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Motorshows homepage -> 2012 Paris Motor Show
2012 Paris Motor Show -
Shane O' Donoghue, Graeme Lambert, Paul Healy, Kyle Fortune
Someone sang about springtime in Paris, but in the car world there's no time like autumn - every two years that is, as that's when the French motor show takes place. The 2012 edition was a corker. We've got our usual A-Z format below, plus full articles and image galleries to the left.
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Audi
Audi never lets a big show go by without unveiling a few new production models and a concept or two and Paris was no different. As expected the five-door version of the new A3 - called the Sportback of course - was unveiled alongside the hot S3 variant. The facelifted Audi R8 made the trip from its world debut in Moscow too. We already knew the RS 5 Cabriolet and SQ5 exclusive limited edition would be in attendance so no shock there. In fact the only surprise came in the guise of the Crosslane Coupé concept that appears to preview a Range Rover Evoque rivalling Q2 mini-SUV.
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Bentley
Bentley signalled its intent to return to the race track with the Continental GT3, a racecar based on the new Continental GT Speed - the fastest car Bentley has ever made. Currently in development the car is expected to take to the circuit some time in 2013.
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BMW
A decidedly quiet stand (by BMW standards) with the Concept Active Tourer attracting most of the attention, more because it previews a front-drive model for the first time in BMW history than for its relatively conventional shape. Alongside the concept BMW debuted the four-wheel drive 1 Series xDrive and gave an outing to several new cars we've driven already, including the updated 7 Series and the 3 Series Touring.
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Chevrolet
The Chevrolet Trax (a Vauxhall Mokka with that distinctive 'bow-tie' badge and grille) made its debut in Paris alongside a facelifted version of the Spark supermini.
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Citroen
As this was Citroen's home show we were somewhat disappointed that there were no surprises in store. The DS3 Cabrio starred alongside the updated C3 Picasso, an electric DS3 and special editions of the DS4 and DS5. Citroen also wheeled out the C4 L, C-Elysée and Numéro 9 concept - none of which we will be getting in the UK.
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Dacia
Renault's Romanian budget brand unveiled the Sandero Stepway, a crossover version of the Sandero hatchback, which will arrive in the UK in Spring next year. Also unveiled was the updated Sandero that arrives in November this year and the Logan MPV that does not look like it will be coming to the UK.
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Ferrari
With the F70 Enzo successor not expected until Geneva next year Ferrari used the Paris Motor Show to display the complex carbon-fibre structure that will underpin the hybrid hypercar. Also on hand were the F12berlinetta, the 458 in both Italia and Spider guise and an FF complete with panoramic glass roof.
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Fiat
No sign of the 500L-based crossover but Fiat did debut the third generation Panda 4x4 and Panda Trekking - the latter a car that has the looks of an off-roader without that expensive four-wheel drive stuff. There was also the Panda Natural fuel that runs on a combination of methane and petrol. The Abarth performance division unveiled the rather bizarre looking Fuori Serie that signifies the marque's move into custom personalisation.
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Ford
As Ford hosted its 'Go Further' event before the Paris Motor Show it showed its hand earlier than most. The Fiesta has been facelifted inside and out and the supermini sports six engines under 100g/km (four of which are new), a six-speed Powershift automatic gearbox and an ECOnetic Technology model with over 85mpg promised. We also got a second look at the new Mondeo and Fiesta-based EcoSport mini-SUV.
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Honda
Paris marked the European debut of Honda's new CR-V SUV. There was also a world premiere for the revised CR-Z hybrid coupé and the 1.6-litre diesel Civic.
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Hyundai
Hyundai had a big trick up its sleeve in the form of the i20 WRC that will compete on rally circuits worldwide next year. So heavy was the clamour for the factory backed WRC car that we almost missed the unveiling of the three-door version of the i30 and the fuel-cell powered ix35.
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Jaguar
So the F-Type looks gorgeous inside and out and comes with a choice of supercharged V6 or V8 engines and plenty of performance. There's also plenty of money to be spent on one as well, as the firm reveals you'll need around £58,500 just to get behind the wheel of the 'entry-level' version. We look forward to getting our hands on it to see if it lives up to the substantial hype.
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Kia
The Korean manufacturer revealed an all-new Carens MPV in Paris, alongside the three-door pro_cee'd, a Euro-spec Optima Hybrid and a facelifted Sorento SUV.
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Lamborghini
Lamborghini extended the Gallardo's life with another facelift (though bizarrely only for four-wheel drive models) that apparently brings the looks of the Aventador big brother. There was also a pair of special edition Gallardo models announced. No sign of the Urus sports SUV though.
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Land Rover
Star of the Land Rover stand was understandably the all-new Range Rover, complete with a smooth new look and aluminium construction. The facelifted Freelander 2 made the trip from Moscow - where it enjoyed its own world premiere - to join its big brother in Paris.
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Lexus
Having wowed audiences in Detroit with the LF-LC coupé, Lexus unveiled the next iteration of the concept known as the LF-CC. The striking looking coupé-cabriolet show car is expected to spawn an all-new IS model eventually. Alongside the LF-CC was the updated LS line-up that included an F Sport model for the first time.
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Maserati
The Trident brand pulled the covers off an updated version of the GranCabrio called the GranCabrio MC. Much more exciting was the news that the Kubang SUV concept will go into production and will be called the Levante, a new version of the Quattroporte is on the way and in time it will be joined by a smaller saloon called the Ghibli.
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Mazda
The Mazda6 saloon made the journey from Moscow to join its estate sibling that was making its debut in Paris. Is it wrong that we prefer the look of the estate? A mild facelift for the MX-5 was also revealed.
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McLaren
As one of the final unveils of the show the McLaren P1 'design study' ran the risk of being overshadowed early on. No such problem as the car that is expected to become the successor to the legendary F1 looks even better in the flesh than it does in pictures.
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Mercedes-Benz
As the Audi R8 e-tron didn't make an appearance Mercedes-Benz managed to steal all the electric supercar thunder with the SLS AMG electric drive coupé. Promising to offer the same performance as the petrol-powered SLS but with zero emissions the electric version is likely to be ungodly expensive with reports pointing to a figure of £300,000 - twice as much as the regular car. Mercedes also showed the Aesthetics S, a design study that will become the next generation S-Class.
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MINI
MINI gave the production-ready Paceman coupé its world debut in Paris, but most petrolhead journalists were fixated with the limited edition John Cooper Works GP model.
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Mitsubishi
Paris played host to the launch of Mitsubishi's much talked about plug-in hybrid Outlander - the world's first plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive crossover. Hidden somewhere behind the Outlander was the new Mirage city car and facelifted ASX.
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Nissan
Special editions of the Qashqai and Micra aside the big draw on the Nissan stand was undoubtedly the TeRRA concept. The hydrogen-powered 'design study' will not make it into production as is but the technology could make its way to next generation LEAF models, and we would not be too surprised to see elements of the styling pop up on the next generation Qashqai.
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Peugeot
Peugeot went all out for its home show with the spectacular Onyx supercar concept constantly surrounded by photographers. Much more relevant was the new 208 GTi and its R5 rally alter-ego. Then there was the facelifted (and faster) RCZ and a 2008 compact crossover. Phew!
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Porsche
Out CLS-ing the CLS Shooting Brake with its very own fast lifestyle estate the Panamera Sport Turismo is billed purely as a concept for now. Believe us when we say, given time, a watered down version of this sexy hybrid lifestyle load lugger will make its way into showrooms ready to do battle with the mighty Benz. There was also a 911 Carrera 4 on the stand too apparently - and the Cayenne S Diesel.
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Renault
Star of Renault's stand was the all-new Clio, along with its Renaultsport 200 Turbo alter ego. Purists will lament the loss of the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine and six-speed manual transmission but we will reserve judgement on the new RS until we get behind the wheel. The electric Zoe was also on hand in production-ready format.
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SEAT
Did SEAT manage to out-Golf the Golf with its all-new Leon model? Based on the same MQB architecture as the Volkswagen the Leon is unquestionably a better looking, more adventurous car.
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Smart
Oh we hope that Smart puts the Forstars into production. We can live without the bonnet mounted film-projector that turns any wall into a drive-in cinema; we just want a new version of the cult Roadster Coupé.
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SsangYong
We have seen this Evoque aping SsangYong before but the e-XIV ups the concept car ante by featuring a range extended EV powertrain that its predecessor did not.
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Suzuki
After the teaser pictures came the reality and we are impressed by the S-Cross concept. Destined to replace the aging SX4 crossover, Suzuki hopes the S-Cross can snatch buyers from Volkswagen and Ford.
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Toyota
Toyota launched an entire Auris family in Paris with petrol, diesel and Hybrid versions of the Golf-sized hatchback unveiled alongside an estate model, called Touring Sports - and the Verso mini-MPV that receives the Auris look.
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Vauxhall/Opel
The dubiously named Adam came in for the most attention on the Vauxhall/Opel stand with its myriad personalisation options on display. Paris also hosted the first public outings for the facelifted Astra and the Mokka mini-SUV.
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Volkswagen
The Golf Mark VII was meant to be the star of the show but then Volkswagen pulled the covers off several examples of a 220hp GTI version. Officially badged as concepts the cars looked decidedly production-ready with a 'performance pack' already on hand to boost power by 10hp.
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Volvo
Volvo's stand was all about the V40 with R-Design and Cross Country models on display.
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