The Mini Countryman WRC model is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, not only introducing the competition version of the new Mini compact SUV but also marking Mini’s return to rally car racing. The Countryman WRC has been developed by Prodrive and is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine with all-wheel-drive. The WRC model will debut in some competitions in 2011, with full participation in the championship in 2012.

The Paris show has also proved an important opportunity for Mini to announce the initial interest and future popularity of its Countryman model. Perhaps considered a risky straying from the well-developed Mini niche, the Countryman is proving to appeal to customers who have traditionally been outside that niche but are attracted by the Mini brand. Specifically, Mini has announced that all models planned for production until February 2011 have been sold and so we can wait for more news about production increases in the new year.

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The new Seat IBe concept car is on display at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, although the original was a model that was originally presented back at the Geneva show this year. The second IBe uses the same electric motor as the first model, with 102 hp and 200 Nm, with a weight not exceeding 1,100 kg. The hatchback model has a front end dramatic enough to be noticed in the city, while its performance stats are fine for urban touring.

The IBe has a range of 130 km, can accelerate to 100 km/hr in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/hr. The bodywork was designed by Luc Donckerwolke (of Lamborghini fame), and has a few changes to the first model. Its sports style should prove to be the forerunner to the new Seat Leon SC which should appear next year. It’s destined to be the coupé version of the Leon derived from the third generation of that model.

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There is so much eye candy at the Lotus stand at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that frankly, we didn’t know where to look. An incredible line-up from the company includes the Lotus Elise, the Elite, the Esprit, the new Elan and finally the Eterne. All clearly named with the letter ‘E’ as per tradition and meaning that no-one will ever name a Lotus after me. Anyway, Lotus gave us the full range from a classic, historical model right down to a new, revolutionary (to say the least) member.

The Lotus Esprit, icon of the company is still quite something to look at. The new version has a 5.0-litre V8 with 620 hp (from Toyota). The Lotus Elan, described as perfect for both road and track, has a 4.0-litre V6 with 450 hp while the Elite, future grand touring model for Lotus, has the same impressive eight-cylinder as the Esprit but in a different costume. What’s more, Lotus is making its V6 and V8 engines available in the future in hybrid form with a kind of KERS technology that will go alongside the standard version.

The new Lotus Elise is also on show having a 2.0-litre turbo engine with 320 hp and start&stop technology. It will arrive only in 2015 though, so that’s a long wait if you just happened to be in the market for one of these. Then there’s the surprising, but lovely, Lotus Eterne sedan-coupé with the same V8 as the Esprit and Elite. Meanwhile, the Concept CityCar almost disappeared in this tidal wave from Lotus, but the prototype model is equipped with a flexfuel engine and an electric motor which can work independently. And if you’ve not had your fill yet, the Evora S and Evora IPS are also at the show.

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The new Volkswagen Passat has been revealed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and this gallery shows the sturdy VW Passat in its new disguise. The front has been restyled and is now in line with the new-look Phaeton, but it should continue its road to steady sales having already sold 15 million models in 100 countries around the world since it first appeared way back in 1973.

That’s a good innings for any car model but the Volkswagen Passat is proof that the company has consistently produced good, practical models that still appeal today. The sedan and Variant Passat wagon are both on show in Paris and will go on sale from November this year. The accessories kits available are Trendline, Comfortline and Highline and all models will have start&stop technology except for the entry-level petrol version. The new Passat will also be available in an “Exclusive” version from Volkswagen R GmbH.

The Passat will have an extensive engine range of ten units ranging from power steps of 105 to 300 hp. The most economical version is the 1.6-litre TDI unit with 105 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It has a fuel consumption of 4.2 l/100 km and emits 109 g/km of CO2. The most environmentally efficient model among the petrol engines is the 1.4-litre BlueMotion unit with 122 hp. It consumes 5.8 l/100 km and has CO2 emissions of 138 g/km.

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The gorgeous Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and proves what Maserati can still do with a road racing model. The new Granturismo MC Stradale is based on the MC Trofeo track Maserati, and the new top-end coupé is designed to follow the same aerodynamic and track driving philosophy as the Trofeo. The Granturismo MC Stradale is equipped with a 4.7-litre V8 engine with 450 hp and 510 Nm of torque. It is also a lighter model with no rear seats (an interesting roll bar in the style of the Porsche GT3 RS is in their place), while carbon fibre has been used for the front seats and the interior trim. The weight of the new Maserati is now at 1,770 kg which is 110 less than the Granturismo S model.

The MC Stradale has a top speed of 300 km/hr and reaches 100 km/hr in 4.6 seconds. It has an MC Race Shift gearbox capable of gear shifts of 60 milliseconds. The dashboard features an MC Race button used for a high performance set-up with sports suspension and handling. It also opens up the exhaust valves and we can only dream of the sound that would emerge. The final touches have been done with Brembo creating a carbonceramic brake system for the Granturismo MC Stradale, which is also equipped with Pirelli 20-inch tyres, also custom created for this Maserati.

Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale - live 2010 Paris show

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Here’s the new Mercedes CLS live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and we’re thinking of a sexiest car prize for this year as it seems the French event has attracted some lovely models. The new Mercedes CLS is a redesigned version of the original model and it’s definitely a more imposing car with a more prominent front end, sculpted sides and a brand new rear end.

The Mercedes CLS also gets significant modifications under the bonnet with a new line of engines which focuses on cleaner motoring. Overall the CLS has reduced emissions by 25 percent with all engine units being equipped with start&stop technology. Other extra technology included on the new model is the Direct Steer system, LED High Performance lights which combine with Mercedes calls its Intelligent Light System.

The European launch set for January 2011 will see the new 3.5-litre V6 debut with 306 hp, joined by the new 3.0-litre V6 CDI with 265 hp and 620 Nm of torque. Two months later we’ll see the arrival of the 2.1 CDI on the CLS 250 CDI model (204 hp, 500 Nm and fuel consumption of 5.1 l/100 km), and in April the 4.7-litre V8 twin-turbo will debut on the CLS 500. It will have 408 hp and not the 435 hp destined for the Mercedes S-Class.

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Ferrari has paid homage in grand style to Pininfarina at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, revealing the Ferrari SA Aperta open-top based on the 599 GTO model. Only 80 of these models will be made and that they’ve already been sold could be testament to just what a beautiful car this is. But we think the live gallery of the SA Aperta works even better to prove that.

The exclusive model has the same 6.0-litre V12 engine as the 599 GTO with 670 hp and 620 Nm. We’ve seen all the lovely combinations of the SA Aperta with its online configurator and we’re particularly fascinated by the roof. Unfortunately we didn’t actually get to see it up at the Paris show, but the aluminium inserts that run along the length of the car really complete the beautiful lines.

Oh, by the way, there is also the Ferrari California HELE at the Ferrari stand with 29 g/km less of CO2 emissions. The High Emotion Low Emissions car is part of Ferrari’s plan to get its environmental qualifications improved and the California HELE has start&stop technology which helps to reduce fuel consumption by 23 percent. Now back to the SA Aperta….

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The next member of the Audi e-Tron family has been presented live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in the form of the Audi e-Tron Spyder. The open-top model is clearly based on Audi’s original coupé version and provides an interesting hybrid model for the roadster/cabriolet segment. It is equipped with a V6 TDI engine with 650 Nm (no power figures were released) placed in the rear while a pair of electric motors with 87 hp and 352 Nm are up front.

That’s a lot of torque in the e-Tron Spyder and the hybrid system consumes just 2.2 litres of diesel for every 100 km with 59 g of CO2 emissions per kilometre. The e-Tron Spyder does a range of 1,000 km with a tank measuring only 50 litres. The rest of the Audi stand at the show features the new A1 Competition Kit and the R8 GT, along with the new A7 Sportback which we get to see in red.

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The legendary brand of Jaguar is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, celebrating 75 years with its Jaguar C-X75 concept. The fascinating EREV electric supercar is set to be one of the stars of the show and has provided a nice suprise from Jaguar with a departure from its sedan and coupé models.

The C-X75 is equipped with a thermic motor, purely to recharge the batteries and its performance is stunning. Jaguar claims a top speed of 330 km/hr, sprint to 100 km/hr in just 3.4 seconds and even more indicative - 80 to 145 km/hr is said to be achieved in just 2.3 seconds. The four electric motors (one per wheel) combine to produce 780 hp and a whopping 1,600 Nm of torque.

A range extender motor is included in the form of a micro gas turbine that goes at 80,000 rpm and guarantees 900 km of range. That’s at just 28 g/km of CO2 emissions. In electric form alone the C-X75 has got a range of 110 km and it takes six hours to recharge the batteries. This is definitely one to see in the gallery below.

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The lovely (and new) Bentley Continental GT is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and this gallery shows its slight restyling as it attempts to continue the success of this model for Bentley. The Continental GT has been redesigned but it still obviously the model we’ve gotten used to seeing, taking on a few elements of the Mulsanne but otherwise essentially the same. The Continental GT is at the Paris show in coupé form only, as it looks like we might see the cabriolet version at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The Continental GT is equipped with the W12 twinturbo Flexfuel engine with an updated power figure of 575 hp. It has a brand new six-speed ZF Quickshift gearbox which combines with the engine for an acceleration time to 100 km/hr of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 318 km/hr. Fuel consumption stands at an average of 16.5 l/100 km. From 2011 the Continental GT will be available with a new four-litre V8, possibly from Audi though nothing is official yet. This new model also has a few internal upgrades with a new multimedia system being the focus.

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The highly anticipated Range Rover Evoque is live at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and this is one hot model from Range Rover. The three-door version has been revealed in the final production model that has replicated the style of the LRX concept. The Evoque seems to be an exercise in style, and we’ll be curious to see just what the first drive reviews say, available in Pure, Prestige and Dynamic kits. The various visual combinations include everything from a lacquered black roof to chrome exhausts and luxury touches on the inside.

The Evoque will be available with the two-litre, four-cylinder Ford Ecoboost engine with 240 hp (the Si4), and a 2.2-litre diesel available in power steps of 150 and 190 hp. The first diesel model is available in front-wheel drive only while the others are four-wheel-drive. In a record for Land Rover, CO2 emissions are below 130 g/km and fuel consumption at 4.9 l/100 km. The Range Rover Evoque will go on sale from 2011.

Land Rover is celebrating 40 years of Range Rover at the Paris show and while we still get the classic Rover and Rover Sport models to see on display, perhaps the Evoque is the best for the celebration. It’s new, innovative and sexy and should continue a great Range Rover tradition in luxury vehicles. It’s true that it’s gone more urban and funky but for a younger generation and in this segment, Range Rover has to play its cards - and it looks like it’s doing that awfully well.

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The Porsche 911 Speedster and Porsche Carrera GTS might be the ’same old’ Porsche sports cars but they’re still so good to look at. The live pics from the 2010 Paris Motor Show reveal the two new models, with the Carrera GTS being an example of the ‘best of’ in the Porsche Exclusive accessories category. It has the 3.8-litre engine with 408 hp and is available in both coupé and cabriolet models. The Speedster on the other hand, can be considered an all-new model for Porsche.

The 911 Speedster is a modern interpretation of the original 964 model and just 356 units will be made. It’s characterised by a lowered windshield (by 60 mm) and an aerodynamic style with a bulky but classic rear end. The engine is matched with a dual-clutch PDK transmission and performance stats are a top speed of 305 km/hr and a 4.4 second sprint to 100 km/hr. The Speedster weighs 1,540 kg.

On display from Porsche at the Paris Show is also the 911 GT2 RS built in 500 models and equipped with a 3.6-litre twin turbo engine with 620 hp. It’s strictly a rear-wheels drive model and weighs 1,370 kg due to the weight reduction and use of carbon fibre typical of RS models. The event also provided a chance for the public handover of the CEO reigns from Michael Macht to Matthias Müller, photographed together with the Porshce 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

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