The Paris Motor Show is certainly one of the key global automobile showcases, and yet this year I fear it was more evident than ever how Motor Shows are losing steam - and perhaps more so in the case of Paris. A shrunken show with some key players missing may not be cause for cheer, but luckily some products still gave us some excitement. Here are my top picks from the ongoing Mondial de l'Automobile!
The Audi RS 3 is most definitely the obnoxious. Trust Audi to shove a 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that belts out a massive 395bhp of peak power and 480Nm of peak torque, into a compact sedan. Now that is surely a recipe for sheer fun. Also, this is the first time in Audi's history that one of its sedans to use a transverse layout for an engine.
With Maruti Suzuki all set to launch the new Ignis sub-4 metre crossover in India in coming months, Suzuki has showcased the car at Paris Motor Show 2016. The car is expected to go on sales in the European markets next year and the model showcased at the event is most likely the final production vehicle.
Audi has finally unveiled the long awaited next generation Q5 crossover-SUV at the 2016 Paris motor show. This will be the second generation Audi Q5 and the Ingolstadt-based carmaker has gone a long way to make it as advanced as possible. The new Audi Q5 comes with a number of design and cosmetic changes that have made the car lighter, more styling and a lot more appealing. In addition to that the carmaker has also loaded the car with a host of comfort and technological features to make it the perfect package.
Volkswagen's Czech division Skoda said it will assess the possibility of building cars in the United States as it considers selling in the world's second largest auto market where its parent continues to grapple with an emissions scandal.
Ferrari's 1.86 million euro ($2 million) LaFerrari Aperta sports car had sold out before its official debut at the Paris auto show on Thursday - in a sign the super rich still clamour for any special edition of the luxury brand. Only 200 of the hybrid convertible sports cars will be produced for carefully selected clients, with an additional nine made for use by the company during its 70th anniversary celebrations next year.
Alarmed by the threat posed by Silicon Valley firms developing autonomous driving systems, carmakers at this week's Paris Motor Show showed signs they are ready to hit back by cooperating in areas where they might have been expected to compete.
Toyota's decision is the latest example of how the so-called "dieselgate" scandal is forcing carmakers to rewrite strategic plans that will shape their futures for years to come.
