The Paris Motor Show is considered one of the most important auto shows in the world. The show is a two week long event occurring in October only every two years, and draws in international crowds of over 1.2 million people. The Paris Motor Show is Europe’s second biggest auto show after the Geneva Motor Show, but hosts a similarly impressive selection of new releases and concept cars—even some designs you may not have seen in mechanic colleges!
Mercedes-AMG GT S
This new car from Mercedes-Benz is being labelled a “practical” sports car, and the vehicle aims to compete with other superstars like the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar F-Type. The exterior has a muscular and dramatic shape and the interior is designed around materials like carbon fiber, silver chrome and black diamond. In Paris, the vehicle was presented in a standout shiny yellow. Under the hood is 510 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time of 3.7 seconds. The GT S is scheduled for release in early spring 2015.
Volkswagen XL Sport Concept
There seems to be a new trend in automotive painting seen at the Paris Motor Show, and that is the colour blue. Not just any blue, but a specific electric blue which was seen on cars like the Lamborghini Asterion, the Honda Civic Type-R concept and the Volkswagen XL Sport concept. This Volkswagen concept has a Ducati engine and drives 270km/h, with 18-inch magnesium-alloy wheels and large cooling ducts behind the rear doors. The Volkswagen XL1 limited production vehicle from 2013—a diesel-powered plug-in hybrid—was considered first in this line of Volkswagen sports cars.
“Ettore Bugatti” Legend Edition
This vehicle is said to be the last in the “Legend Edition” line of Bugattis, and is meant to be a tribute to company patron Ettore Bugatti. This new sports car is dedicated to the classic Type 41 Royal Bugatti from the 1930s, considered one of the most luxurious vehicles ever made. The body of the Ettore Bugatti is based off the carbon body of the 1932 Type 41 Royal, with a hand-polished aluminum front and a clear coating. The luxurious interior has minimal blues accenting two types of brown leather. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 2.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of 408km/h.
Crossovers in Abundance
In auto sales college it’s essential to be up to date on automobile trends, and right now that trend is crossovers. The Paris Motor Show saw crossover debuts from Toyota, SsangYong, Fiat and Honda. One of the biggest releases out of these was the Fiat 500X crossover, which has a retro style and dozens of customizable buyer options including 12 different paint shades. Toyota revealed a hybrid crossover concept vehicle in Paris, called the C-HR Concept. Some highlights of this unusual Toyota model are U-shaped rear lights and massive 21-inch wheel arches.
Here’s a look at one of the most interesting designs seen at the Paris Motor Show, the Ettore Bugatti:
