003 Nissan Micra. Photograph by Nissan. Click here for a larger image. The all-new 2003 Nissan Micra. Photograph by Nissan. Click here for a larger image.

    Peugeot

    The new Peugeot 206 GTi 180. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The new Peugeot 206 GTi 180. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The Peugeot 307CC concept is a thinly disguised production car - 3(heart)7 is the real concept car name. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The Peugeot H2O fire-engine concept car. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The Peugeot Sesame concept. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The new-look Peugeot Partner Combi. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image. The new-look Peugeot Partner Combi. Photograph by Peugeot. Click here for a larger image.

    Renault

    The Renault Ellypse concept car. Photograph by Renault. Click here for a larger image. The Renault Ellypse concept car. Photograph by Renault. Click here for a larger image. The Renault Ellypse concept car. Photograph by Renault. Click here for a larger image. The Renault Ellypse concept car. Photograph by Renault. Click here for a larger image.

    Subaru

    The 2003 new-look Subara Impreza Wagon. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza WRX. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza WRX. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza WRX. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza STi. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza STi. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 Subara Impreza STi. Photograph by Subaru. Click here for a larger image.

    Toyota

    The 2003 model year Toyota Celica. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota Celica. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota MR2. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota MR2. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota Land Cruiser. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota Land Cruiser. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image. The 2003 model year Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon. Photograph by Toyota. Click here for a larger image.
     

    Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives Copyright 1999-2024 ©