From the Streets of Paris

Where is the capital of automobiles? Paris might be one. While small hatchbacks crowd the narrow city streets, people also take their cars on family vacations (even weekend drives to enjoy gourmet food in the countryside), and large luxury cars sell well within social circles.

Ferrari once made it a rule to unveil new models at the Paris Motor Show. While that's no longer strictly the case, the principle is respected, and at the autumn 2014 show, they unveiled the spider " 458 Speciale A" based on the flamboyant "458 Speciale."





The 2014 show also seemed to reflect this Parisian street atmosphere. France's own Peugeot, Citroën, and Renault presented small cars, while also showcasing minivans with cleverly designed interiors (a charm of French cars).



Meanwhile, manufacturers from Germany, the UK, and Italy displayed numerous high-performance luxury coupes and sedans. Volkswagen, for example, while focusing on plug-in hybrid vehicles with improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, also presented the otherworldly super sports carfor Lamborghini, and the " high-performance sedan



Mercedes-Benz, which owns Smart, and BMW, with its MINI, were not to be outdone.

Paris, Fashion, and Cars

"Unlike fashion,—"



Mercedes-Benz commented, acknowledging the fact that the show was held in the fashion capital.



" —The lifespan of an automobile is long. We must read the trends far into the future."



Therefore, like VW, they focused on models that contribute to fuel efficiency and CO2 reduction through weight reduction and engine efficiency improvements.



Among these, the model that attracted the most attention from visitors was the new "Smart."This model, developed jointly with Renault, generated considerable buzz. Both the two-seater ForTwo and the four-door ForFour, which also features rear seats, utilize a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform, and their exhibition emphasized leisure use, drawing the eye.





"Sustainable mobility is a real challenge."



Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW, stated this at a press conference. BMW's answer to this challenge is "i." At the venue, numerous " i3" were available for test drives, actively promoting the effectiveness of this zero-emission compact car.



The largest exhibition space at the show was secured by France's Big Three: Peugeot, Citroën, and Renault. Here too, compact cars with attractive styling filled the floor.



"Bringing France's fashion prestige to the automotive world."



Carlos Tavares, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, spoke with enthusiasm about the DS brand, which was separated from Citroën, expressing his ambitions.

The Potential of Espace

The new "Espace" unveiled by Renault garnered attention in the lifestyle sector.



"Driving the Espace offers more emotion than ever before."



Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said.






With its large body and convenient three-row seating, folding down the seats could even allow for moving an entire room. This time, it features the "Multi-Sense" driving mode selection system, allowing the car to transform according to the driver's wishes, from sporty to eco-mode for engine speed reduction, emphasizing this adaptability.



The attention the Espace garnered proves that there are still many people who see potential in cars as a means of transportation. As car enthusiasts, this is somewhat reassuring.