Paris Motor Show 2008

Nargess Shahmanesh-Banks

Each auto show has its own role. Geneva is for beautiful concept cars, Tokyo for wacky ones, Detroit for the Americans to show muscle, and Frankfurt and Paris (which alternate yearly) are where serious concept and production cars are unveiled.

Click here to view images from the Paris Motor Show

The truth is, the motoring world has had to sober up, and it shows. Gone are the days when it was acceptable to showcase gas-guzzling shinny metal, draped with minimally-attired leggy blonds – albeit some new kids on the block, Shanghai and Moscow notably - are still living the hedonistic dream.

Paris reflected the current ecological and economic climate. Most manufacturers had at least one non-fossil fuelled car on show. And the majority, in light of competition from world cars like the Tata Nano, concentrated on showcasing the perfect urban mobility concept. Even premium marques like Audi and BMW showed they care, with mini-SUVs designed for city driving.

No longer is it necessary, or indeed acceptable, to spell out ‘green’ on eco-cars. The trend now is much more subtle, with most designers stressing the importance of ‘reduced design’, of using lightweight materials, thinner seats, and displaying less cluttered dashboards.

The likes of Mazda and Nissan proved it is possible to think outside the box with the Kiyora and Nuvu concepts. The Japanese marques admittedly have the advantage over the Germans with less stubborn brand heritages and a more fluid market base, but it is refreshing to see a brave approach and a strong sense of design in the otherwise safe world of contemporary car design.

An auto show, however, cannot be an auto show without some raw sex on display. The now independent Aston Martin teased punters with a sneak preview of the backside of the ultra-exclusive £1.2m One-77 supercar. But real desire came in the shape of the perfectly formed Lamborghini Estoque. At £130k, and due to be in showrooms by 2011, the four-door saloon was easily the star of the Paris Show.

13 October 2008 | Cars