Carscoop’s A to Z Guide to the 2012 Paris Motor Show

The European car market may be in trouble because of the financial crisis that’s been dragging on for a long time now, but carmakers are gearing up to display their latest models in the City of Light.

From September 29 until October 14, the Paris Expo at the Porte de Versailles will host some of this year’s most important world premieres.

The French automakers have chosen the 2012 Paris Auto Show to launch models like the all-new Renault Clio, the Peugeot 208 GTi and the Citroen DS3 Cabrio.

Ford will also have a strong presence with a raft of new models like the new Mondeo and no less than three SUVs, while Jaguar will display the production version of its long-awaited F-Type, Mazda the impressively styled 6 in saloon and station wagon shapes, and Cadillac its 3-Series fighter, the ATS.

Compact hatchbacks are Europe's second most popular segment accounting for nearly 3 million units in 2011. Paris will be the place where some of the most important contenders in the C-segment will be launched.

The best-selling model of 2011, the VW Golf, may look like an updated version of its predecessor from the outside, but under the skin, it’s brand-new as it’s based on the group’s all-new MQB modular platform. The new Leon uses the same architecture, though Seat has changed the bodywork dramatically in an effort to ramp up sales.

Toyota, on the other hand, has done the exact opposite from VW for its second-generation Auris, keeping essentially the same platform but wrapping it up in a much sharper bodywork and Opel has merely freshened up the Astra range, having concentrated on launching the Fiat 500-rivalling Adam city car instead.

Every world-class auto show worthy of its name has its fair share of concepts and Paris, won’t be an exception.

McLaren will finally display the successor to the iconic F1 after 20 years, Smart will preview the styling of its new models with the ForStars CUV and Peugeot will entice visitors with the Onyx, a futuristic supercar that in all likelihood will remain just a chance for its designers to sharpen their pencils on.

Carscoop’s preliminary guide to the 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile follows the break and will be constantly updated, so stay tuned!

By Andrew Tsaousis

NEW PRODUCTION CARS
Abarth Fuori Serie Alfa Romeo MiTo Special Editions Aston Martin DB9 F/L Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster Aston Martin Vanquish Audi A3 Sportback Audi R8 F/L Audi RS5 Cabriolet Audi S3 Audi SQ5 Audi SQ5 TDI Exclusive Audi S3 BMW 120d, M135i xDrive BMW 3-Series GT BMW 7-Series F/L BMW M Performance Cadillac ATS Chevrolet Spark F/L Chevrolet Trax Citroen Special Edition DS Models Citroen C3 Picasso F/L Citroen C4 Picasso Citroen DS3 Cabrio Dacia Logan 2 Dacia Sandero 2 Fiat Panda 4x4 Ford EcoSport Ford Edge Ford Fiesta F/L Ford Kuga Ford Mondeo Ford Mondeo Wagon Ford Tourneo & Transit Connect Ford Tourneo & Transit Courier Honda Civic 1.6 Diesel Honda CR-V Honda CR-Z F/L Hyundai i30 3d Hyundai Santa Fe Jaguar F-Type Jeep Special Editions Kia Carens MPV Kia Pro_Cee’d Kia Sorento F/L Lexus LS 600h F Sport Mazda6 Sedan Mazda6 Station Wagon Mazda MX-5 F/L Maserati GranCabrio Stradale McLaren MP4-12C Spider Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake MINI JCW GP MINI Paceman Mitsubishi ASX F/L Mitsubishi Mirage Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Nissan Note Nissan 370Z F/L Opel Adam Opel Astra F/L Opel Insignia F/L Opel Meriva F/L Peugeot 208 GTi Peugeot 208 XY Peugeot 208 Type R5 Peugeot 301 Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 Peugeot RCZ F/L & RCZ R Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S Porsche 911 GT3 Porsche Cayenne S Diesel Range Rover Mk4 Renault Clio Mk4 Renault Clio RS Renault Clio Sports Tourer Renault Espace F/L Renault Fluence F/L Seat Leon Seat Toledo Skoda Rapid Smart ForTwo Brabus 10th Ann. Toyota Auris Toyota Auris Tourer Toyota GT86 TRD Toyota Verso MPV F/L Toyota Yaris Trend Volvo V40 Cross Country Volvo V40 R-Design VW Beetle R-Line VW Golf Mk7 VW Golf R Cabriolet
NEW CONCEPT MODELS
Bentley Concept BMW Active Tourer Concept Citroen DS3 Electrum Land Rover James Bond Lexus LF-CC Coupe McLaren P1 Mercedes-Benz Aesthetics S Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive Nissan TeRRA Peugeot 2008 Peugeot Onyx Supercar Peugeot Onyx Scooter Smart ForStars SsangYong e-XIV Suzuki S-Cross VW Golf GTI Concept

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