Paris 2014: 13 global car debuts you cannot miss

The French love affair with new cars stays strong in 2014 and there was a lot more focus on production ready cars across the spectrum over whacky concepts. It’s made the 2014 Paris Motor Show highly relatable and so we’ve made our pick of the global debuts you need to watch out for, with relevance to India of course (not entirely). We have roadsters, sportscars, sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, MPVs, practically everything well represented in this list. Read on

1. Audi TTS roadster

While the Audi TT is fresh as a daisy, only revealed earlier this year at Geneva, the German carmaker was quick enough to flip the lid of the TT for Paris. The TT comes very much in the range of attainable sportcars in India and the TT and TTS roadsters unveiled at Paris just add to the style and desirability of it. The roadster comes with a fabric top that can flip open in 10 seconds at speeds up to 50kmph. To keep things light, Audi has used aluminium and magnesium in the mechanism and otherwise to in the entire MQB architecture to keep overall weight to a low and nimble 1,320kg.

As far as engines go, the same units carry forward. A petrol 2.0-litre TFSI producing 230PS/370Nm powers the TT roadster and its oil burner sibling gets 184PS/380Nm out of the 2.0-litre unit. The TTS gets a higher set of tune in the 2.0-litre TFSI. With 310PS/380Nm on tap and a 0-100kmph sprint in 4.9 seconds, it will be one quick Audi. That’s until a more manic TT RS joins the fold. Choice of gearboxes is either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed dual clutch unit, the latter we think should make it to India.   

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2. New BMW X6

Despite its oddball styling, the X6 has been quite a success for BMW globally. And so a cross between practical and sporty, the 2015 X6 gets a fresh infusion of X5 like styling cues. It’s all new mind you, but stays true to its ‘clever’ form. What you notice upfront is the X5 headlights and grille. Special effort seems to have gone into making the rear look more pleasant so you see better tail-lamp detailing and design, a neatly finished diffuser and two split exhausts.

The X6 will be available with a V8 petrol in the xDrive 50i, a straight-six diesel in the 30d which we are now familiar with as it is borrowed from the X5 xDrive 30d and a M50d which gets three turbochargers fitted to the straight six diesel. A 35i and 40d variant will follow and we expect India to get the 30d and 40d on priority. The 30d develops 262PS of power and 560Nm of torque and the 40d dishes out 317PS. The X6 was known to have a harsh ride which wasn’t much of a concern abroad but for Indian users, it was. The rear air suspension with adaptive damper control should smooth things out and offer a more pliant ride. The X6 is also 22 percent more efficient says BMW due to addition of the Eco Pro mode and an aero package that should come as standard on the India bound X6. The interior too gets a massive update in the quality of materials used and the added features.

3. Renault Lodgy Stepway

Indian scribes have set their sights on the Lodgy for over two years as Renault’s next model for the country but the French carmaker has taken its own sweet time to make a move in the MPV segment. Only recently though, a camouflaged Lodgy has been spotted and will make it to India in the first half of next year. And that makes this Stepway variant of the Lodgy showcased at the Paris Motor Show interesting to us. The Lodgy Stepway (branded as a Dacia in Europe) is a more rugged take on the Lodgy, on similar lines of the various cross models (Polo, Etios, Avventura). This though will be a first for the MPV segment if it does make it to India.

The Lodgy Stepway gets plastic cladding skirts, around the wheel wells and the front and rear bumpers. Internationally, the same engines as the Duster make it to the Lodgy but it India, we expect Renault to focus on the detuned 1.5-litre diesel that packs in 85PS of power. The Lodgy isn’t much of a looker, which might be a hard sell if Renault doesn’t spruce it up for India. Where it excels at and will be a class leader in will be in the interior space department.  

4. Fiat 500X

The 2014 Paris Motor Show, at the Fiat enclosure, was all about the 500 and its derivatives. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket! One very successful one for the time being though. The 500X was the one the Italian carmaker was debuting at the fairground as so it makes it to our list. The 500X is also Chrysler derived which means it shares its underpinnings with the Jeep Renegade. Think of it like the urban offering to the rather butch Jeep cousin. The new Fiat 500X is available in two variants - Metropolitan and Leisure. The former aims at providing an urban appeal while the latter boasts of a rugged design theme. The vehicle gets the same retro-inspired styling of the Fiat 500 family. It gets a more prominent grille, while the bumper features chrome to offer rich feel. It also gets roof rails and a boot mounted spoiler.

Fiat will be offering two engine options on its new crossover. A 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir II petrol engine churning out 140PS of power and a 1.6-litre MultiJet II oil burner delivering 120PS will do duty under the all-new Fiat 500X. Both the engines are paired to a six-speed manual gearbox, sending power to the front wheels. Also on offer is the more powerful 2.0-litre Multijet diesel with 140PS of power, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission available with 4WD. The company will later launch a 1.6-litre E-torQ motor churning out 110PS of power paired to a five-speed manual gearbox and FWD. The other engines to join will be the 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir II engine with 170PS of power and the 2.4-litre Tigershark unit with 180PS of power. Both the engines are paired to a nine-speed auto gearbox with 4WD as standard.

5. Jaguar XE

There isn’t much you don’t know about the new sports sedan from Jaguar. We have covered it extensively, as bit by bit of the information trickled down from Britain, but as the Indian owned big cat moved to Paris, the XE in whole with its full set of engines and variants were showcased. The XE will take on the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in a long awaited battle coming up in 2015. And it will with a spanking new design, chassis architecture and set of engine options that promise to take Jaguar into the big league of luxury marques.

India will get the XE in 2016. The XE should be locally assembled from the onset to make it a viable proposition. Indians will particularly be game for the uber efficient entry spec 2.0-litre diesel that pumps out 163PS/380Nm while returning 26.55kmpl under standard test conditions. This same engine will also be available in 180PS/430Nm state of tune. A turbocharged petrol engine will also be offered in two states of tune - 200PS/280Nm and 240PS/340Nm. The car in this picture is the XE S that sports a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 dishing out 345PS/450Nm for the flagship variant. That is until a more mental ‘R’ version joins the party.

6. Land Rover Discovery Sport

Meet the Freelander’s replacement. The Discovery Sport will be launched in India in the second half of 2015 as the entry model to the Land Rover brand. It will be priced under the LR4 Discovery and will target a younger audience that Land Rover says will relate better to this new SUV. The hot new Landie will get the new Ingenium engines that have been specified for the new XE first but that’s only after the XE is launched. Till then the tried and tested 2.2-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder motor with 180PS on tap will be the oil burner of choice. The petrol engine is the 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder mill good for 250PS.

The Discovery Sport will come with the all-new 9-speed automatic and will be all-wheel drive with all of Land Rover’s offroad trickery installed in. On the design front, inspiration drawn from the Evoque and Range Rover are unmistakable but unlike the compact Evoque, the Discovery Sport will be a full 7-seater and the rear shows its length. Land Rover has paid particular attention to space and packaging to make ample space for all passengers, specifically the second and third row. Smarter suspension design and use of lightweight aluminium bits for the larger body panels enhance the Discovery Sports dynamic abilities as well. 

7. Mazda MX-5

To us the Mazda MX-5 has no relevance. But let’s breach this very tight order for a car of childhood dreams and bedroom posters. The MX-5 shouts fun and youth in every possible way with its front engine, rear wheel drive two seat roadster layout. Known more popularly as the Miata, the MX-5 follows Mazda’s KODO design language with a long bonnet and stubby boot, pointed headlamps and neatly wrapped up rear end. 

Mazda hasn’t revealed much of the specifications of the MX-5 but precious little tells us that the car will sport a 1.5-litre SKYACTIV petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. This engine in other models pumps out close to 100PS but expect it to be in a higher state of tune in the Miata. This next generation Miata is about 100kg lighter and has a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution. It promises to be one heck of an agile handler. The US market, where the Miata is a very popular car will get a larger 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol with upwards of 170PS on offer.

8. Mercedes-AMG GT

Most definitely the hottest car at the Paris Motor Show this year, the AMG GT is the new age AMG. The first car jointly developed by Mercedes and AMG instead of the latter, later turning the otherwise very stately three pointed stars into hooligans. We expect this hooliganism to multiply with this new sportscar. The attractive AMG GT draws inspiration from F1 cars of the past and its predecessor, the SLS AMG. Bubbled roof, fantastic roofline and wide haunches give the AMG GT a unique form for a sportscar of modern times.

It’s what the AMG GT packs in upfront is what matters most for any AMG enthusiast though. The company has developed a new 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 that sits behind the front axle and sends power to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with a locking differential. AMG has said in the past that the V8 will and always has been their mainstay and this engine is their latest that will make it to most future AMG models. This V8 will be offered with two power outputs – a 510PS version with 650Nm of torque in the AMG GT S and a 468PS/600Nm version for the GT. AMG says the GT can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 3.7 seconds with a limited top speed of 304kmph and the GT S has a 3.7 second sprint time with a 310kmph limited top speed.

9. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Another Affalterbach express was showcased at Paris but it gets the post-new-car-build AMG treatment. The C63 AMG is a very popular AMG model as its compact dimensions and sedan body style give it the best of both worlds – practicality and agility. The new C63 AMG carries forward these traits. It also carries forward the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine from the Mercedes-AMG GT but there are a few tweaks as AMG says that this engine is ‘closely related’ to it. It dishes out 483PS/650Nm in the base C63 AMG trim and 517PS/700Nm in the C63 AMG S trim. 

The C63 AMG will be available in sedan and estate form. In terms of sheer performance, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan needs 4.1-seconds to do the 0-100kmph sprint whereas the estate is 0.1s slower. The C63 AMG S sedan covers the run in 4 seconds compared to its wagon sibling, which does it in 4.1 seconds. The new C63 AMG will take on the new BMW M3 head on in a battle that seems tilted towards the C63 AMG on paper. But going by the M3’s fantastic handling prowess, expect fireworks. 

10. Mini 5-Door

There’s no better stating-the-obvious fact about this car than its name. The Mini 5-Door hatch is the first proper five door offering from Mini to expand its reach to a wider audience. And that meant making a more logical car for a family than the 3-door is, especially at the rear. The 5-Door Mini is 4,005mm long, 1,727mm wide, 1,425mm in height and rides on a 2,567mm wheelbase. It is 162mm longer and 11mm taller than the regular three-door MINI Cooper hatch, and adds 72mm between the wheels for a larger cabin. Boot space is up to a respectable 278 litres and a foldable rear seat open up its capacity to 941 litres.

The engine line-up is borrowed from the standard model. So the 2015 MINI five-door hatch is offered with both petrol and diesel engine options. The new 2015 MINI hatch comes equipped with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine capable of churning out 137PS of power and a peak torque of 220Nm, while a 1.5-litre three-cylinder oil burner delivers 117PS of power and 270Nm of torque. Also on offer is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engine delivering 194PS of power and 280Nm of torque and 170PS of power and 360Nm. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but depending on the engine choice MINI is also offering a six-speed Steptronic and a Steptronic sports transmission.

11. Skoda Fabia

This next-generation Skoda Fabia also made its debut at Paris and could most likely make it to India next year if Skoda manages to get its pricing right. The new Fabia’s muscular stance is aided by a wider and lower body and it’s design is now on lines with the new Octavia. So you get a squarish profile with edgier grille and lights, a sharper bumper and a smart horizontal crease running along the length of the car. This Fabia is based on the Volkswagen Polo platform, will share common underpinnings and also the long set of engine options on offer. 

The new 1.5-litre, four cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine making 90 or 105PS will power the Fabia. A 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol making 75PS will also be available. There is also a possibility of Volkswagen TSi engine with 105PS making its way to the Fabia. The new fabia will also be quicker than the outgoing car considering a drop of about 65kg over the older model. The European Fabia gets brake energy regeneration and a start stop system but we don’t expect it to come to India as it is anyway going to be a tough challenge to price it right for our market.

12. Suzuki Vitara

A production version of the IV-4 concept, the Suzuki Vitara comes back in its new avatar, a step below the Grand Vitara for a segment that’s booming in India right now. The Vitara is a compact crossover that will take on the Duster and EcoSport in India. Suzuki has equipped the Vitara with four wheel drive as well. As of now, there is no indication if the Vitara will come to India as Maruti have chalked out the S-Cross and production version of the XA Alpha concept for India, but the Vitara does make a case for itself. Maruti has one too many products in the hatchback segment. If this segment kicks off for India’s largest carmaker, it could see more than a couple of models as well.

Powering the Vitara will be a set of petrol and diesel engines. Both engines dish out 120PS of power, but while the petrol engine has 156Nm of torque to play with, the diesel rates a impressive 320Nm. These engines though may not make it if the car does. Economies of scale point towards the tried and tested 1.4-litre K-series petrol and 1.3-litre multijet diesel from the Ciaz and Ertiga. Of gearboxes, the petrol is mated to a 5-speed manual and the diesel comes with a six-speed manual unit. There’s also a six-speed automatic for the petrol unit. 

13. Volvo XC90

This is one SUV we look forward to in 2015. Volvo’s all-new XC90 broke cover last month and was one of the showstoppers at Paris this year. The XC90’s butch design, signature ‘Thor’ LED DRLs in the headlamp cluster and the hooked taillamps, all make it very desirable. If the exterior doesn’t cut it, the interior surely promises to woo with its elegant design, minimalist approach and quality materials. The XC90 comes with a high end entertainment system, a touch screen centre console and space to comfortably seat seven passengers. Volvo being Volvo, be rest assured on the safety front. 

Volvo’s Drive-E family of engines ushers in a new era for the Swedish brand and promises performance and efficiency in a well rounded package. There is only one displacement – 2.0-litres - but with varying outputs that get complimented by a turbocharger, in some a supercharger, and both in fewer variants of the Drive-E lineup. The XC90 will get a 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged unit dishing out 320PS of power and sending power to all four wheels. For greener beings, there’s the choice of a plug-in hybrid XC90 too that gets a electric motor mated to the petrol unit to develop around 400PS of power and give out as low as 60 g/km of carbon dioxide emissions.