PARIS: As the City of Lights plays host to the latest motor show of late, here are 10 of CarSifu’s favourite picks, in no particular order.
1. Citroen C3
Citroen’s little “spirit of cactus” is a C3 with five doors, a floating roof deign, airbump side protection, squarish seats, split headlamps, and gets touted for its emphasis on comfort and happiness, while using the Peugeot 208’s platform.
To bring its cheer levels up, there’s a multitude of colour options, not just for its body panels, for its external individual parts and that application gets carried into the cabin for the dashboard to the doors and the steering wheel.
With a starting weight of under 1,000kg, the new C3 has a three-cylinder petrol engine under the hood providing three output levels of 68, 82 and 110bhp as well as two turbo diesel units with 75 and 100bhp.
2. Peugeot 3008
What once was a MPV is now a crossover following the Peugeot 3008’s debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show with its new ‘smiling’ grille, hood, fog lamps, rear tri-claw light cluster, headlights as well as rear bumper and spoiler among others.
Inside, there’s chrome application, a smaller steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital display with five display modes and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with 3D Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink and voice recognition.
Other luxury amenities include automatic climate controls, panoramic sunroof, an audio system from Focal and seats with eight-way massage function.
It’ll come equipped with a petrol-powered 130PS 1.2-litre PureTech engine mated to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox or a 160PS 1.6-litre mill exclusively married to a six-speed automatic.
In the diesel spectrum, there’s a 100PS 1.6-litre BlueHDi engine mated to a five-speed manual or a higher-tuned 120PS output with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Additionally, there’s also a 2.0-litre BlueHDi mill with 150PS and comes mated only to a six-speed manual or an automatic that manages its 180PS output.
3. Audi Q5
The second generation mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV), that is the Audi Q5, will share its powerplants four and six-cylinder engine variants with its low riding A4 and A5 models, with more sportier variants and a plug-in hybrid model due to arrive in the near future.
It will come equipped with a quattro all-wheel drive system, new multi-link suspension setup and an optional air-suspension.
Inside, the cabin gets fitted with natural and man-made materials, as well as a traditional console with an infotainment system or the optional virtual cockpit screen.
4. Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover’s new seven-seater fifth-generation Discovery SUV may now be longer with larger cabin dimensions, but also narrower and lower.
There’s going to be two outputs for Jaguar Land Rover’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium four-cylinder turbodiesel mills with two output choices of 240bhp or 258bhp in V6 form for the 2,406 litres of boot space or 1,137 litres just aft of the two third row seats.
In the petrol spectrum, there’s a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 Si6 engine providing 340PS amd 450Nm of torque.
A limited-run of 600 units for the ‘First Edition’ model will be produced for the Discovery in the UK, which still maintains its boxy good looks that continues to pay homage to its 27 years of existence and can come fitted with premium materials such as Windsor leather upholstery and natural oak veneers
Entertainment can come from an optional 14-speaker Meridian digital surround system, with an additional subwoofer, and 3G WiFi, while up to four 12V charging points and nine USB ports can be found inside.
5. Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Marking Ferrari’s 70th anniversary is the LaFerrari Aperta that’s the company’s new limited-edition special series of its LaFerrari supercar and comes available with both carbon-fibre hard top (optional) and soft top.
It still maintains the same hybrid power unit as the coupe, which is a 6.30litre (6,262cc) 800hp/700Nm 65-degree V12 engine that’s coupled with a 120Kw electric motor for a combined output of 963hp/900Nm, and the dynamic control systems integrated with the active aerodynamics remain unchanged.
With the engine managed by a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the LaFerrari Aperta delivers the same top speed of over 350kph and can reach 100kph from standstill in less than 3.0 seconds.
With modifications to the aerodynamic set-up, its drag coefficient remains unchanged compared to the coupe with the roof open and the windows up.
6. Honda Civic Type R prototype
Based on the new Civic hatchback, this is Honda’s new Civic Type R prototype that comes with more muscular body panels that comes with aerodynamic gains that includes the bumper with a carbon fibre splitter, additional slatted ducts, diamond-mesh inserts and new hood intake.
It also gets presented with smoked LED headlights, signals and side repeaters, carbon fibre side skirts, 20-inch piano black alloy wheels, enlarged arches, carbon fibre diffuser, wider rear bumper, tri-exhaust pipes and an aggressive rear wing.
Due for an official debut next year, before going on sale in the second half of 2017, it will be produced at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon – the global manufacturing hub for the five-door hatchback.
The Type R will be exported to markets around the world, including the US – which will mark the first time that any Honda-badged Type R has been officially sold in North America.
7. Toyota C-HR
The new Toyota C-HR introduces a distinctive styling that brings sensuality to the crossover market, combining a coupe-like upper body with the powerful underpinnings of an SUV.
The production vehicle remains true to the concept car’s exterior which was first shown at the Paris Motorshow in 2014. and which registered extremely well with target customers.
Under the concept of “Sensual Speed-Cross”, and featuring a diamond architectural theme with wheel arches projecting prominently at all four corners to emphasise the new crossover’s strength and rigidity, the C-HR modulated structure combines a powerful lower body and raised ground clearance with the slim and sleek cabin profile of a coupe.
The C-HR’s coupe-like styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated within the C pillar
A new departure for Toyota, the interior styling represents a new ‘Sensual Tech’ design concept combining high-tech functionality with a sensual and fashionable style. It embodies a driver focused area within an airy, expansive cabin space.
All operating switchgear, and an 8” display audio touch-screen featuring a redesigned and improved HMI (Human Machine Interface) with Toyota’s Multi-Media ’16 navigation platform and enhanced connected services are slightly oriented towards the driver.
The C-HR is available as a 122hp hybrid, new 1.2-litre 116hp turbo engine and 2-litre 144hp engine. It may be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable Transmission. CVT equipped versions are available with either front- or all-wheel drive.
8. Audi RS 3
The first ever Audi RS 3 Sedan has been presented at this year’s Paris Motor Show, with its release date earmarked for the second quarter of 2017 and will have RS-exclusive colours of Nardo gray and Catalunya red as optional extras.
The RS 3 will feature a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged TFSI engine, producing 400hp and 480Nm of torque from 1,700 to 5,850rpm – making it the most powerful five-cylinder engine in the world, and will allow it to get to 100kph from standstill in 4.1 seconds, before reaching a maximum speed of 250kph (if requested that limit can be extended to 280kph instead).
The new RS 3 has a light-alloy crankcase, allowing the five-cylinder engine to become 26kg lighter, while employing a dual injection system into the intake manifold and into the combustion chambers meanwhile featuring Audi’s valvelift system for optimal power development to help reduce consumption levels.
The engine is mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission that sends power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch to distribute the drive torque variably between the front and rear axles.
The optional 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit monitor is able to display a special RS screen that moves the tachometer to the center. On the left and right information appears on tyre pressure, torque and g-forces.
When the transmission is operating in manual mode, a scale with a colour background prompts the driver to use the steering wheel paddle or selector lever to upshift when approaching maximum revs.
Also installed is a 705 Watt 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System, as well as the new traffic jam assist which works up to 65kph, emergency assist – automatically stopping the car to avoid a collision and cross traffic assist rear.
9. Nissan Micra
The Nissan Micra Gen5 is targeting the world’s largest hatchback market – Europe, with its lower, wider and longer body than its predecessor’s as well as more interior space.
It also has advanced new downsized turbo drivetrains, an agile chassis and a full complement of innovative safety features.
The design cues include the distinctive V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped lights, and a floating roof – for an airy feel. Other features include hidden rear door handles in the C-pillars and an extended roofline that incorporates a spoiler.
Available technologies include lane departure prevention, intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, intelligent around view monitor, traffic sign recognition, high beam assist and blind spot warning.
An exclusive feature of the Micra Gen5 is the all-new six-speaker Bose Personal sound system, developed through close collaboration with Nissan.
The first-of-its-kind sound system is optimised for the driver, with two Bose UltraNearfield speakers, combined with Bose PersonalSpace Virtual Audio Technology, built into the driver seat headrest for a remarkably immersive listening experience.
Additional passengers benefit from new Bose Super65 speakers in each of the front doors, producing low-note performance, and tweeters in each A-pillar for sonic clarity.
Micra Gen5 comes with a seven-inch full colour central display, providing access to the audio system, satellite navigation, mobile phone, downloadable apps and Siri voice control via Apple CarPlay.
There’s also active ride control, active trace control, brushless electric power steering, reduced cabin noise as well as a better 0.29Cd drag coefficient for a hatchback.
At launch, the car will offer the choice of a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel, both developing 90hp, and will be joined soon after by a naturally aspirated 73hp 1.0-litre petrol engine.
10. Alfa Giulia Veloce
Alfa Romeo presented its rear-wheel driven Giulia (all-wheel drive will soon be available) with its engine and major mechanical components arranged between the front and rear axles for a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
Inside, the cabin is driver-centric with the main controls grouped together on the small steering wheel in a similar fashion to a Formula 1 car, while the human-machine interface consists of two simple, user-friendly knobs for adjusting the Alfa DNA selector and the infotainment system.
Premium materials, including carbon fibre and real wood, are chosen for their visual and tactile pleasantness and assembled in such a way to make the human touch visible.
Under the bonnet, a range of engines power the new Giulia with a bespoke unit created for the top-of-the-range Quadrifoglio version.
Tuned by engineers from a Ferrari background, the flagship V6 turbo petrol powerplant, producing 510hp, propels the Giulia Quadrifoglio from 0 to 100kph in 3.9 seconds and is made entirely of aluminium.
Keyword: 2016 Paris Motor Show: CarSifu's top 10 picks