- Title: FRANCE: PARIS MOTOR SHOW
- Date: 29th September 1998
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 29, 1998) (RTV) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW /SCU SIGN 0.08 2. HAS/SLV PAN INTERIOR OF THE CAR SHOW WITH VISITORS MILLING ABOUT (2 SHOTS) 0.19 3. HAS ZOOM IN PEUGEOT 206 0.29 4. SLV/SCU VOLKSWAGEN LUPO (2 SHOTS) 0.38 5. SLV TOYOTA DIRECTOR SHUHEI TOYODA WALKS THROUGH TOYOTA STAND 0.43 6. SLV TOYOTA YARIS (2 SHOTS) 0.52 7. SCU FRANCIS MONSENERGUE, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF L'AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE, SAYS THERE ARE CARS, EVEN THE SMALLEST ONES, WHICH HAVE EVERY SAFETY OPTION. AND I THINK THAT IS A CONSIDERABLE ACHIEVEMENT. FOR THE LAST SHOW OF THE CENTURY IN PARIS WE HAVE HIGH TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS IN EVERY CAR, WHETHER IT IS FOR SAFETY OR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. (FRENCH) 1.12 8. SCU MASERATI 3200 GT/ EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR (2 SHOTS) 1.21 9. SLV BUGATTI EB 118 / SCU INTERIOR (2 SHOTS) 1.28 10. SCU BOOT OF RENAULT VEL SATIS OPENING /SCU ZOOM OUT INTERIOR OF VEL SATIS / SLV VEL SATIS ON DISPLAY (3 SHOTS) 1.53 11. SCU PAN AUDI TT /SCU INTERIORS / SLV ON DISPLAY (4 SHOTS) 2.22 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th October 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVAB7V8HEK1OOV7U3KPTG9O4FZAS
- Story Text: Car makers have rolled out a rich array of new models at the glitzy Paris Motor Show as the industry buzzed with fresh talk of consolidation in the overcrowded auto market.
The Paris show, which started media previews on Tuesday (September 29), is Europe's top auto display of the year, alternating every other year with the Frankfurt auto show in Germany.
Some 40 premiers were unveiled by vehicle makers from around the world, including Ford's full line of sleek Focus cars, Fiat's compact minivan Multipla and the little Lupo from Europe's number one producer, Volkswagen.
Manufacturers signalled that sales in Europe should rise by three or four per cent this year, and business in the United States remained strong.
Volkswagen predicted it would boost its profits in 1998, Sweden's Saab said it expected a recent positive trend to carry on into the European autumn and Daimler Benz said it saw its car sales jumping 28 per cent in the first nine months of the year.
The new Fiat entrant into the small car market, a six-seat mini-van, includes three seats in the front, a spacious baggage compartment in a chasis of less than 4 metres.Fiat says the three seats-by-two seats arrangement allows for more freedom for people to design the interior for themselves.
The Peugeot 206, a much-anticipated compact which will compete with the Renault Clio and the new Volkswagen Lupo, is loaded with standard equipment like twin air bags and power steering at a low price.
The Lupo, which will replace the Polo, comes with airbags on the sides of the front seats as well as front-loaded airbags.The 3-cylinder diesel motor is being promoted as the cleanest running engine on sale, emitting less than 90 grams of carbon carbon dioxide per kilometre.
The French public is anxious to see the new Toyota Yaris, which will begin production in Japan in January, but primary construction of which will move to a new plant in Valenciennes, France, in the year 2000.The car is being built with the capacity to run on standard combustion or electric power.
The auto salon, on the 100th anniversary of the first Paris auto show, was replete with a wide range of super luxury dream cars.Maserati unveilled its 3200 GT, the successor to the great 3500 GT.The luxurious appointments bely a V8 engine which produces 370 horsepower.
Bugatti, which was bought by Volkswagen earlier this year, showed the prototype of the first 18 cylinder engine to be used in a passenger vehicle, boasting 555 horsepower.The car has the lines and size of former Bugatti touring vehicles, with some addede Volkswagen engineering.The company has not decided yet wehther it will go into full-scale production.
Renault, a name which is not immediately associated with top luxury cars, showed off its Vel Satis, a concept car based on high technology and luxury.The car's design is reminiscent of long, linear luxury cars Renault built before World War Two.Models based on this concept could come to the marketplace within three years.
Audi's TT, the Tourist Trophy, is based on a concept car the company presented in 1995.The company is emphasising its racing tradition with this entrant into the high performance, luxury category.
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