2010 paris auto salon

Exagon Motors Unveils the Furtive e-GT in Paris

While most of the new cars we see making their debuts at major auto shows – like the one currently going on at the Port de Versailles in Paris – come from recognized, established automakers, a new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles has been coming from new start-ups fresh to the game. Names like Tesla and Fisker come to mind, and now Exagon Motors joins their ranks with the Furtive e-GT.

Built by an experienced racing-car manufacturer, the Furtive e-GT is a sleek 2+2 electric sportscar powered by a pair of Siemens electric motors producing 340 horsepower. That's enough to propel the e-GT to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, or cruising up to 250 miles on a single charge.

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Audi Debuts the New R8 GT at the Paris Auto Salon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

As far as mainstream production automakers go, few have managed to impress the way Audi has with the R8. Then the German carmaker kicked things up a notch with the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI. But for those looking for something even closer to the razor's edge, Audi has now unveiled the new R8 GT at the semi-annual Paris Auto Salon.

The GT model packs the same 5.2-liter V10 as the existing model, but boosts its power up from 525 hp to a full 560. To further unburden the powerplant, Audi has also trimmed 229 lbs off the curb weight, thanks mainly to lighter windows. Only 333 examples will be produced, each carrying a €193,000 ($256k) price tag.

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BMW 5 Series Touring Unveiled at Paris Auto Salon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It's not for lack of experience that luxury automakers like BMW surmise that American buyers like sedans, while European buyers gravitate towards wagons. The conclusion is backed by decades of sales numbers, and that's why the BMW 5 Series Touring wagon you see here, unveiled for the first time at the Paris Auto Salon, won't be coming to the Western shores of the Atlantic.

Although the Touring model retains nearly all the handling dynamics of the sedan while packing additional cargo capacity, American buyers fill that niche with crossovers. Which is a bit of a shame, but if you're looking for a more versatile version of the latest 5, BMW can arrange a nice Gran Turismo model – taller and bulkier though it may be – to suit your requirements.

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Lotus Steals the Show in Paris with Five New Concepts

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A major international auto show like the one currently under way at the Port de Versailles in Paris is typically flush with exciting new debuts and concept cars to delight the senses. Some of them we know about in advance, while others come as a bit of a surprise. But Lotus caught the world completely off-guard at this year's salon by unveiling not one, not two, but five new vehicles. Each is styled around a common design ethos, and points the way forward for the British sportscar-maker. Follow the jump to see what they had in store for us.

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Audi Celebrates 30 Years of All-Wheel Drive with the Quattro Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

All-wheel drive has proliferated across the industry, but lest we forget one of its originators, Audi unveiled the stunningly muscular Quattro Concept at the Paris Auto Salon.

Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Audi's iconic traction system, the Quattro Concept draws its inspiration from the legendary 1980 Audi Ur-Quattro. Like the original, the new concept keeps its weight under 3,000 lbs and is powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Based on the Audi RS5, the Quattro Concept delivers 408 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission (in place of the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox) to all four wheels with a power-to-weight ratio equal to that of the top-of-the-line R8 5.2 FSI.

Unfortunately this is just a show car for the time being, but if this is a sign of where Audi is heading, color us excited.

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BMW Unveils the New X3 Crossover in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It was hardly that long ago that a company like BMW didn't come anywhere near the crossover-utility vehicle market. But these days the Bavarian automaker has a growing variety, including the middle-of-the-road X3. Smaller than the X5 but larger than the X1, the second-generation X3 has just been unveiled at BMW's pavilion at the Paris Auto Salon.

The styling is rather similar to the original model it replaces, but the 2011 X3 packs all of BMW's latest technologies, from the twin-scroll turbocharger and eight-speed automatic transmission to the variable steering and adaptive chassis dynamics. And for the first time, models destined for the North American market will be built to order right here in the United States at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina, assembly plant.

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Audi Unveils the e-tron Spyder in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Over the past few years, Audi has arguably been working as arduously on electric power as any of its rivals. The German automaker calls its electric prototypes "e-tron", and unveiled its latest concept to use the moniker at the Paris Auto Salon.

The e-tron Spyder is differentiated from its predecessors by its open-cockpit body-style, but its unique qualities don't stop there. The drivetrain couples a conventional twin-turbo diesel V6 with 300 horsepower to a pair of electric motors, distributed evenly across the chassis for optimum weight distribution. If this is the future of hybrid electric vehicles, the future is looking very bright indeed.

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Mercedes-Benz Debuts New CL63 AMG in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Who said bigger was always better? The Mercedes CL-Class may be one of the largest luxury coupes on the market, but the latest top-of-the-line performance model – revealed for the first time at the Paris Auto Salon – actually features a smaller engine than the one it replaces, and with positive results, no less.

Replacing the 6.2-liter V8 from the outgoing CL63 AMG, the new model packs a twin-turbo, direct-injection 5.5-liter V8 that produces 544 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque (upped to 571 and 664 with the optional AMG Performance Package) while reducing fuel consumption by 25%. All that power propels the big beast – complete with all the latest electronic systems and luxurious amenities you'd expect in a range-topping Benz – to 60 in just four and a half seconds.

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Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept Debuts in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The ultimate formula to engineering a high-performance automobile is the power-to-weight ratio. Most automakers that want their cars to go faster up the power part, but some are increasingly focusing on reducing weight, which also happens to help with handling, braking, fuel economy, carbon emissions. Lamborghini has typically fallen into the former category, but has declared its intentions to join the latter with the Sesto Elemento concept.

Currently on display at the Paris Auto Salon, the Sesto Elemento is a case study in performance through reduced weight. The Italian engineers managed to curb the curb weight down to below the 1000 kilogram (2,200 lb) mark through the extensive use of carbon fiber and carbon-reinforced plastic in the frame, body, suspension, brakes...even the wheels. Coupled with the 570-horsepower V10 engine from the Gallardo, the reduced weight is said to be capable of propelling the Sesto Elemento from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.5 seconds, topping out over 300 km/h (186 mph).

Although strictly a concept for the time being, methods and design elements from the show car promise to find their way into the next generation of Lamborghini supercars roaring around the corner.

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Ferrari California HELE Prototype Unveiled at Paris Auto Salon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

An exotic automaker like Ferrari may be more about performance than environmental friendliness, but that doesn't mean the famed Prancing Horse marque is immune to the tides. In order to preserve its "way of life" – in other words, continue to produce the kind of physics-defying performance machines for which they've become known – Ferrari has been working on a number of ways to reduce its environmental impact. The latest is the HELE system incorporated into this California roadster which it unveiled (alongside the limited-production SA Aperta) at the Paris Auto Salon.

Standing for High Emotion Low Emissions, the HELE system incorporates a new generation of start/stop engine management, an intelligent engine fan, advanced fuel pump control, electronically variable climate-control system and precisely timed adaptive gear shift algorithms to reduce emissions by 23 percent without sacrificing performance. Although the system has yet to be announced for production, it points the way forward for a company trying to balance its environmental responsibilities with its own performance benchmarks.

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Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, Ferrari, Ferrari California, Ferrari California HELE, Ferrari California HELE Prototype, high emotion low emissions, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

Bentley's Expanded Collection on Display in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Writing Instruments, Men's Style

For many customers, a Bentley is as much about the badge on the hood as the engine beneath it. So it should come as little surprise that the company's range of branded merchandise has expanded over the years to become one of the most extensive and the most exquisite in the business.

Among those partnerships on which Bentley has embarked with merchandising partners are timepieces by Breitling, writing instruments by Tibaldi, sunglasses by Estede, skis by Zai, leather goods by Robert Ettinger of London and newly-announced scarves by Heritage Cashmere. The full collection will be on display at the Paris Auto Salon, beginning precious few days from now at the Port de Versailles, but you can see them for yourself in our extensive high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Bentley Collection

Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, bentley, Breitling, Estede, Heritage Cashmere, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show, Robert Ettinger of London, tibaldi, zai

Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Of all the European premium automakers, Volvo arguably doesn't come across as the sportiest. Safe and well engineered, sure. But not quite as aggressive as a Mercedes AMG or BMW M, for example. Well the new R-Design models of the S60 sedan and V60 wagon ought to help clear up that problem.

The R-Design specification injects the S60 and V60 with some extra attitude, courtesy of a new front bumper, bigger wheels and sporty interior trim. But that's not the end of it. Although the engine hasn't been modified, a sport suspension and torque-vectoring traction control system promise to improve handling.

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The goodies are pouring in for the suitably fast-approaching Paris Auto Salon. The latest comes courtesy of Aston Martin, which has announced its new V8 Vantage N420 Roadster.

Like the N420 coupe announced in July, the N420 Roadster is inspired by the marque's victories at the vaunted Nurburgring race track in Germany. It packs the same standard 420-horsepower V8 as the standard model, and fits the optional Sport Pack suspension as standard, plus a sport exhaust system, new wheels, aero package and a reduced weight. Prices are pegged around $145,000, available with either a manual or Sportshift automatic.

Gallery: Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster

Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, aston, aston martin, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420, Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

Rolls-Royce to Highlight Bespoke Design Program in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Although Rolls-Royce won't have anything new per se to show us at the Paris Auto Salon this week, it will be highlighting its extensive "bespoke design" catalog with five customized models at the Port de Versailles.

Included in the line-up will be specialized versions of the Phantom Coupe, Drophead Coupe, two Ghosts and the long-wheelbase Phantom limousine you see above. It features a special gunmetal metallic paintjob and an interior decked out with custom embroidery, mother of pearl trim and piping on the seats.

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Infiniti Performance Line G Convertible Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Japanese luxury automaker Infiniti is preparing to unveil the latest in its Infiniti Performance Line this week in Paris. The IPL G Convertible Concept is, as the name suggests, strictly a concept car for the time being, but it has real production potential, upgrading the existing G37 convertible with some added attitude.

Although Infiniti hasn't released any official details on what it's done to the convertible, its fixed-roof counterpart, the IPL G37 Coupe, is hitting the streets from December with a 348-horsepower engine, factory body-kit and chassis modifications.

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