Highlights at the Paris Motor Show 2008

Aston Martin
There was nothing new on the Aston stand save for the Project One-77 car. And just a corner of the front wing of it was visible for the duration of press day. The company also revealed DBS owners will soon be able to lock and unlock their vehicle via a wristwatch.


Audi
Premiering a concept version of the forthcoming A1, Audi gave a clear indication how the production model will appear when it hits showrooms in 2010. The compact five-door will become the new entry level model in the range. Also unveiled were the all-new S4 and S4 Avant. Each will be powered by a supercharged V6 instead of a naturally-aspirated V8.


Bentley
The curtain is about to fall on the Arnage, but it's not leaving without one final swansong. In an exclusive run of 150 hand-built models, the Arnage Final Series will combine the performance elements of the T model with the refinement of the R.


BMW
BMW gave the all-new 7-Series its first motor show outing and took the wraps off the concept car that points the way to the forthcoming X1. Expect to see the production model of this compact SUV - a baby brother to the X3 and X5 - at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 12 months. It will arrive in showrooms from early 2010.


Citroen
Playing to a home audience, Citroen pulled out all the stops with a huge stand of cars. The Hypnos is a luxury hybrid crossover concept based on the C5 platform, while the GTbyCITROEN is a joint venture with the makers of the Gran Turismo computer game. From many journalists there was high praise for the C3 Picasso, due to go on sale mid-2009, particularly for its roomy interior.


Ferrari
One of the Paris show-stoppers was undoubtedly the Ferrari California. The 4.3-litre 454 bhp V8 engine comes wrapped in a Pininfarina-penned GT coupe-cabriolet body-shell with aluminium folding roof. Stunning was the generally consensus. Ferrari also used the exhibition to announce that it's extending its bespoke programme to include the 599 GTB Fiorino. Fiat
Fiat used the Paris Motor Show to spell out the virtues of its EcoDrive system, which allows drivers to see how economically they're driving. It also showed off a 500 city car which had been trimmed as part of a collaboration with jeans firm Diesel.


Ford
The all-new MkII Ford Ka made its motor show debut. It will be available with a choice of two engines - a 1.2-litre petrol or 1.3-litre diesel - with both emitting less than 120 g/km of CO2. A stylish replacement for the outgoing model was journalists' view.


Honda
When Honda's all-new Insight reaches the UK next spring it will be the cheapest hybrid on the market. An exact price for the compact five-door five-seater will be announced nearer its showroom debut. The car will sit between the Jazz and Civic in the Japanese firm's line-up. Unquestionably one of the stars of Paris 2008 was the word on the show floor.


Hyundai
Set to be launched early in 2009, the i20 took its place for the first time on Hyundai's stand. The Korean company also debuted concept versions of a premium seven-seat SUV, the iX55, a hybrid Santa Fe and the Genesis saloon.


Jeep

With the firm promising to do more to improve the quality of its interiors, Jeep showcased the redesigned cabins of the Compass and Patriot. The vehicles are also to get more fuel efficient engines which bosses say will be class-leading.


Kia
The Kia Soul was making its world debut, and the company confirmed the compact urban crossover will go into production in March for right hand drive markets such as the UK. Also on the stand were hybrid versions of the Soul and Cee'd, plus a Cee'd with stop start technology. A company on a roll with a funky family car in the Soul was the view of several journalists. Lamborghini
The Estoque concept could become Lamborghini's third model if it gets the green light for production. Revealed for the first time in Paris, the front mid-engined four-door coupé has permanent four-wheel drive. Totally different to either the Gallardo or Murcielago, it was probably the most talked-about car of Paris press day.


Land Rover

The first of Land Rover's environmentally friendly technologies made its debut at Paris. From December all manual diesel versions of the Freelander will get stop-start as standard, and at no cost to the customer. The cars will be badged "TD4_e". Fuel economy is improved by 3.8 mpg and CO2 emissions are down by eight per cent. The consensus of a opinion was this car can only be a good thing for the company.


Lexus
Lexus has unveiled the IS 250 Convertible, the third model in the firm's entry level range. The car - a rival to the likes of BMW's 3-Series drop-top - is a proper four-seater with a metal roof that folds into the boot in 20 seconds. It will go on sale next summer, with bosses optimistic they will sell 1,000 units by the end of the year.


Lotus

The Norfolk sports car firm's Paris news was the debut of the Exige Cup 260, a fresh high performance derivative of the two-seater coupé. Tipping the scales at 38 kg less than the standard car - it weighs just 890 kg - it will hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds. The Cup 260 is on sale now and the company also announced a new race series called Lotus Cup Europe.


Mazda
Kiyora is the name of a new lightweight urban car unveiled by Mazda at the Paris Motor Show. It's powered a four-cylinder engine with Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) to boost fuel economy and cut CO2 emissions. It hints at what a new A-segment car could look like, and several journalists commented on the stylish exterior design. Also attracting attention was the face-lifted version of the iconic MX-5. Both the front and rear have been revised, and the suspension has been stiffened. Mercedes-Benz
The German firm unveiled the ConceptFASCINATION, previewing a new design direction for an E-Class coupé. Its luxury fittings include a folding glass table, humidor and fridge in the luggage area. It's powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. A great looking car was the general opinion. Also debuting was the C250 featuring a new 2.2-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine. It will go on sale in late next year.


MINI
The expansion of the brand continues with the fourth MINI model, the Crossover, which hints at a future compact SUV. It's got two conventional doors on the passenger side, but only one on the driver's. Behind it is a sliding door for easy loading and access. The fact that it's not just a Clubman with raised ride height was noted by the media.


Mitsubishi
The big news was the all-new Colt super-mini. It's on sale now, with cars arriving in UK dealerships in the next month. Power will come from 1.1 or 1.3 petrol engines - there's no diesel this time - with a flagship Ralliart model due in January. With a lower ride height, it will have a 1.5-litre 150 bhp turbo under the bonnet. The Colt gets the jet-fighter grille from the Lancer, but journalists were divided on whether it works.


Nissan
The NuVu is a new urban electric car, and while it is a concept, it is described by Nissan as "entirely credible". Bosses have even put a date on its launch - the middle of the next decade. Available sooner will be the Pixo, a four-seater, five-door city car that's on sale from late spring. Designed to sit below the Micra, the 1.0-litre petrol model is built by Suzuki in India.


Peugeot
The production car debut was the 308 CC, which will go on sale in the spring. Peugeot also unveiled the "Prologue™" concept which points the way to a new compact crossover SUV to rival the Nissan Qashqai. It's based on the 308 platform and its hybrid power-train means CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The last of the French firm's trio was the RC HyMotion4, a four-door GT concept.


Porsche
Making its motor show debut alongside the full range of face-lifted 911s was the Cayman S Sport. Power is up from 295 to 303 bhp, and the car features a sports exhaust, remapped throttle mapping and xenon headlamps. Only 700 are being built, with around 20 per cent expected to come to the UK. Renault
Stars of the Paris show were the all-new Mégane, on sale in the UK from November, but also the Coupé variant. The sporty Laguna Coupé with all-wheel steering as standard was making its motor show debut. And the Ondelios was also attracting a lot of attention. It's a concept that could hint at the new large crossover model known to be development. Innovative concepts and stylish production cars was the word on the show floor.


Saab
Saab used the Paris Motor Show to unveil a convertible concept, the 9-X Air. It features an innovative new type of roof - the Canopy Top - which incorporates the C-pillars and folds away into the boot when not required. The car is fast too; despite having a 1.4-litre engine under the bonnet, it will hit 62 mph in only 8.1 seconds. Just what Saab needs was what several journalists said.


Skoda
A face-lifted version of the Octavia - Skoda's biggest selling model - received its world premiere at Paris 2008. With revised bumpers and front and rear light clusters, prices will be announced at the end of November or early December. It will go on sale in January.


Subaru
Diesel was still the story on the Subaru stand, with the 2.0-litre boxer engine appearing in the Forester and Impreza for the first time. The firm is claiming the oil-burning SUV is now the class-leader for fuel economy and emissions. It believes no rival can better its figures of 44.8 mpg and 167 g/km.


Suzuki
The wraps came off the next generation of Suzuki's Alto city car at Paris. Measuring just 3.5 metres, it's powered by the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine that's already in the Splash. Fuel consumption is 62.7 mpg with 103 g/km of CO2. Cute styling and cheap motoring were some of the comments from journalists.


SsangYong
The Korean firm best known for the Rexton and Rodius has unveiled its smallest SUV to date, the C200. It's the first to feature a front-wheel drive platform and monocoque construction, with both 4x4 and 4x2 transmission options. The car, which will go on sale next year and sit below the Rexton, is powered by a 2.0-litre 175 bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. A surprisingly smart looking machine was the view of several journalists. Tesla

The American firm's zero-emission Roadster has made it one of the most talked about manufacturers of 2008, and there was huge interest at Paris. There was no new version on the stand, but production at Lotus HQ in Norfolk is due to increase to 40 units per week early next year.


Toyota
The new British-built Avensis was unveiled at Paris. The MkII model is due on sale in January in both saloon and estate body styles. It comes will come with a diesel automatic variant for the first time. Attracting as much attention was the Urban Cruiser compact SUV that will sit below the RAV4. It's on sale from May and is based on the xB from Toyota's US brand Scion.


Volkswagen
Some motor show unveilings will also draw people in and an all-new Golf GTI is certainly one of those. Power output it 210 bhp - it was 200 on the MkV - and it features an electronic limited-slip diff linked to the ESP for the first time. The GTI is officially a concept but won't change much before it arrives in dealerships in the spring.


Volvo
DRIVe is the badge that will appear on Volvo's cleanest cars and Paris marked the range's official debut. One diesel version of the C30, S40 and V50 will get the designation, thanks to a sub-120 g/km performance. The improvements are down to aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres and higher gear ratios. Bosses also announced they will launch a front-wheel drive XC60 with a revamped 2.4-litre diesel engine next year.