Skip to main content
2014 paris auto show

A worker preps a Citroen C4 Cactus for the French car maker's display at the Paris auto show.JACKY NAEGELEN/Reuters

Every other year, trading off with Frankfurt, the City of Lights hosts Europe's biggest auto show. Paris in the fall is lovely, far more pleasant than Frankfurt on its best day. The Paris show is often a more diverse extravaganza versus Frankfurt, too. So vive la France!

Indeed, at Frankfurt, the German auto makers dominate, striving to out-do each other and minimize the importance of the world's other car companies. Frankfurt really has become a German car show with some other global auto makers sprinkled in just to keep it interesting.

But Paris …

What really matters in Paris for 2014 is the wonderful diversity of new model introductions at the 2014 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile. The list of world premieres is long and seems to grow by the day. Here's a rundown of the models to be unveiled in Paris that we expect to have an impact in Canadian showrooms.

Audi: The one car in Audi's lineup most in need of an overhaul is the A4. It's looking old compared to the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But we're not expecting a new A4 or A5. More questions for Audi on this one. But we will see the new TT roadster? Now, will there be news about a new version of the Q7, also an aging Audi?

BMW: Look for world premieres of the 2-Series convertible and second-generation X6. The X6 is one of the homeliest and functionally ridiculous vehicles in the world, so we can only hope BMW fixes its design, rather than roll on with an updated version of this embarrassment. Rumour has it BMW has a new diesel for the 5-Series, too.

Fiat: The 500X shares its underpinnings with the already-unveiled Jeep Renegade. Is this Fiat coming to Canada?

Ford: The Dearborn, Mich., auto company will have lots of debuts in Paris and why aren't any of them coming to Canada? Okay, we already have the Fusion, which will be unveiled in Paris as the new Mondeo. But what about a Mondeo Vignale? Might work to jazz up Ford's lineup. Ford might also consider bringing to Canada a version of the new Ka to be shown in Paris. Nissan now sells the Micra, after all. The Ka would work in at least some parts of Canada, Quebec in particular. But then, Ford treats Canada like the 51st state, not an independent country. So forget about the Ka. Pity, that.

Hyundai: I'd like to tell you we'll see the new Veloster in Paris, but the Los Angeles show in November is a lot more likely for this global debut. Hyundai will show a new i20 coupe in Paris, but it's not headed for Canada.

Infiniti: Nissan's premium brand is desperate to find success using the Audi formula, but it's been tough slogging. Audi has found global success using VW parts and platforms, but Infiniti remains a work in progress. Infiniti will unveil a Q70 diesel that would look good in Canada, though it won't go on sale in Canada any time soon. We should all be curious about the Q80 Inspiration concept, however. Talk is, it's aimed at Porsche's Panamera.

Jaguar: This Indian-owned British brand has already shown the XE in a flashy London premiere. The XJ is due for a facelift, but it's not clear whether Paris is the place to show design changes to Jag's flagship model.

Kia: Hyundai's corporate sibling is using Paris to show new versions of the Sorento SUV and Rio subcompact.

Land Rover: The big news is the new Discovery Sport which replaces the LR2 in Canada and Freelander around the world. The Discovery Sport is particularly important to the Canadian market and will be at a price point below the Evoque, which means in the high-$30,000s or low-$40,000s.

Mazda: The MX-5 had its global debut weeks ago, now the new roadster gets its public/auto show unveiling. Paris seems like a good place for a new sports car.

Mini: Test drivers have already had their way with the new five-door hatchback and now the world will see it officially. Mini has a hybrid coming, too, but will we see it in Paris?

Mercedes-Benz: Expect to see the new AMG GT, a C350 plug-in hybrid, S-Class cabriolet and even the S-Class Maybach. Mercedes has made no secret of its desire to expand the S-Class lineup to at least six models, so Paris seems a good place to air out details of that plan. The M-Class and SLK are also due for a facelift which we might see in Paris. Merc's new-model blitz might also include updates to the C-Class coupe and cabriolet and the CLS.

Porsche: The auto show circuit gets to see the facelifted Cayenne for the first time. There will also be our first look at the S E-Hybrid – a Cayenne with a supercharged V-6 and electric motor.

Smart: The public will get its first in-the-flesh look at the new fortwo and forfour.

Toyota: A design study called the C-HR is slated, but what its implications are for Canada and the world remain a mystery.

Volkswagen: VW will unwrap a new Passat, but it's not the Passat we get in Canada and the United States. Our Passat is made in America, for hefty Americans. "Their" Passat – the European one – gets a new architecture, and more power train options, including a plug-in variant. We'll be looking to see if a new CC is shown in Paris, too. Another question for VW: will any of the vans previewed by the recent Tristar concept ever come to Canada?

Volvo: The auto show debut of the XC90 takes place in Paris, though the global unveiling happened weeks ago.

If you have questions about driving or car maintenance, please contact our experts at globedrive@globeandmail.com.

Like" us on Facebook

Add us to your circles.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Interact with The Globe