The Paris Auto Show is among the world’s most significant auto shows. It is right up there alongside the auto shows held in Frankfurt, Beijing, Geneva, Chicago and Detroit. Its first edition was in 1898 and it was an annual show until 1976, but it became a biennial event afterwards. In 2010, the show attracted a record 1,260,000 visitors.
This year it will start on September 29 and it will last until October 14. Usually there are a lot of new and exciting things to be seen at the show, and this year is not an exception. Many car manufacturers will present their latest production cars, but a couple of concept cars will be unveiled, too.
French car makers Renault, Citroen and Peugeot will obviously be at the center of attention. One of the most notable releases will be the Renaultsport Clio 200. The Renaultsport 200 features a 2.0, 16V turbo engine, a six-speed gearbox and can go from 0 to 60 in just under 7 seconds, with a top speed of 141 mph.
Then there is the Volkswagen Golf VII GTI, a concept car with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 220 hp, expected to hit the stores in 2013.
One of the most anticipated and notable releases is definitely the Jaguar F-Type. It’s a roadster with rear-wheel drive, a 3.0-liter V6 engine providing 340 hp, and it will probably be the star of the show.
Speaking of sports cars, American car maker Bentley is unveiling its Continental GT3 at the Paris Auto Show. It is a race car which is intended to bring Bentley back to the world of motorsport.
Other noteworthy cars this year’s show has to offer are the Lexus LF-CC Concept, the Audi A3 Sportback, the Mazda 6 station wagon, the BMW 4 Series GT, the Mercedes Benz CLS Shooting Brake and many more.
Considering the number of new production and concept cars making their debut at the Paris Auto Show 2012, we can definitely expect an exciting show in spite of the difficult times the car industry is going through right now.