Paris 2006: Mondial de L'Automobile

S4C was there on the media days to bring you the news and our view on the new cars and prototypes.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione:

The production version that is no much more different than the prototype that we have seen it before. In our opinion, it’s a car with presence, but a little bit too retro in a time when we are tired of seeing retro cars.

Audi R8:

The same as Alfa, the production version of a seen before prototype which we all loved so much. The best bit is that the interior of the production car has kept the wrap around cockpit of the prototype presented. The other great thing is the fact that also on the exterior the car looks almost unchanged. You see we don't like to be cheated by companies with fabulous looking prototypes that later don't pass anything to the production, apart from the names..... The "suspended" front and rear lamps, the very big front and rear openings together with the now not that new Audi front grille makes from this compact looking supercar a nice add to the already overfilled supercar market. Is it going to be the first diesel supercar?

Citroën C-Mettise:

Dramatic looking prototype from Citroën. Some of the most interesting cars from our time have come out from the Citroën's Design department. Very interesting interior with the "suspended" door panels, advanced graphics, very modern lines. The back with the negative window has a very strong presence becoming a statement for interpretations of future Citroën. The front thou exaggerated is interesting on the way it blends kitch with possible new clues for the future. Again interesting graphics described by the chrome elements on the exterior.

Ford Iosis X Concept:

In this way the future looks promising for Ford. One of the most impacting cars. Even if a little bit busy the exterior "kinetic design" is giving a strong presence where especially the front of the car has a Taff build image. The wheels are a little bit too complex for a quick digest while other exterior parts, like the lower grey elements under the doors, look quite fragile for an SUV. The interior is very modern, fabrics altering with shiny, strong coloured plastics and powerful graphics. One of the nicest cars on display.

Lancia Delta HPE:

One of the most expected cars and a well welcome back for the Delta name. Clean and simple design very closed to the production car. It would have looked better with a little bit more exaggeration on the design making it to look more like a prototype than a production ready car. Pity that Lancia men did not made us see the interior of the car.

Peugeot 908 RC Concept:

Interesting car, not just for a very unusual package for a big saloon, but also for the dark look so unusual for a French manufacturer. The feline theme is again exploited and used up to an obsessing design key. The big opened mouth, the two "teeth" under the front badge, the feline like pupils on the front lights all ad to the feeling of not forgetting that the Peugeot's logo is a lion. Anyway the pictures don't make justice to the strange looking saloon. The real car looks much better.

Ferrari P4/5

Just for carrying the Pininfarina and Ferrari badge on this car does not make it a fabulous looking car even if other publications and journalists fellows may praise it over and over again. If the details are a let down - the way the side air intakes on the doors fall back make the car to look like it has an accident, the rear exhausts look primitive and basic on their shape and the ceramic finish, the shape of the rear is more like the one designed by a ten year old boy than a design studio like Pininfarina - the overall volume and especially the way the cabin and the engine cover with their teardrop look blend harmoniously with the rest of the body would have made it a really beautiful looking car. Pity of those details. The interior is too much kit-car like.

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