It’s a quick selection of which production models to look out for at the auto show
This year’s edition of the Paris motor show will, as usual, play host to a series of important worldwide automotive premieres. We didn’t have to look too hard to gather a quick selection of vehicles you should definitely be on the lookout for at the venue.
AMG GT R
The Mercedes AMG GT R is the most powerful variant of AMG GT, featuring a 585 hp version of the strong twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. It’s also some 90 kg / 200 lbs lighter, has lower and stiffer springs and aerodynamic enhancements to help it hug the road even better. Oh, and the GT3 racing car-inspired body is finished in the meanest tint of matte green we’ve ever seen – it looks despicable, but in a good way.
Mercedes AMG GT Roadster
The GT R isn’t the only new Mercedes AMG GT set to see its debut in Paris this year. Another more mainstream model is the drop top, the GT Roadster. Unlike the R, this soft top variant is some 65 kg / 143 kg heavier than the regular coupe, as it needs extra bracing to retain rigidity sans top. This adds .3 seconds to the benchmark sprint time, so now it reaches 62 mph / 100 km/h in 4 seconds flat and is some 9 mph / 15 km/h slower flat out.
Renault Clio RS 16 Concept
Renault showed a Clio-based concept called RS 16 Concept which has not been shown to the public yet. It’s set to debut in Paris and some say it’s not really a concept, but rather a pre-production model foretelling the arrival of a monster Clio. Why monster? Well, it uses the same 2.0-liter turbo engine that powered the Megane RS, an engine putting out 275 rampaging hp.
Mercedes S-Class facelift
While it won’t be the kind of in-your-face premiere some are looking for, the Mercedes S-Class facelift is definitely an update to look out for. We’ve seen some unofficial shots of it and while it’s not a major visual update, it does give the S some much-needed zing to set it apart from lesser Mercs. Photo below not of actual facelifted version.
Hyundai i30 N
Hyundai thinks it can make a hot hatch, in the form of the i30 N, and we won’t disagree with them until we’ve taken it for a spin. The hot i30 will debut alongside the regular version of the all-new Korean hatch yet feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine putting out around 260 hp and racy styling twists to better announce its arrival.
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
The LaFerrari Aperta is the drop-top version of Ferrari’s still ridiculously named flagship. It’s unchanged bar the roof and its launch caused such a stir, a prospective buyer (and big Ferrari fan/collector) sued the company after being denied access to purchase one after it’d already sold out.
Audi A5
Audi’s first generation A5 (in all available body styles) proved to be a huge market success, so this new one (despite only being the second generation ever) has big shoes to fill. It features the same brand of new yet old styling we’ve grown accustomed to from Audi and the usual incremental approach to design. In short, another success story in the making.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Alfa Romeo is adding a new Version to its Giulia range, in the form of Veloce, an upper trim that gives buyers the two engine choices: a 280 hp 2.0-liter turbo gasoline unit and a 210 2.2-liter diesel. Veloce also comes with unique badging and styling tweaks and it sits above Super in the model’s spec hierarchy.