- Paris, Mondial de l'Automobile 2010 -

Paris, Mondial 2010 is a large event with plenty World Premieres. The Electric & Combustion/Electric Hybrids were on nearly every exhibit and are now ready to roll in the street and we are dedicating a special report to the subject. The gasoline and Diesel engines are moving in a big evolution with the “downsizing” for there continuity to lead the transportation scene. Smaller gasoline engines with direct injection and turbocharger replace their predecessors for more power, more torque, less fuel consumption, lower pollution levels and lighter weight. It goes from a new Mercedes CSL with a smaller but turbocharged V8 to a Fiat 500 TwinAir with two cylinders replacing four. Renault introduced its new 1.6 dCi 130 hp (96 kW) to replace 1.9 dCi with 20 percent reduction in the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions slashed by 30 g/km ( NEDC cycle 4.5 litres/100 km and 119 g/km CO2). It is interesting to discover that techniques developed in automobile racing to increase power output are now utilized for improving fuel efficiency and lower emissions.  Micro hybrid renamed Stop & Start results in  an additional 10 to 15% fuel savings for gasoline engines in urban and suburban trips as it stops the engine when the car is stopped, say for a red light, and restart automatically when the driver wishes to. This solution is more and more proposed on family sedan and even, at the Mondial, for the Ferrari California and the exclusive SA Aperta.
Creativity, performance and fun are the success of the event with Concepts like the high performance Lamborghini Sesto Elemento to the leisure vehicle project Citroen Lacoste.
P. Damiens

Electric and Hybrid vehicles at Paris 2010 Mondial de L'Automobile review - Click here

1- Lamborghini Sesto Elemento - The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento shows how the future of the super sports car can look. Lamborghini extreme lightweight carbon-fiber technology (just 999 kilograms or 2,202 lb) is combined with  a 570 hp V10 power unit and permanent all-wheel drive. A power-to-weight ratio of only 1.75 kilograms per hp allows for a 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration within only 2.5 seconds.

The Peugeot HR1 is an exclusive and innovative urban concept car that blends together a number of genres (city run-around, coupé, SUV …). It is targeted at active young city dwellers smitten with design and innovation that are in search of a vehicle that matches their profile. The HR1 features HYbrid4 technology, with a new three cylinder 1.2 litre THP petrol engine at the front and a rear electric motor for: reduced CO2 emissions (80 g/km or Zero in electric mode), a maximum power (147 bhp) and four wheel drive.

The new concept car is both resolutely CITROËN and typically LACOSTE.  Positioned at the crossroads of the automotive world where fashion and sport meet, it makes a number of references to these two sectors. Stylishly minimalist and elegantly laid-back, the CITROËN LACOSTE instantly attracts with its off-beat sports aesthetic. It features a high waistline, bulging, textured wings, minimum overhang, and golf ball-style rims on wheels placed in the furthest corners of the body.  

The BMW Series 6 coupé Concept 2010 is a study for a luxury 2+2 seater sport vehicle for a combination of aesthetics and dynamics design. This concept fit in the BMW coupe tradition and announces the future M6 coupé

Five Lotus prototypes for a new future. It is probably the first time in history that a car manufacturer exhibits its business plan with five new models intended to enter production in the next six years. Lotus’s new CEO wanted to demonstrate a drastic change in the strategy of this traditional high performance cars company.

Porsche GT2 RS limited edition,  the most powerful road legal Porsche 911 with 620 hp nd total weighr of 1370 kg, it is 90 hp higher output  and 70 kg lower weight compared to a 911 GT2. Standing start to 100 kph (62 mph) would take 3,5 seconds. Only 500 units shal be built and the Euro base price is announced for 199.500 Euros .

The all new Range Rover Evoque is a luxury cross-coupé  with a compact footprint and bold exterior design. Indicative pricing starts from $30.000/35.000 Euros. Delivery is expected to start by summer 2011. The front wheel drive Range Rover Evoque with 150 hp 2,2 Litres turbo Diesel engine achieves 58 mpg* and below 130 g CO2/km*.  The four wheel drive 2,2 Litres 150 hp delivers 150 mpg* and 145 gCO2/km*.  (* manufacturer’s estimates). A new 240hp 2,0 Litre Si4 gasoline engine combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing. The Evoque is 430 mm shorter and 187 mm lower than the Range Rover Sport .

This is a road legal version of the Maserati Gran Turismo Corse invloved in Trofeo Gran Turismo MC Series. The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati model line-up when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011. With 336kW (450 horsepower), it has more power (13kW, 10hp) from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 510Nm of torque is a further 20Nm improvement.
This helps to slash the 0-100km/h sprint time, which the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.6 seconds, and stretches the top speed to 301km/h.

The Fiat TwinAir engine currently powers the 85 hp Turbo version of the Fiat 500 with CO2 emissions of just 92 g CO2/km. The TwinAir boasts a number of particularly sophisticated technological features, normally only found in higher engine classes. Two examples are the electro-hydraulic control of the Multiair inlet valves, which is installed on all TwinAir engines, and the timing chain which drastically cuts engine running costs because it does not need any maintenance. A counter-rotating balancer shaft also guarantees that vibrational comfort is maintained in all operating conditions. Compared to the four cylinder 1,4 100 HP, the 85 HP two cylinder 875 cc TwinAir records a torque increase of 25% at 2.000 rpm despite a 30% decrease in fuel consumption. The Fiat 500 TwinAir is equipped with stop/start micro-hybrid technology.

With a power output of 408 hp, outstanding vehicle dynamics and emphatically sporty equipment, the new 911 Carrera GTS ascends to the pinnacle of the Carrera model series.

The new all-wheel drive Bentley Continental GT has a discretely modified exterior design and a more powerful  575 hp 6 Litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine with 700 Nm maximum torque and Flexfuel capability. A new high-efficiency V8 is announced from late 2011. Advanced production techniques such as aluminium Super Forming (front wings and boot lid) allow for a more sculpted body. Top speed is announced for 318 kph (198 mph) and acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) should take 4,6 seconds. Combined consumption is a quoted 16,5 litre/100 km (17,1 mpg) and 384 g CO2/km

Rolls Royce Ghost Concept illustrating the extend to which Rolls Royce is ready to deliver cars responding to  specific requirements of their customers.

The new Porsche Speedster is limited to a 356 units production as 356 is the designation of the first Porsche Speedster, the 1955 356 Speedster. This new edition utilizes the mechanical elements of the 911 Carrera GTS.

The production version of this mid engine Mexican coupe with 250 hp 2 Litres turbo Ford Duratec engine was introduced at Mondial 2010. The Mexican car shall produced at a rate of 100 to 150 units in 2011 with the possibility to gradually reach 500 units per year. The commercial launching involve Europe, Mexico and South America. The MXT weights only 930 kg due to a semi monocoque construction made of carbon fibre composite and aluminium assembled by structural adhesives and rivets.

A.C. Mk VI GT is a revival of the A.C. Cobra of the sixties but with modern technologies. The chassis is multi tubular frame and propulsion is by  437 hp Corvette V8 engine. The car is now made in Germany and sold for 110.000 Euros. Acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) is announced in 3,7 seconds and top speed rated at 278 kph. Weight is 990 kg. There is a more powerful GTS version with 647 hp engine.

Porsche applies hybrid technologies to endurance racing cars. The Porsche GT3 R Hybrid uses flywheel electric storage KERS technology. One of the many highlights of the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season final was the race premiere of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in the USA, which received huge public interest. The sports car with ground-breaking drive technology and the Le Mans winners Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France) and Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) at the wheel again demonstrated its reliability, performance and efficiency. Competing in the unclassified GTH class for experimental cars, it conquered the 1,000 miles on this difficult circuit without any technical problems. For the Porsche engineers, this test outing yielded many crucial insights in order to further perfect the innovative hybrid drive.

New World Rally Championship contenders

Representing CITROËN in next year’s World Rally Championship (WRC), the CITROËN DS3 WRC conforms to the new rules set down by the FIA.

Ford's new challenger for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship, the all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car, made its first global public appearance at the Paris Motor Show today.