2016 Paris Motor Show: Cars we can't wait to see

The world's biggest automobile event, the Paris Motor Show, is scheduled to take place in the first week of October. The Mondial de l'Automobile, as referred in French, is the world's first auto show which was started back in 1898. Claimed to have the largest footfall compared to any other motor show, the Paris Motor Show is the most important event that both the customers and manufacturers look forward to. It will be a stage to many new launches, debuts and also concepts that will arrive in production in the later years. The Paris Motor Show will be open for public from October 1-16, 2016. Here is a look at some of the important cars that are expected to be launched at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

Audi

New-generation Q5

Audi has already released teaser images of the new Q5 which displays a new design. Apart from the design changes and new features, the 2016 Audi Q5 is based on the new MLB-evo platform that underpins the new-gen A4 as well as the A5. The new MLB-evo platform makes the Audi Q5 100kg lighter than its predecessor. The same should also make the SUV more fuel-efficient than before. The new Q5 will also be offered in front-wheel drive along with the updated quattro which sends the power to the front wheel instead of all four in city driving condition thus improving fuel efficiency. Powering the 2016 Audi Q5 will be the same engines that are offered in the present line-up.

A5/S5 Sportback

The A5 is Audi's mid-segment coupe, placed above the A4, and shares similar styling cues albeit a bit more on the sporty side. The new Audi A5 comes with a host of upgrades over the outgoing generation with more efficient and powerful engines, a lighter kerb weight and improved aerodynamics. It also features Audi's new virtual cockpit system. The new Audi A5 has shaved off 60kg over the first-gen A5 and has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.25.

RS3

Audi will showcase the new RS 3 Sportback, the most powerful compact car in the premium segment. It will be powered by a 5-cylinder, turbocharged engine. This one claims to accelerate from 0 to 100kmph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 280kmph.

BMW

X2

BMW might showcase the X2 at the Paris Motor Show, before bringing its production version in the market by 2017. Rumoured to be based on the UKL platform that shares its underpinnings with the new X1 and the Mini Countryman, the BMW X2 will be equipped with xDrive sending power to all the four wheels. The X2 will mostly be offered in 5-door and 3-door variants.

Citroen

C3

French carmaker Citroen will display the all-new C3 SUV at the esteemed event. Taking its design inspiration from the C4 Cactus, the C3 was completely transformed from a hatchback to a rugged SUV. The new-generation Citroen measures 3,990mm in length, 1,750mm in width and 1,470mm in height, making it longer and wider than the previous version. It gets a wheelbase of 2,540mm and gets a boot space of 300L. Citroen has also revealed a WRC concept based on the C3 which marks the return of the brand to the FIA World Rally Championship.

CXperience

Citroen has already unveiled the CXperience luxury sedan concept which is seen as the French carmaker's answer to the Audi A7. It sports a similar sportback styling as its German rival and measures 4,850mm in length, 1,370mm in height and 2,000mm in width. The CXperience concept is designed by Citroën Styling at the design centre in Velizy, outside Paris. It will be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The petrol engine will develop a peak power output in the range of 150-200PS and will be supported by a 80kW electric motor. In pure electric mode, the CXperience has a range of 60km.

Dacia

Updated Sandero, Sandero Stepway and Logan MCV

Renault-owned Dacia will put the updated versions of the Sandero, Sandero Stepway and the Logan MCV on display at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The changes that these models will get include revised lights, new bumper and grille design as well as a refreshed cabin with improved quality of plastics and enhanced feature list. Dacia might also bring in the new 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Ferrari

GTC4 Lusso T

Ferrari has already revealed pictures and details of the GTC4 Lusso T ahead of its scheduled debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The new GT concept is the first 4-seater Ferrari that comes with a turbo-charged V8 engine. Ferrari states that the 4WS (rear-wheel steering), which is integrated with Side Slip Control (SSC3), makes for more rapid response to steering wheel inputs entering and exiting corners, thanks to the rear wheels steering in the same direction as the front ones. The GTC4Lusso T is powered by a 3.9-litre V8 turbo engine from the same engine family used in 488 GTB and California T. The powertrain makes an impressive 601PS at 7,500rpm and generates a meaty 760Nm at 3,000-5,250rpm.

LaFerrari Spider

The Ferrari LaFerrari Spider will be debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The open-top LaFerrari will have a removeable roof - a soft top or a removable carbon-fibre hard top. It was not possible to incorporate a motor and create a recess to stow the hardtop like conventional convertibles like the 458 Spider. The open-top will have a limited production run of only 499 units, and all units have been already sold out.

Honda

New-generation Civic hatchback

The 10th-generation Honda Civic hatchback will make its global debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show and will be manufactured at the company's Swindon plant in the UK. The 5-door hatchback will be sold in the US before it enters European markets by early 2017. It is 30mm wider and 130mm longer than the previous-generation 5-door Civic. The interiors of the 2017 Honda Civic hatchback have been shared from its sedan counterpart. While the cabin has been updated from the previous generation, the new-gen features plusher materials with a lower seating position. The new-gen Civic hatchback is based on a lighter platform that weighs 16kg less than the previous offering while the torsional stiffness of the chassis has been increased by 52 per cent.

Hyundai

i10 facelift

Hyundai Motor has updated the i10 with a new look and new safety tech for the European market. The new i10's most noticeable update is the front grille, which will appear on all future models from the Korean brand. Hyundai says that the facelifted i10 will be its first car to feature this new signature design. The updated i10 gets a new front bumper and round LED daytime running lights. The rear bumper is also updated with the evolved design, including new materials for the rear lights, a new black inlay as well as round rear fog lamps complementing the front design. The new i10 comes with the same engine options - 1.0-litre and 1.25-litre petrol.

i30

Hyundai will offer the third-generation i30 with an option of three petrol engines. There will be a new 1.4 T-GDI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which is good for 140PS, a 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged 3-cylinder engine which is good for 120PS and a 1.4 MPI 4-cylinder which will deliver 100PS of power. The all-new i30 has been developed by Hyundai's European technical centre in Germany and tested on the Nordschleife. Compared to the outgoing model, it gets a 10 per cent more direct steering and a light body with 53 per cent advanced high-strength steel.

Infiniti

QX Sport

The Infiniti QX Sport concept previews the brand's new design that will be seen on mid-sized SUVs. It is also believed that the QX Sport is a new-gen successor of the QX50 crossover. The concept sports sleek headlights with muscular contours layered all over the profile. Instead of conventional mirrors, it gets cameras -  a feature that might also make it into other cars in the future. It gets a fully digital instrument cluster with a flat-bottom steering wheel. Details on powertrain options will be revealed at the motor show.

VC-T variable compression ratio engine

What Infiniti has invented is a way to control the compression ratio of the engine. So you can have extremely efficient high CR running for power or economy or run at a lower CR for great power without straining the engine. This has been a great engineering challenge, and Infiniti will display its solution Variable Compression - Turbocharged (VC-T) at the forthcoming event. Read our detailed feature explaining this technology here.

Kia

Rio

Kia will showcase the new-gen Rio hatchback which now gets a more aggressive design and is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor. Based on a new platform, the Kia Rio is based on a new platform that also made it lighter. Inside, Kia has added a new floating touchscreen infotainment system with a revised dashboard design. The Kia Rio might also get the 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder motor along with a GT hot hatch version.

Land Rover

New-generation Discovery

Land Rover had recently unveiled the first image of its all-new 7-seater SUV – the 2017 Discovery. Although the company has revealed just the front of the SUV, the vehicle will be officially unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. While Land Rover hasn't given us any information, we do know that it will be based on Land Rover's new-age Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA). This means it should be considerably lighter than the Land Rover Discovery 4, and thereby more efficient.

Lexus

UX Concept

Toyota's luxury brand Lexus has just released one image of its upcoming crossover coupe, UX Concept. The official statement says, "Created at our Lexus European Design Centre, this car is designed to appeal to a progressive, urban audience living in a connected environment. The UX Concept uses imaginative technology to create an immersive driver experience, while the interior combines traditional craftsmanship with innovative manufacturing techniques."

Mercedes-Benz

AMG GT roadster

The German carmaker has already released images of the AMG GT roadster and will display it for the first time at the Paris show. The roadster will retain its overall powertrain and features list from the 'standard' variant.

E-Class All Terrain

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class will get an all-terrain version which will be displayed at the motor show. It gets an additional ground clearance of 35mm along with an all-wheel drive unit. The rugged-looking station wagon will be on sale from 2017 onwards.

GLC 43 AMG

The German car manufacturer will debut the performance-oriented GLC 43 AMG at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe runs on AMG-spec 19-inch multi-spoke lightweight alloy wheels. It comes with 235/55 R19 tyres in the front and 255/50 R19 tyres in the rear. As an optional pack, Mercedes-AMG will also offer 21-inch wheels on the GLC43. Powering the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe is a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo petrol engine that makes 367PS at 5,500-6,000rpm and generates 520Nm at 2,500-4,500rpm. All of that power is sent to all four wheels through the 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. Mercedes-Benz claims that the GLC 43 AMG coupe sprints from 0 to 100kmph in 4.9s and can reach a top whack of 250kmph.

MINI

John Cooper Works Clubman

Mini has just revealed the latest car from its performance division, the John Cooper Works Clubman. It is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine used in the other JCW models. The motor produces 231PS of power (39PS over the stock Cooper S engine) from 5,000-6,000rpm. And with 350Nm available on tap, this is the torquiest Mini to ever roll out of the factory! The brand claims that it'll do 0-100kmph in 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 238kmph.

Mitsubishi

GT-PHEV concept

The Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept will preview the next-generation Outlander and will have the brand's new-generation design language. It will also be equipped with the latest plug-in hybrid powertrain which will make it a new-gen Mitsubishi SUV.

Nissan

New-generation Micra

Nissan has teased the upcoming all-new Micra hatchback ahead of its global reveal at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The 2015 Nissan Sway concept is said to be the inspiration behind the new Micra. As evident from the Sway concept, the new Micra will have a sharper styling which will replace the earlier not-so aggressive design. What we know for sure is that the new Nissan Micra will not be manufactured in India for the time being. The CMF-B platform currently does not underpin any Indian car, and hence the manufacturing cost for the new Micra is working out to be too expensive.

Peugeot

3008

The new-age Peugeot 3008 will compete with the Nissan Qashqai and the Kia Sportage in the international markets. The compact premium SUV gets a completely new design with updated features and a new i-Cockpit dashboard. Peugeot might also launch a plug-in hybrid in the years to come.

5008

Peugeot will be giving the 5008 a facelift to make the family carrier resemble more like an SUV. Similar to the 3008, the 5008 too gets a new design along with the revised dashboard design.

Porsche

Panamera

The 2017 Porsche Panamera is faster, better looking and more cutting-edge than the outgoing model. On the dimension front, the 2017 Porsche Panamera is 34mm longer, 6mm wider and 5mm taller than the outgoing model. Surprisingly enough, the new Panamera looks like it sits lower than the first-gen Panamera.

Renault

Alaskan

Renault has unveiled the production version of the Alaskan pick-up with a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes. Renault is betting big on the Alaskan as the pick-up market accounts for five million units worldwide annually, more than one-third of the world's LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) sales. After making its debut as the concept in Paris last year, the Alaskan is the company's second pick-up following the half-tonne Renault Oroch sold in Latin America.

New-generation Koleos

Renault recently revealed the 2017 Koleos at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show. It is based on Renault-Nissan's CMF-CD platform used in vehicles like the 2016 Nissan X-Trail, Renault Espace and the Renault Talisman. When it goes on sale, it will be offered with a choice of four engines – two petrol and two diesel with power outputs ranging between 130PS and 175PS. Transmission options on the 2017 Renault Koleos are a 6-speed manual and the brand's X-Tronic CVT. The Renault Koleos will also be offered in either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variant.

Skoda

Kodiaq

Based on the Vision S Concept, which was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show, the Kodiaq carries a few design cues of the concept. The grille, headlamp shape and fog lamps are similar to the concept. The side profile on the Kodiaq bears the same belt line crease that runs from the front fender all the way up to the rear fender and the wrapping around the boot. The interior length is 1,793mm. The elbow room is 1,527mm front and 1,510mm at the rear. The head room for the front passenger's measures 1,020m, while for the rear it's 1,014mm. Rear legroom measures up to 104mm. Skoda will offer the Kodiaq with a choice of two diesel and three petrol engines.

SsangYong

LIV-2 concept

SsangYong Motor Company has revealed pictures and details of the LIV-2 large premium SUV concept ahead of its scheduled debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Korea's oldest automaker is aiming to launch the premium SUV sometime next year. SsangYong will offer LIV-2 with two engine options - a 2.2-litre Euro-6 diesel engine and a 2.0-litre GDi turbo petrol engine. The upcoming all-new Rexton will also be equipped with the same 2.0-litre petrol engine that SsangYong has recently developed. SsangYong hasn't disclosed any other tech elements yet.

Suzuki

Ignis

The new Suzuki Ignis is based on an all-new lightweight platform. It will also form the basis of future products and claims to be stiffer by 30 per cent and lighter by 15 per cent. Dimensionally, the Suzuki Ignis measures 3,700mm in length, 1,660mm in width and 1,595 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,435mm and gets a reasonable bootspace of 258 litres that can be increased to 415 litres with the rear seats folded down. The Ignis that will arrive in global markets will be equipped with a 1.25-litre Dualjet petrol engine that makes 91PS of power. The Ignis might also be offered with the SHVS hybrid. The other motor that is expected to launch with the Ignis is a 1.0-litre Boosterjet that makes 110PS at 5,500rpm and 170Nm of torque between 2,000-3,500rpm.

S-Cross facelift

Suzuki has revealed the facelifted S-Cross ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut. The revised S-Cross gets styling updates, refreshed engine line-up and extra features. The major update the facelift gets is upright front-end styling with slightly higher ground clearance at 180mm versus 165mm. It also gets new headlamps with a sharper look. In addition, the facelift comes with newly designed LED rear combination lamps. The 1.6-litre petrol engine from the older S-Cross has been replaced by a turbocharged 1.0-litre 3-cylinder and a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder Boosterjet unit.

Toyota

C-HR crossover

Toyota is geared up to show the new C-HR crossover at the Paris Motor Show. The near-production model shares a strong resemblance with the original C-HR concept, first showcased at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The C-HR is 4,350mm in length, 1,850mm in width and 1,500mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,640mm. These numbers are similar to that of the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster, dropping a hint of its possible launch in India in future. Since the upcoming SUV is based on the same TNGA platform as the Toyota Prius, there will be a hybrid along with conventional engine options. Toyota has also made a performance version of the C-HR.

Prius plug-in hybrid

Making its European debut is the new Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid that was shown at the New York Motor Show. The major change that the new model gets is a sharper design along with a revised cabin layout. Most importantly, the new Toyota Prius Hybrid boasts of a fuel efficiency of 40kmpl. Toyota states that the new Prius gets an improved hybrid system along with aerodynamic enhancements. The Toyota Prius hybrid will come equipped with a 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle, 4-cylinder petrol engine along with an 80PS electric motor. The combined power output is 134PS.

FCV Plus concept

The Toyota FCV Plus concept is the Japanese carmaker's interpretation of a hydrogen cell equipped car. Though the company claims that the production version is expected to arrive in 15 years.

Volkswagen

MEB Electric concept

Volkswagen has released teaser images of an upcoming electric vehicle concept that it plans to showcase at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The upcoming concept will be a design study, states Volkswagen, meaning that even though it might feature futuristic innovations, the same might not trickle down in the production version. The MEB platform stands for Modularer Elektrobaukasten, a German term for Modular Electric Model. Volkswagen intends to use the same in a wide range of EVs. While the basic construction in the MEB platform is focussed around the battery, the wheelbase has been increased and the overhangs have been kept short.