2012 Paris Motor Show Preview

One of the world’s largest motors shows is due to start this week and Car leasing madesimple have put together a quick preview of some of the most anticipated cars  due to appear at the event.

Aston Martin

Aston will show off their newly announced follow-up to the iconic DB9 which will replace the Virage at the top of Aston Martins line-up. The new DB9 supports an impressive 510bhp from its 5.9 litre v12 engine and takes some of its high end looks from the Virage itself.

Audi

The main attraction to Audi’s space at the event will be the new A3 Sportsback and the S3 hothatch. The S3 will showcase a new 296bhp 2.0 litre turbocharged engine that will launch the car from 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds. Whereas the A3 sportsback shows off a longer wheel base and more room.

BMW

The biggest car BMW will muster up at the Paris Expo will be the BMW 3-series GT concept which will make its debut at the show. The 3-Series GT is the first time a new body style has been introduced to the 3-series range since the 1994 Compact model.

Ford

Ford have two primary exhibitions at the Paris Motor Show, one will be the facelifted version of the UK’s biggest selling car, the FordFiesta. The other will be the new Ford Mondeo which is the first large saloon car to feature a 1.0 litre petrol engine reportedly producting 123bhp.

Jaguar

Jaguar will introduce the new F-type to the world at the Paris Expo. The car will be put on sale with a new supercharged 3.0 litre V6 engine as well as a new version of the existing 5.0 litre V8. 

Kia

The Korean giant will show off two cars this year with the Kia Carens making its expo debut along with the new Kia Procee’d. The Procee’d could excite with its competitive styling and inevitably cheap pricing. The current generation of Kia cars have brought them into a serious competitive position with the UK’s primary manufacturers by using current technology and stylish design, the Carens and Procee’d are no different.

Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover are aiming even higher than before with the newly announced Range Rover 4. The new Range Rover is claimed to be the most luxurious yet. Land Rover claim the car is better with regard to ride and handling and the first ever hybrid version is planned for later in 2013.

Mclaren

The Mclaren P1 is the much anticipated follow-up to the ageing Mclaren F1. The  P1 boasts KERS technology from Formula 1 racing and the car has a reported power output of 960bhp. Mclaren say the focus for the P1 is more about track performance than outright speed with the car claiming to be the best track day car ever.

Peugeot

Peugeot have had a very busy few months with several different upcoming cars being announced. The biggest of which is the ambitious new 208 GTI which Peugeot promise to “revive a legend” meaning the 205 GTI. The 208 GTI will be powered by 197bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine which will do 0-62 in 7.0 seconds. The 208’s rally version the 208 Type R5 will also be unveiled.

Peugeot also have a concept city car on show the 2008 concept. The much anticipated Onyx supercar will also be at the Paris Expo along with the new 260bhp 1.6 turbo engine Peugeot RCZ.

Renault

Renault’s main party piece at the event will be new Renault Clio which has an impressive re-design from the previous model. Renault say the new Clio is more upmarket and desirable than the previous models and is due to sale just a few weeks after the show itself.

Seat

Seat will unveil the next Leon at the Paris motor show which for the first time appear in three different body styles: five-door, three-door and estate. All of the body styles use the new MQB platform built by Volkswagen.

Volkswagen

Possibly one of the stand-out cars at this year’s Paris expo will be the next Volkswagen Golf. The mk7 golf will no doubt be just as competitive as ever in the hatchback sector and feature market leading innovations and gadgets.

It costs £800,000, the production is limited to 500 models, but the supercar is expected sell out before going on sale to the public. The car will be revealed as a design study at the Paris motor show, McLaren Automotive’s first appearance at an international show. The similar final production version will be unveiled next year with the British manufacturer’s 50th anniversary.

The highly anticipated P1 has been described as taking “technological and spiritual inspiration from the company’s racing division”. Executive chairman of McLaren Automotive Ron Dennis says:”The P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage. Twenty years ago, we supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our global with P1 is to redefine it once again”.

Operations managing director, Anthony Sheriff, says pure pace is not the new models objective. “Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed but to be the quickest and most rewarding series-production road car on a circuit. It is the true test of a supercar’s all-around ability and much more important technical statement. It will be the most exciting, capable, technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made”.

McLaren is refusing to provide any more details around the car before its public reveal. However, some of the P1’s secrets have come to light! Sources say the P1 retains the MP4-12C’s “everyday usability” with the familiar deep windscreen, narrow A-pillars and relatively slim width. Whilst shorter than the current Porsche 911, the interior will be different from the 12’s. However, its unclear whether the cabin architecture will remain the same.

McLaren styling boss Frank Stephenson is said to have expressed the car in a deep, technical nature. Sculpted by wind tunnels, the aerodynamically significant areas of the exterior are exposed in matt black and the styled surfaces are body coloured. The fresh headlamp design references the McLaren logo and is tipped for the face lifted version of the 12C.

Also present are stylistic nods to the McLaren F1 in the roof’s air scoop, the single ridge running through the door and the fighter plane styled cockpit. The P1 takes advantage of a modified version of the MP4-12C’s carbon fire Monocell. The P1’s outer panels are said to be made from carbon fire and itself the weigh less than 1300kg. Also, the remaining under structure is said be very different from the 12C’s.

The front and rear aluminium sub frames and suspension systems are believed to have undergone redesigns, to accommodate more advanced chassis, which incorporates active damping and active control fancy out anti-roll bars and eliminate body lean. Judging by the P1’s shape, the engine and transmission could be placed much lower in the rear of the car. It seems the centre of the rear deck is lower than on the 12C. It appears likely that the intake manifold has been redesigned to sit lower on top of the engine and the exhaust system redesigned and rerouted.

Judging by the large air intakes that feed the P1’s engine compartment, there appears to be a desire to manage the high temperatures generated by the big hike in power. Along with the deep side intake, many forward-facing vents are mounted over the rear wheels, which are matched by the large exhaust ports over the rear LED light strips.

According to the latest information, the P1’s engine will not be a V10 or V12, but a modified version of the 12C’s twin-turbo V8. The power will jump from 600bhp to around 800bhp at 9000rpm. This significant potential is supplemented by a KERS system (a pair of flywheels that deliver up to 160bhp in short bursts).
Rumours suggest that the P1 will have a top speed of 239mph and a 0-60mph time of less than three seconds. It has also been reported to have completely obliterated the best lap time for a road-legal car at the Silverstone circuit.

According to leaks from potential buyers, the P1 will be fitted with a new kind of acrylic windows, replacing conventional glass. Also, there is no need for windscreen wipers as water apparently rolls off this car.
 The P1’s 2013 arrival is consistent with the McLaren promise of a new car launch every year until 2020, is likely to be an investment attraction for buyers. We only say this because the 108 F1s costing £540,000 two decades ago, now fetch up to £3.8 million at auction!

Written By Chris Rendell, Writer for Car leasing made simple.