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Hottest New Releases at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

Highlights From The Paris Show

The biannual Paris Motor Show kicked off under the motto: "The future, now" with a focus on lighter, slicker cars and electric and hybrid vehicles.Returning and newcomer manufacturers launched production models and concept cars with an eye on sustainable mobility, demonstrated spectacularly by Mercedes Benz’ "Electric Drive".Some exciting new releases include Audi’s new Sportback with special features for the mobile generation, Jaguar’s return to the sports car with the new F type, a brand new —
Photo: Getty Images

The biennial Paris Motor Show kicked off under the motto: "The future, now" with a focus on lighter, slicker cars and electric and hybrid vehicles.

Returning and newcomer manufacturers launched production models and concept cars with an eye on sustainable mobility, demonstrated spectacularly by Mercedes-Benz’ "Electric Drive."

Some exciting new releases include Audi’s new Sportback with special features for the mobile generation, Jaguar’s return to the sports car with the new F type, a brand new — 420 kg (925 pounds) lighter —Range Rover. Volkswagen’s seventh generation Golf, one of the best-selling models in history, and a revolutionary supercar from McLaren are also among the highlights.

Click ahead for some of the hottest new releases from Europe’s biggest car makers at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

By Bianca Schlotterbeck
Posted 1 Oct. 2012

Seventh Generation Volkswagen Golf

The seventh generation of the golf model is described by Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen as the most efficient model the company has ever had. Although the exterior of the car does not look dramatically different, VW says the new Golf is up to 100kg lighter than the old one which not only benefits fuel consumption and emissions, but also promises a positive effect on handling dynamics. The seventh generation should be available from as early as November.
Photo: Eric Piermont | AFP | Getty Images

The seventh generation of the Golf model is described by Volkswagen CEP Martin Winterkorn as the most efficient model the company has ever had.

Although the exterior does not look dramatically different, VW says the new Golf is up to 100kg (220 pounds) lighter than the old one, which not only benefits fuel consumption and emissions, but also promises a positive effect on handling dynamics.

The car should be available as early as November.

BMW Concept Active Tourer

BMW unveiled its Concept Active Tourer at Paris, the German automaker’s first-ever front-wheel drive car. The four door hatchback is a plug-in hybrid with a four wheel drive. It can be powered for up to twenty miles in electric only mode after a top-up from the mains.
Photo: Jason Alden | Bloomberg via Getty Images

BMW unveiled its Concept Active Tourer at Paris, the German automaker’s first-ever front-wheel drive car. The four door hatchback is a plug-in hybrid with four-wheel drive.

It can be powered for up to 20 miles in electric-only mode.

The electric motor works in tandem with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline-powered engine. The rear wheels are driven by the electric motor and front pair by the gasoline-powered engine, a noted departure from BMW’s long-term commitment to a rear-wheel drive. While BMW remained vague about production, certain aspects from the Active Tourer will be seen in the next 1-series, which should come out in late 2013.

Audi A3 Sportback

Price: From £19,825 ($31,993)
Photo: Eric Piermont | AFP | Getty Images

Price: From £19,825 ($31,993)

Audi’s A3 Sportback aims to inspire a younger generation, not through its design and appearance, but with the communications technology inside the car.

Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler told CNBC: “The younger generation is always connected with each other, so we tried really to come up with [a car] with Wi-Fi hotspots, Twitter and Facebook in the car. By voice recognition, you can receive your email. … This is what young people want to hear and see.”

Lexus LF-CC Concept

The Lexus LF-CC concept is a preview of the next generation of IS saloon models, which are likely to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January. It also hints at an IS coupe version that will probably arrive later in 2013. The car demonstrates the future design direction of the company, with the exterior showing a dramatic grille, new L-shaped LED lights and three separate housings for the headlamps. The interior boasts impressive display technology that sweeps down below the seat and is f
Photo: Joel Saget | AFP | Getty Images

The Lexus LF-CC concept is a preview of the next generation of IS saloon models, which are likely to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

It also hints at an IS coupe version that will probably arrive later in 2013. The car demonstrates the future design direction of the company, with the exterior showing a dramatic grill, new L-shaped LED lights and three separate housings for the headlamps. The interior boasts impressive display technology that sweeps down below the seat and is fully touch sensitive.

Next Generation Range Rover

Price: From £70,000 ($112,971)
Photo: Jason Alden | Bloomberg via Getty Images

Price: From £70,000 ($112,971)

The biggest change to the fourth Range Rover is the use of an all-aluminum body structure that makes the car up to 420 kg (925 pounds) lighter than the vehicle it replaces. The first SUV to use this technology, Land Rover describes it as a "transformation" in fuel economy and CO2 emissions, as well as enhanced performance and agility.

The choice of engine varies between a supercharged V8 gasoline engine or V6 and V8 turbocharged diesels. The price has yet to be released, alongside the details of fuel economy, and emissions, but the range is expected to start at around £70,000 ($112,971). The first cars will be delivered to customers early next year.

Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, told CNBC: “Aside from less fuel consumption and emissions, the diet means better drivability, so you can steer the vehicle like a performance car.”

Bentley Continental GT3 Concept

Marking Bentley’s return to the racetrack for the first time since its historic sixth Le Mans victory in 2003, the car maker unveiled the Continental GT3 racer at Paris. Developed from its road-going counterpart the Continental GT, the GT3 is officially only a concept but will be developed during testing next year with a view to having it ready for competition by the end of 2013.
Photo: Eric Piermont | AFP | Getty Images

Marking Bentley’s return to the racetrack for the first time since its historic sixth Le Mans victory in 2003, the car maker unveiled the Continental GT3 racer at Paris.

Developed from its road-going counterpart the Continental GT, the GT3 is officially only a concept but will be developed during testing next year with a view to having it ready for competition by the end of 2013.

Wolfgang Schreiber, Bentley's chairman and chief executive, told CNBC: "We return to the racetrack as our customers think Bentley and racing belong together.” When asked whether the GT3 would provide a return on investment, he said: “It is not that easy to earn money with racing, but we think there is a chance because many private customers are interested in racing on race tracks.”

Peugeot Onyx Concept

The super slick Peugeot Onyx concept is primarily tasked with stealing the limelight from the new McLaren and is not expected to go on sale. Nevertheless the supercar boasts some serious technology proven in the motorsport arena.
Photo: Joel Saget | AFP | Getty Images

The presentation of the super slick Peugeot Onyx concept appears primarily for stealing the limelight from the new McLaren and is not expected to go on sale. Nevertheless the supercar boasts some serious technology proven in the motorsport arena.

The engine is a 3.7-liter turbodiesel V8 taken from Peugeot's former 908 Le Mans racer and can deliver 680 horse power. The frame is also inspired by motorsport technology. Made out of carbonfiber, it weighs a very light 100kg (220 pounds). This helps keep the overall weight down to just 1,100kg (2,420 pounds).

Jaguar F-Type Roadster

Price: From £58,500 ($94,417) to £79,950 ($129,000)The Jaguar F-Type, a two-seat convertible marks a return to the company's sporting legacy, once defined by the E-Type. The car features a lightweight, aluminum body structure that is said to have ideally-balanced weight distribution. The F-Type will come in three different engine varieties, all supercharged: the 3.0-liter V6 and V6S, and the 5-liter V8, which can reach 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, with up to 500 horsepower (hp).Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of
Photo courtesy: Jaguar Land Rover

Price: From £58,500 ($94,417) to £79,950 ($129,000)

The Jaguar F-Type, a two-seat convertible, marks a return to the company's sporting legacy once defined by the E-Type. The car features a lightweight, aluminum body structure that is said to have ideally balanced weight distribution. The F-Type will come in three different engine varieties, all supercharged: the 3.0-liter V6 and V6S, and the 5-liter V8, which can reach 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with up to 500 horsepower.

Speth told CNBC: “Jaguar has a very interesting heritage in sports cars. It was clear whenever talking about our product portfolio that we must have a sports car and so we did it. What you see now is the best of British design, engineering and manufacturing.”

Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive

Price: €416,500 ($536,577)
Photo: Joel Saget | AFP | Getty Images

Price: €416,500 ($536,577)

The fight for the best electric performance car is on with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz definitive production SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive at the Paris Motor Show. Described as the world’s most powerful series production electric car, the two seater will have an electric motor driving each individual wheel, producing a combined 740 hp and 737 pound-feet of torque, enabling the SLS Electric Drive to rocket to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds. It will be available in June.

McLaren P1

Price: $1.3 million
Photo: Joel Saget | AFP | Getty Images

Price: $1.3 million

McLaren’s new supercar the P1 is the successor of the legendary F1 racing car. While it may not have the highest top speed in the world, McLaren remains adamant the P1 will be the fastest accelerating of all the supercars ever to be produced.

The car on show in Paris is a near-complete "design study," so final details about its engine and other technologies will not be revealed until March, at the Geneva motor show.