It’s the automotive event of the season and arguably the last big car exhibition of the year: the Paris Motor Show.
Usually mentioned in the same breath as the other major car events like Geneva, New York and sister event Frankfurt, Paris parades the most exciting and significant cars we can expect to see over the next 12 months.
It opens on October 4th, following two days of press previews, so what can we look forward to see there?
Audi E-Tron
Audi’s first all-electric car will be this: the E-Tron – a battery-powered SUV set to launch in 2019.
With a range of around 250 miles, it’ll lock horns with the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X to give electric car buyers a real headache. Elsewhere on Audi’s display space will be the new A1 supermini and facelifted Q3 SUV.
BMW Z4
Longer, wider and taller than before, the long-awaited new Z4 makes its debut in Paris ahead of going on sale this March.
The low-slung roadster will be powered by one of many turbocharged petrol engines, the quickest of which being the Z4 M40i (0-62mph: 4.6 seconds).
Prices are expected to start from around £50,000 on the road, but we’ll get confirmation on pricing in Paris. Also on BMW’s stand will be the new 3 Series.
DS3 Crossback
The DS3 we all know and love is on its way out. It’ll stay in production until the end of 2019, but eventually, this new DS3 Crossback will replace it.
It boasts a bulkier back-end and a more muscular exterior, so it’s far from a like-for-like replacement but it will serve as fresh competition for the Audi Q2.
It will come with a choice of three-pot 1.2-litre petrols (99, 128 and 153bhp) and a single 99bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel. An electric version with a range exceeding 186 miles is also in the works.
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
The i30 N injected some much appreciated pace into Hyundai’s Golf rival with a 6.4-second 0-62mph sprint and the slope-backed version of that warm hatch is likely to reprise that kind of performance.
Lexus RC Coupe facelift
Lexus’ 4 Series/C-Class Coupe rival has been refreshed to incorporate the look of the brand’s flagship LC model. Apparently, stability has been improved without compromising ride quality too and prices shouldn’t be much more than the £39k RC model.
Mercedes-Benz EQ C
Another electric SUV and the EQ C will be the first of up to ten electric cars to come from Mercedes before the end of 2025.
It’ll go on sale around the same time as Audi’s E-Tron with a range of around 280 miles. Sharing the space on Merc’s Paris stand will be the A-Class Saloon.