There's less than a month until the Paris Motor Show 2016 begins in the 15th arrondisement, and the industry is already bursting at the seams with what will go on show.
The event itself takes place in Paris, at the Porte de Versailles Parc des Expositions, from 1 October to 16 October. The press preview day is Thursday 29 September, with access available to media but with dozens of products scheduled to be revealed to the world for the first time.
The nearest Metro station is Station Porte de Versailles on line 12 or Station Balard on line 8. The bus stop Arrêt Porte de Versailles is served by routes 38 and 80, while trams 2 and 3a stop at Station Porte de Versailles. The Porte de Versailles has its own exit from the périphérique – the closest address is 40 Boulevard Victor, 75015 Paris for those driving to the show.
For those planning a trip as well as readers hoping to follow the show from home, here's what to expect:
France
The French manufacturers are playing on home turf here, so there's a wealth of new metal from Peugeot, Citroen and Renault. Citroen has teased a sleek but predictable concept car called the CXperience, complete with suicide doors and too many screens, which showcases the company's future design language. The new C3 supermini is pitched as a comfy car rather than a sporty one – thus returning to what Citroen has always done best – and comes with those 'airbump' patches from the C4 Cactus. We can expect more of these chunky, attractive cars in future, especially if this Fiesta-sized hatchback succeeds.
Renault is aiming at a very different market segment with the Alaskan. This nice-looking pickup truck is based on the Nissan Navara (Renault is very friendly with their friends in Yokohama) and will be available in single and double cab formats. This type of vehicle has dwindled in popularity in the UK over recent years, and Renault's offering will be up against stiff opposition from the Mitsubishi L200, the Volkswagen Amarok, and the venerable Toyota Hilux.
Peugeot will be bringing the new 3008 mid-sized SUV into the fray. This model has completed its metamorphosis and is now a full-fat SUV, complete with pretend off-roader styling. Promising a range of engines (from very slow to moderately quick) and improved fuel economy, the 3008 might become a more serious contender in Britain now it looks more like competitors such as the Nissan Qashqai.
Germany
Mercedes has released pictures of the new 196mph AMG GT Roadster ahead of the car’s official debut at the Paris motor show later this month.
As with the coupe on which it is based, the AMG GT Roadster is available in two versions; either the standard model with a mere 469bhp and the ability to sprint from 0-62mph in 4sec, or a 549bhp AMG GT C model, that can cover the same benchmark sprint in just 3.7sec, as well as hit that headline top speed (the standard car runs out of puff at 188mph).
In addition to the more powerful version of AMG’s twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, the GT C model features rear-wheel steering and an electroincally controlled rear axle locking differential. Visually it can be identified by its wider rear wings, which allow for the fitment of wider tyres to help put the extra performance to the road.
Both cars use a three-layered fabric soft-top roof, which is much lighter than the folding hard-top Mercedes uses on its SL roadster, which can open or close in 11 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph.
The AMG GT Roadster is expected to cost from about £110,000 when it goes on sale in spring 2017.
Japan
Having lent Renault its Navara, Nissan has turned its attention to the Micra. Spy shots suggest that the new car will have a wildly different profile to the bubbly Micra of old, bringing it more in line with the rest of the Nissan stable. The Micra has historically sold extremely well in the UK, and this latest generation might bring it back into the supermini spotlight.
Nissan's "upmarket sub-brand", Infiniti, will certainly bring some new cars to Paris, but everyone will be talking about their new variable compression engine technology. The system they've announced is capable of changing the compression ratio of an engine, prioritising power or efficiency depending on what the driver requires. Previous attempts at this have met with mixed success, making this breakthrough an intriguing one.
20 miles away in Minato, Honda has been busy preparing another car that Brits love – the Civic. Making headlines all over the world in 2015 with the sporty Type R derivative of the previous generation, a teaser of the new-shape Civic appeared in Geneva earlier this year. The Civic has always been a practical, sensible, well-liked car, albeit with a lairy front-wheel-drive hot hatch version that appears a few years after it launches. This is a very important car for Honda
Korea
Hyundai has two horses in this race. The i10 will go up against the Micra in the featherweight category, while its i30 – a competitor to the Golf and Focus – is likely to attract more attention. Both are hotly anticipated cars from Hyundai, which has been giving mainstream European manufacturers a run for their money for the past decade. The i10 gets the same engine range, but also receives updated styling and a significantly improved infotainment system (which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) in order to coax young drivers in. Full details for the i30 have yet to be released, but we do know that a warm hatch version wearing Hyundai's new 'N' performance badge is planned.
SsangYong has still got a long way to go before it earns the recognition that Hyundai has, but the new Rexton should be a step in the right direction. The launch of the Tivoli in 2015 and the slightly bigger Tivoli XLV in August this year helped draw attention to the brand in the UK – his Korean manufacturer has been a low-volume seller here for many years, but another convincing SUV could change that.
Italy
Back in Europe, the Italians have been working hard. Abarth, the performance manufacturer and tuning arm of Fiat, have worked their magic on the 124 Spider, adding power to the little Fiat roadster that debuted earlier this year. But the main entrant will be the Alfa Romeo Stelvia, Turin's inevitable contribution to the SUV market. This car is about as far removed from Alfa's pane e burro as it's possible to get, but alongside Maserati's Levante, it's a necessity for any volume manufacturer at the moment. This is a car that everyone is hoping will be good.
Czech Republic
Similarly, the Skoda Kodiaq has generated a huge amount of hype. The amount of interest shown in this SUV is testament to how far the Czech manufacturer has come in the past decade – it's now a jewel in the Volkswagen Group crown, and the four-wheel-drive Kodiaq (based on the MQB platform along with the Volkswagen Tiguan and upcoming SEAT Ateca) is likely to be successful in the UK.
-Telegraph