Hot off the Paris circuit
The Paris Motor Show isn’t traditionally one of the motor show circuit’s most important events, but this year someone seems to have forgotten to tell the organisers that.
From the stunning McLaren P1, which looks like it’s going to exceed every benchmark of almost every hypercar before it (when the firm eventually gets around to posting full details), to the unconventional Vauxhall Adam, there have been some significant launches that hope to change the face of their respective market sectors.
Give it six months or so and most of us will probably see more Adams in the average day than we’ll see P1s in our lifetime. It’s Vauxhall’s attempt to break the mould and deliver huge customisation potential to rival – or even surpass – the Fiat 500 and Mini. The only problem is that no one seems quite sure what a completely standard one will look like.
The fourth-generation Renault Clio is also a significant new arrival for the UK market. Using the latest small-capacity engines for maximum efficiency, it sports a distinctive new look and a much-improved interior. There’s also a new Renaultsport version, which has polarised opinion, much like a Marmite muffin.
Other highlights for us Britons include the all-new but disappointingly similar-looking Golf Mk VII. A new chassis gives a longer wheelbase for better proportions and more interior space, but it’s also much lighter, equivalent to leaving a moderate-sized passenger at home.
Many pairs of eyes looking for a new compact family car might turn instead towards the new Seat Leon, which shares a chassis, engine range and weight reduction with the Golf, but it’s sharp, pretty and boasts some stunning styling details, especially on the higher-spec FR models with their full-LED front light clusters – something even the Golf doesn’t have.
The most popular halls are likely to be the ones with the cars people may want to buy themselves (even if they can’t afford to), with huge crowds at the VW Group, PSA Peugeot Citroen and McLaren stands. The Skoda Rapid, Peugeot 208 and Audi S3 have been doing good business.
Mercedes has also been pulling in the masses with its SLS AMG Electric Drive, formerly known as the E-Cell but now in a much more production-ready guise. And electric blue paint.
More manufacturers than ever have revealed their latest eco-intent, with hybrids from Kia and Hyundai destined for Europe, a Golf BlueMotion that can apparently top 88mpg and zero-emission electric cars from a bundle of major and aspiring players in the market. Toyota is among them, showcasing the latest version of its electric iQ city car.
There are some firms who’ve stuck to old models, or mildly refreshed ones at best. Their stands will be the ones with breathing space on them.
There’s so much new metal to see and get up close to that space is going to be at a premium for the rest of the show. If you’re planning a visit, make sure you take your London Underground elbows…
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