From Exotic to Whimsical

PARIS — Paris in September: When one's automotive thoughts wander to the whimsical and the exotic. Lovers of sheet metal used the romantic city to escape the real world and gaze upon ultra-luxury offerings such as the new Maybach and the Volkswagen Phaeton at the 2002 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile.

They also were treated to a first look at the Ferrari Enzo (399 will be built) and new flagships in the Audi A8 and '04 Jaguar XJ8 — the latter arriving in the U.S. in second quarter 2003 equipped with a 4.2L V-8.

Showgoers could take sides: the Porsche SUV (the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, priced at $55,900 and $88,900, respectively) or the arguably more attractive, and definitely more affordable platform-mate, the Volkswagen Touareg. Cayenne will be powered by a 340-hp 4.5L V-8, while the Touareg starts life with a 3.2L V-6 (220 hp) and 5L V-10 TDI turbodiesel engine. Later, the Touareg will get a 4.2L V-8 (310 hp) and a new 5-cyl. TDI.

To continue the debate, there was the new BMW Z4 roadster, so dramatically styled it prompts a name change from the Z3 it replaces. Like the 7-Series before it, people seem to either love it or hate it.

The roadster with the long, sleek engine compartment, long wheelbase, short overhangs, muscular rear end and low seating comes in two models: the Z4 3.0i and the 2.5i. It is on sale in the U.S. and arrives in Europe next spring with a choice of a 2.5L or 3L V-6 under the hood.

In the whimsical category were European offerings such as the Citroen C3 Pluriel, a 3-door hatchback that transforms into a 2-seat open pickup truck. Just open the sunroof, store it and the rear window behind the rear seats, remove and store the roof arches, open the rear hatch flat, and fold the rear seats forward.

The Peugeot Sesame concept is probably the template for the Peugeot 107 due to replace the 106 next year. To open Sesame, the tall 3-door monospace has sliding doors. It is powered by a 1.6L engine linked to a manual transmission.

Equally intriguing is the Opel Meriva 5-seat monocab that converts to a 4-seat midsize sedan or a 2-seat cargo van — without removing any seats. Set for launch in Europe in the spring of 2003, the Meriva sets a new bar in versatility with its “FlexSpace” interior.

Opel also launches a new diesel offensive by way of the Eco-Speedster concept, a lightweight, aerodynamic roadster equipped with the auto maker's 1.3L ECOTEC CDTI engine.

DaimlerChrysler AG reveals two new versions of its tiny Smart: a sporty Roadster and a Roadster-Coupe, due in April 2003 in a bid to grow beyond a 1-model brand.

The Roadster is offered as a soft or hardtop with two removable plastic roof panels. The Roadster-Coupe features a glass rear window. Both are powered by a 3-cyl. turbo engine capable of producing 82 hp.