City of Lights Shining

Although Paris is better known for the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triumph, for a time all eyes will shift to the Paris Exposition Center, where the city's annual auto show takes place Sept. 24-Oct. 10.

Ford Motor Co. hopes to steal the thunder with its La Collection Focus theme, which serves as the backdrop for the international debut of its critical all-new Focus. While Ford showed off a Focus concept teaser in Beijing earlier this year, Paris represents the coming out party for a bigger, safer and more premium C-segment competitor, with a new 1.6L gasoline 4-cyl. under the hood.

Additionally, Ford rolls out a Fiesta ST and Fiesta S, which are sport-oriented versions of its compact offering in Europe. Ford also shows off a Mondeo sedan and Transit van with more powerful diesels and will announce new 1.6L turbodiesels for the Fiesta and Fusion utility wagon.

Ford's Japanese affiliate, Mazda Motor Corp., uses the Paris stage to launch the Mazda5 minivan based on the Mazda MX-Flexa concept revealed in Geneva earlier this year. The for-Europe vehicle features seating for up to seven and four powertrain options.

Meanwhile, one “new” brand will make its European debut. DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will use the Paris show to introduce its Dodge brand into the European market. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. and Isuzu Motors Ltd. also will return to Paris after a hiatus.

Volkswagen AG will debut the new generation of its oft-benchmarked Golf GTI model, while VW sister brand, Skoda, will show off its new Octavia wagon that shares many of the design cues from the new Octavia sedan that debuted at the Geneva show earlier this year.

BMW AG takes the wraps off the all-new version of its biggest seller, the 3-Series sedan. Also look for Kia Motors Corp. to unveil its new Sportage SUV, which already is on sale in Korea.

General Motors Corp.'s Adam Opel AG will reveal its new 3-door Astra GTC, which GM hopes will inject sport into the Astra product range thanks to aerodynamic styling and a 190-hp engine option.

Italian styling house Pininfarina SpA will display two new design concepts: the Nido 2-seat roadster and the Double-Face, a vehicle jointly developed with Mantra Automotive Engineering, featuring a body that can be made of either a composite material or sheet metal.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. features new variants of its Colt range. The 3-door Colt CZ3 goes on sale in first-quarter 2005. The Colt CZT turns the 3-door into a sports car via a turbocharged 1.5L 4-cyl. The Colts will be joined by the '05 Outlander Turbo.

On the home front, French auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroen will debut its all-new Citroen C4. Offered in two body styles — coupe and hatchback — the C4 features Citroen's signature styling cues: sharp, dynamic lines and aggressive front fascia. Citroen also will use the show to reveal a refreshed version of its C5, complete with the auto maker's new front fascia design.

Renault SA will display its sporty side with the public unveiling of its Megane Trophy race car. The Trophy will debut on the European racing circuit starting in spring 2005.
— with John D. Stoll