Preview
There might be bigger and more volume-focused events, but when it comes to ultimate automotive glamour and style, nothing comes close to the Paris Motor Show or Mondial de l'Automobile, as known by the locals.
The 2016 Paris Motor Show will open its doors for the public starting October 1 and will display several new significant vehicles from brands like Audi, VW, Nissan and Suzuki. There’s a definite trend for family cars at the 2016 edition, with debuts including new Skoda Kodiaq, Honda Civic, Nissan Micra among many others.
Here’s part 1 of our full rundown of what to expect at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
Next-gen Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 is currently the oldest in its class and is in a dire need of upgrade. Audi knows this very well and is waiting for the Paris Motor Show to showcase an all-new Q5 to the world. This next-gen model will get all the latest Audi tech like virtual cockpit, next-gen MMI infotainment system and adaptive cruise control. Underneath the all-new look, the next-gen Q5 will make use of the MLBevo platform for improved dynamics as well as more efficiency. We will be seeing it compete against the recently introduced Mercedes GLC and the BMW X3.
Click here to view our spy shots of the next-gen Audi Q5
2017 Porsche Panamera
The 2017 Porsche Panamera has received a lot of appreciation for its space-age interiors and supercar levels of grunt. That said, its greatest new feature probably is that it’s no longer the 911’s fat, distorted sibling. Porsche really has gone back to the drawing board and changed what always needed to be changed i.e. the rear end design. It’s vastly improved and mimics Porsche’s low-slung sports cars with its 718 Boxster and Cayman-like pronounced haunches. We can wait for that retractable spoiler to deploy under the shimmering lights.
Click here to read our photo comparison of the old and new Porsche Panamera
Skoda Kodiaq
Following endless rumours and spy pictures, the Skoda Kodiaq will finally make its public debut in Paris. Set to be launched as the Czech carmaker’s first-ever SUV offering, there’s a lot riding on the Kodiaq. At 4.7m in length, the Kodiaq is expected to be among the most spacious 7-seater mid-size SUVs around. Under the hood, it will be offered with the familiar VW Group engines, starting with a 1.4-litre turbo petrol unit. The more popular 1.6 or 2.0-litre diesel engines will also be on offer, in various states of tune. The latter will include the 237bhp twin-turbo diesel from the Volkswagen Passat. Given that Skoda India has had a lot of success with its premium car range (Read: Octavia, Superb), it only makes sense to hope for the Kodiaq to arrive in the Indian market, soon after its international launch.
Click here to view our spy shots of the Skoda Kodiaq
New Honda Civic
The last few generations of the regular Honda Civic have not exactly set the bar high when it comes to appearance and driving involvement. Honda is looking to set things right though with an all-new generation of the Civic that will arrive in Paris. Featuring a significantly more exciting design with sharper lines and bigger wheels, the new Civic will be bigger and sportier than earlier models. It will be the brand’s entirely new range of turbocharged VTEC engines displacing either 1 or 1.5-litres. For the economy-minded buyers, there will also be a more refined 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel on offer.
Suzuki Ignis
While it may launch here as a small car, the Suzuki Ignis is being positioned to be a crossover in Europe. The quirky looking model, in fact, will rival the likes of Nissan Juke in European markets. Besides efficiency-focused petrol and diesel engine options, the Ignis could also get all-wheel drive to suit its quirky crossover image. We will get full details on the production-spec Ignis closer to the unveil date.
Last year, Land Rover launched the Discovery Sport and turned its popular Discovery full-size SUV into a two-model line-up. Now, the British automaker is working on an all-new generation of the Discovery. The current model has been around for too long and will soon be replaced with this fifth-generation Discovery that has been previewed in the form of the Discovery Vision concept. The new car will be built using Land Rover’s aluminium platform that underpins the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport. This lightweight new platform will allow for significant weight savings over the existing Discovery which, as we know, is one of the heaviest vehicles in the market. While it’s the Discovery Sport that competes with the likes of BMW X3 and Audi Q5, this new generation of the full-size Discovery will take on the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Audi Q7.
Next-gen Nissan Micra
Nissan’s mid-size global hatch, the Micra is due for a generation change and an entirely new model will take centre stage at the Japanese carmaker’s show floor. This next-gen model will be based on Nissan’s CMF platform and is slated to be manufactured at Renault’s Flins plant in France. This means the Euro-spec model will no longer be manufactured in Chennai, India, under the Renault-Nissan alliance. This change of production plant is attributed to the all-new platform and the fact that Nissan wants to improve the build quality of the next generation model.
Click here to view our spy pictures of the next-gen Micra.
