Paris Motor Show 2012 preview
Our A to Z guide of what to look out for at this week's Paris Motor Show
Storming its way on to <a href="/audi/">Audi</a>’s stand is the <a href="/audi/rs5/60078/audi-rs5-cabriolet-unveiled">444bhp RS5 Cabriolet</a>. It’s fitted with the same 4.2-litre V8 engine as the coupe, and covers 0-62mph in 4.9 secon
A new performance flagship is the big draw. The <a href="/bentley/continental-gt/59816/bentley-continental-gt-speed-full-details">Continental GT Speed</a> packs 616bhp from its 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, and uses a new eight-speed auto
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<a href="/bmw/">BMW</a> is breaking with tradition with the debut of its first-ever front-wheel-drive model, on sale in 2014. The <a href="/bmw/60236/bmw-concept-active-tourer">Concept Active Tourer</a> is about the same size as a <a h
A value-for-money version of the <a href="/vauxhall/mokka/">Vauxhall Mokka</a>, the <a href="/chevrolet/35581/chevrolet-trax-revealed">Chevrolet Trax</a>, is making its debut. Offered in both two and four-wheel drive, with prices from
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For its home show, <a href="/citroen/">Citroen</a> has chopped the roof off its <a href="/mini/">MINI</a> rival. The <a href="/citroen/ds3/59967/citroen-ds3-cabriolet">DS3 Cabriolet</a> gets a folding cloth top that peels back in the s
<a href="/renault/">Renault</a> budget brand introduces the <a href="/dacia/sandero/60298/new-dacia-sandero">Sandero supermini</a>. It’s set to cost £7,000 – around £2,000 less than the cheapest <a href="/ford/fiesta/">Ford Fiesta</a>.
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Star of <a href="/fiat/">Fiat</a>’s stand is the third-generation <a href="/fiat/panda/59955/fiat-panda-4x4">Panda 4x4</a>. It offers a choice of an 84bhp 900cc TwinAir turbo two-cylinder petrol engine or a 74bhp 1.3-litre Multijet II
The <a href="/ford/mondeo/60076/new-ford-mondeo-hatchback-and-estate-unveiled">new Mondeo</a> is the centrepiece of <a href="/ford/">Ford</a>’s <a href="/paris-motor-show/">Paris</a> stand. It’s loaded with tech and will come with the
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The <a href="/honda/cr-z/60363/honda-cr-z-debuts">CR-Z</a> has been given a few exterior and interior tweaks, while power has been upped from the 1.5-litre petrol electric drivetrain. There’s also a <a href="/honda/cr-z/60253/honda-cr-
The <a href="/hyundai/i30/60258/hyundai-i30-3dr-revealed">three-door Hyundai i30</a> is unveiled at Paris and completes the <a href="/hyundai/i30/">i30</a> line-up. It gets a new front grille and should be £300 cheaper than the five-do
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The most eagerly anticipated car at this year’s event has made an early entrance. A single picture of the production-ready <a href="/jaguar/f-type/60347/jaguar-f-type-leaked">Jaguar F-Type Roadster</a> was released ahead of its global
The big news is the <a href="/kia/proceed/60205/kia-proceed-revealed">Pro_cee’d</a>, which is significantly different to the five-door on which it’s based, with an aggressive new look. Just as important for <a href="/kia/">Kia</a> is t
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The highly anticipated <a href="/land-rover/range-rover/59726/new-range-rover-revealed">Range Rover</a> makes its motor show debut and is the main attraction on <a href="/land-rover/">Land Rover</a>’s Paris stand. It gets a much improv
The <a href="/lexus/is/60268/lexus-lf-cc-concept">LF-CC concept</a> is the big deal here. The 200bhp hybrid coupe previews the next-generation <a href="/lexus/is/">IS</a>, including an all-new two-door coupe version and an ultra-effici
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Mazda's big unveil is the <a href="/mazda/6/60066/mazda-6-estate-debut-paris">estate version of the 6</a>, which was <a href="/mazda/6/59930/mazda-6-revealed">seen as a saloon at the Moscow Motor Show</a>. It’s arguably even more hands
The prize for fastest car of the show goes to the <a href="/mclaren/60309/mclaren-p1-revealed">McLaren P1</a>, a track-focused hypercar to take on the <a href="/ferrari/">Ferrari</a> Enzo and the <a href="/porsche/">Porsche</a> 918 Spy
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One of the biggest draws isn’t a car at all. The <a href="/mercedes/s-class/60033/mercedes-aesthetics-s-concept">S-Class sculpture</a> shows how the new model will shape up, while <a href="/mercedes/">Mercedes</a> is showcasing the tec
The <a href="/mini/countryman/">Countryman</a>-based <a href="/mini/paceman/60226/mini-paceman-revealed">Paceman crossover</a> is MINI’s star offering in Paris. It combines a raised ride height with a coupe body and is available with t
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The most striking car <a href="/nissan/">Nissan</a> has at Paris is the <a href="/nissan/60155/nissan-terra-concept">TeRRA concept</a>. It’s powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and features the Leaf’s electric motor to drive the front whee
It's still just a concept, but the <a href="/peugeot/rcz/60146/peugeot-rcz-facelift">RCZ R</a> looks certain for production. It gets a 260bhp 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine. The big news, though, is that it heralds the arrival of
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The buzz on <a href="/porsche/">Porsche</a>’s stand surrounds the <a href="/porsche/911/59883/porsche-911-carrera-4">911 Carrera 4 and 4S Coupe</a>. The new cars have advanced four-wheel drive, so are more agile as well as more powerfu
Paris is <a href="/renault/">Renault</a>’s home show, and it’s displaying the <a href="/renault/clio/34985/new-renault-clio-revealed">all-new Clio</a>. It’s longer, lower and wider than the current car and will be sold as five-door onl
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The sharp <a href="/seat/leon/60366/new-leon-debut-paris">new Leon</a> provides the flair on SEAT’s stand. It uses the same advanced MQB platform as the new <a href="/audi/a3/">Audi A3</a> and Mk7 <a href="/volkswagen/golf/">VW Golf</a
<a href="/smart/">Smart</a> is showing the <a href="/smart/fortwo/60223/smart-forstars-concept">ForStars concept</a>, which previews the next Smart ForTwo and ForFour models. Under the beefy styling is a new Brabus-tuned electric drive
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This hybrid crossover concept is <a href="/ssangyong/">SsangYong</a>’s star at Paris. It’s called the <a href="/ssangyong/60132/ssangyong-e-xiv-concept">e-XIV</a> and it previews a production model set to take on the <a href="/nissan/j
An <a href="/toyota/auris/60104/new-toyota-auris-range-debuts-paris">all-new Auris</a> is the main attraction on <a href="/toyota/">Toyota</a>’s stand, with a sleeker design and improved cabin quality. The hybrid offers 74.3mpg and 87g
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Centre of attention on <a href="/vauxhall/">Vauxhall</a>’s stand is the controversially named <a href="/vauxhall/adam/59150/vauxhall-adam-revealed">Adam</a>, which hopes to steal a few sales from the Fiat 500. Inside, it’s packed with
Any <a href="/volkswagen/golf/60056/new-vw-golf-mk7-specs-pictures-and-details">new Golf</a> is big news, so it’s no surprise that it’s the star of the <a href="/volkswagen/">VW</a> stand. The all-new MkVII is aiming to be the new benc
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There's a distinct <a href="/volvo/v40/">V40</a> focus at <a href="/volvo/">Volvo</a>. The rugged <a href="/volvo/v40/60315/volvo-v40-cross-country">V40 Cross Country</a> is raised by 40mm and comes with four-wheel drive on the flagshi
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