Paris Motor Show 2016 Briefing

This year, Chasing Cars will be on the ground at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Tom will be at Paris Expo for all the key releases on Thursday 29 September, with time to review some of the other key models on Friday 30 September.

We already know about plenty of the exciting stuff that will launch this year in Paris. Here’s a preview of everything you need to know about the 2016 Paris Show.

Motor shows still happen?

Although we don’t have motor shows in Australia anymore, large shows remain a key focus of the car industry internationally. They are a convenient way for car media to see a bunch of exciting new car releases in one place.

Why is the Paris Motor Show special?

The September Paris show has become one of the most important shows on the calendar. It only happens once every two years, and it’s a space where car makers can introduce new models outside of the crazy intensity of the Detroit Auto Show or the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It’s also the main show for the French car industry, though most of the important releases are from non-French brands.

Which new cars are launching at the Paris Motor Show?

On to the cool stuff.

2017 Opel Insignia / 2018 Holden Commodore

Australian eyes will be glued to the unveiling of the 2017 Opel Insignia. This European mid-sizer will be imported to Australia as the 2018 Holden Commodore, potentially with a few styling changes. It will likely be the first hatchback-style Commodore, though the current Insignia is available as a conventional sedan. A wagon will be offered, but will be unveiled later. Though the Insignia is front-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive will be standard on the performance model, which will become the first imported Commodore SS.

2017 Hyundai i30

A brand new generation of Australia’s best-selling model will be unveiled at Paris. The 2017 Hyundai i30 will pick up on the significant advances of the recent Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Elantra releases, with more grown-up styling outside, a more sophisticated interior and hopefully, more use of turbo engines. The next i30 will have a big job – continuing to compete with the Toyota Corolla on price and the Volkswagen Golf on sophistication – no easy task.

2017 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Italian brand will unveil its first SUV as the 2017 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. This Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-Pace rival will be offered in mainstream petrol and diesel four-cylinder form. However, a fruity Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a near-certainty, using the Giulia QV’s 2.9-litre turbo V6, producing more than 350kW.

Image credit goes to RM Car Design.

2017 Audi Q5

Following up a hugely successful, million-units-sold first-generation is the 2017 Audi Q5. Like the larger Audi Q7, the second-gen Q5 will sit on Volkswagen’s MLB 2 platform, which will see weight fall by about 100 kilograms. That will make the Q5 a more agile car, available with turbo petrol and diesel fours, a high-performance diesel six, and potentially a hi-po petrol six, too. Inside, the Q5 will largely mirror the recently released Audi A4.

Render credit goes to Theophilus Chin.

2017 Land Rover Discovery

The British brand’s largest non-Range Rover, the 2017 Land Rover Discovery, will be unveiled at Paris. Strong design cues will link the Discovery to the newer, smaller Discovery Sport. The Discovery will retain superior off-road dynamics and its larger size will make it a much more usable seven-seater than its smaller sibling. Like the Range Rover, the Discovery will move to a significantly aluminium build, which will likely result in a significant drop in weight, resulting in better fuel economy and agility.

2017 Mercedes-AMG GT C

AMG have been hard at work transforming the GT two-door into a ragtop. The 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT C will be a very serious roadster, with both standard GT and GT S versions available. Both will use the brand’s four-litre biturbo V8 in various states of tune, and will join the hardcore GT R model on stage.

Image credit goes to Motor 1.

2017 Honda Civic hatch

With the sedan model already on Australian roads, the 2017 Honda Civic hatch won’t cause much shock at the Paris show. Until the B pillar, it’s largely identical to the sedan – from there, a more sloping fastback than the sedan will differentiate the pair. Engine options will include the 1.8-litre aspirated four and 1.5-litre turbo four. The biggest difference? The hatch will be built in the United Kingdom – the sedan is a Thai-built car.

This image first appeared at the Civic X forums.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Group brand Skoda will launch their first seven-seat SUV, the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq. Underpinned by the MQB platform from the VW Golf and VW Touraeg, the Kodiaq will be offered with a variety of turbo petrol and diesel engines. Four wheel drive will be optional.

2017 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Though the second-generation Panamera Turbo sedan has already been unveiled, Paris will see the reveal of the remainder of the 2017 Porsche Panamera range, including the new Panamera Sport Turismo. This car will be a shooting brake, a long and low station wagon – a new form factor for Porsche, competing squarely with the only other similar car, the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake. Expect small volumes, but a big wow factor.

Other cars that we’ll be looking out for

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: we know all about this one already – but it’ll be awesome to see it in the flesh for the first time.

2017 Audi Q2 – Audi enters mini-SUV territory with the new Q2.

2017 Audi R8 Spyder – yum.

Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta – even better.

Peugeot 3008 – Peugeot seeks more SUV success.

Porsche Panamera sedan – more variants to complement already-unveiled Turbo model.