Paris Motor Show 2012: Cars of the future

The biennial Paris Motor Show is back in town, and as usual there's a glut of drool-worthy cars and concepts on show.
2010's Paris Motor Show wowed us with some stunning cars - the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Audi's new Quattro concept, the Renault DeZir and many others all managed to drop thousands of jaws two years ago.
Paris Motor Show 2012 has been no different thus far, and so we've pulled together a list of our ten favourite cars for your perusal. Scroll on...

Audi Crosslane

1. Audi Crosslane Coupe
This concept from the German auto giants packs a 116bhp electric engine, that claims an all-electric range of 80 miles, alongside a 1.5 litre, 130bhp engine that takes over when the battery runs dry. The Crosslane is in essence a coupe SUV, as it's much smaller and lower than the Audi Q3, whilst being only slightly larger than Audi's 3-door A3 coupe.
Price: TBC | Available: 2015

Ferrari FF

2. Ferrari FF
Ferrari has claimed that all it's new models are around 100bhp more powerful than previously, which is nice. But the main change to the sleek Ferrari FF is an enormous panoramic sun-roof. The special reflective glass is designed to make you feel as though you're driving in the open air, without being cold, wet or any of the other things that we normally associate with open-topped cars.
Price: > $300,000 | Available: 2012

Land Rover Range Rover 4

3. Land Rover Range Rover 4
The fourth-generation of this iconic range is set to take the Land Rover brand into the realms of elite luxury vehicles. Range Rover has added to its box of tricks, and is now capable of doing 0-62mpg in 5.1 seconds, thanks mainly to a new aluminium chassis which has taken 420kg off the SUV's shoulders. Added luxury inside the car means the price has hiked up a bit, but its well worth the cash - the Range Rover is still the world's top SUV.
Price: TBC | Available: 2013

Maserati GranCabrio MC

4. Maserati GranCabrio MC
Yet another beautiful automobile from Maserati. But for once the body isn't the star of the show here, because underneath the sleek exterior this Italian stallion is packing a massive 4.7 litre V8 that generates 454bhp and 384lb ft of torque. The MC is also 5cm longer than the original GranCabrio, and that change combined with a bit of trickery means that the new version is available as a four-seater.
Price: TBC | Available: 2013

McLaren P1

5. McLaren P1
A natural and stylistic successor to the McLaren F1, the P1 has been designed to be 'the best driver's car in the world on road and track'. McLaren hasn't released any specs for the innards of the supercar, but the P1 is lighter than the McLaren MP4-12C and likely to be more powerful, so we wouldn't be against their claims that this will be the 'ultimate supercar'.
Price: TBC ($1.5 million+) | Available: 2013

Mini Paceman

6. Mini Paceman
The Paceman is a 3-door coupe version of the Mini Countryman, with firmer suspension and shock absorbers designed to give it a sportier feel. The entry-level Paceman packs a turbocharged 1.6 litre engine that generates 119bhp, whereas the higher spec S model generates 181bhp, and is considerably nippier with a 0-62mph of 7.5 seconds. Ultimately, there are options for everyone, as the Paceman comes in multiple petrol and diesel customizations and you can have it with front or all-wheel drive.
Price: $28000 | Available: March 2013

Nissan Terra

7. Nissan Terra
Nissan are very much leading the way in eco-friendly car technology, thanks in part to the ingenious Nissan Leaf. The Terra introduces even newer hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which works in tandem with the electric motors installed in each of the rear wheels. Though the styling is reminiscent of the Qashqai, the Terra is proof that Nissan are ready to unleash a new generation of hydrogen-fuelled cars in the near future.
Price: TBC | Available: TBC

Peugeot Onyx

8. Peugeot Onyx
Peugeot are not normally renowned for striking supercar design, but the Onyx is proof that the French manufacturer is capable of stunning a large crowd. The Onyx is based on Peugeot's Le Mans cars and packs a whopping 600bhp, 3.7 litre V8 hybrid, and has comfortably made 180kph in testing. This car is a total one-off of course - with a dashboard made of recycled newspapers, doors made from sheet copper and a stitchless, single-piece, compressed felt passenger compartment, we're not surprised.
Price: TBC | Available: Dream on...

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

9. Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
We'll have to wait four years to see Porsche's latest plans come to fruition, but this hefty, 5-door hybrid ought to be worth the wait. The electric motor gives the Sport Turismo an all-electric range of 18.6 miles, and is supported by a supercharged, 3 litre V6 petrol engine that gives the car a combined 410bhp.
Price: TBC | Available: 2016

Jaguar F-Type

10. Jaguar F-Type
The new Jaguar F-Type is - as the styling suggests - the long-awaited successor to the gorgeous E-Type, and you won't have long to wait to get your hands on one. The coupe is around tow years away, but the convertible model will land in May next year and is available in multiple engine combinations, from an entry-level, 335bhp V6 to a monstrous 488bhp V8 that boasts a 0-60mph of 4.5 seconds and a 186mph top speed.
Price: $90,000 | Available: May 2013

2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet | Road Test

Audi has witnessed a phenomenal growth in sales over the last decade and the German carmaker announced plans of having a 35-model line-up by 2015 to cater to all kinds of car buyers. The A5 Cabriolet, launched in 2009, is among the first models in the company’s grand plan to expand its line-up and it is also the only compact executive convertible in the company’s product portfolio.

Even though the A5 was launched a few years ago, it still looks fresh and I must admit it looks much better than many newer cars on the road today. Audi has always been good with their designs and the A5 cabriolet is one of their best looking cars ever. With or without the roof, the A5 Cabriolet attracts a lot of attention. The futuristic headlights, the large trademark grille and the low profile definitely work their magic in drawing green-eyed glances from almost everyone who isn’t in the car.

 Opting to drive a soft-top convertible in summer might not seem like a bright idea but since this car is designed with European summer in mind, we wanted to try one in our Arabian summer as well. We weren’t that keen on getting baked in 40-degree weather but all our doubts about the fabric soft-top’s ability to maintain an ambient temperature inside the car were quickly eliminated. The air-conditioning is quick in cooling the car with the top left on and even though road noise was a little higher than a conventional hard top there is no substitute for the fun factor in driving a soft top. The test car came with the optional acoustic roof that comes standard on S-line. This acoustic roof has additional insulation to keep the noise down.

Things get even better when you stow away the roof at the touch of a button. It takes only 15 seconds for the roof to fold and hide away neatly in the boot consuming 60-litres of boot space. There is absolutely no buffeting with the roof down. If you are planning to buy this car, I recommend you drive it around with the roof down and every possible opportunity. Driving this car along the sodium lamp lit landscape at night was a surreal experience. This is the most ideal car to have if you don't feel like spending a bomb and still want to appear trendy, classy and sophisticated.
The interior is identical to the A4 and the whole package is well put together. Quality is top of the line and so is the finish. The best thing about an Audi’s cabin is how everything is placed with the sole priority being the driver. The buttons and knobs feel very intuitive and a few hours are all you need to get used to the layout. The centre mounted screen and Audi’s trademark MMI also find their way onto this model. The black finish with brushed aluminium touches is a personal favourite. The only thing I wasn’t so satisfied with was the audio quality which was below par. I’ve experienced much better quality in cars costing half as much. The test variant came with the optional style package and equipment package along with 19-inch alloy wheels and pand prospective buyers can visit the online configurator to fine-tune the A5 according to their needs.

The A5 has plenty of space for the front passengers and accommodating four full sized adults is not a problem as long as the front passengers aren’t too tall and the rear passengers are there just for a short while.
The same 3-litre TFSI V6 engine that we saw in the A6 we drove earlier this year was installed in the Audi A5 Cabriolet. This 3-litre engine produces 272bhp at 4,780-6,500rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,150-4,780rpm. Other engine options include a 1.8-litre TFSI unit that produces 170bhp at 3,800-6,200rpm and 320Nm of torque at 1,400-3,700rpm. You can also buy the A5 with a 2-litre TFSI motor with a maximum power output of 211bhp at 4,300-6,000rpm and a maximum torque output of 350Nm at 1,500-4,200rpm. A seven-speed double clutch Quattro transmission comes standard in the 2-litre and the 3-litre variants while the 1.8-litre gets an 8-speed multitronic CVT gearbox with front-wheel-drive only.

The 3-litre engine in the A5 Cabriolet produces less power and torque than the A6. Power delivery is linear but there is a slight pause when you floor the pedal right off idle. Once the revolutions cross the 2,000 mark, things get a bit more dramatic. The A5 Cabriolet accelerates from 0-100kmph in a claimed 6.3 seconds and in the real world we could achieve that figure in 6.8 seconds. The optional equipment package allows you to toggle between driving modes and the car switches characters at the touch of a button.
In Comfort mode, the A5 Cabriolet goes about its business in a calm and demure manner, it changes gears early and the engine hardly revs over 1,700rpm. In Sport mode, the engine is allowed to rev much higher and the gearbox shifts with more zest refusing to shift to seventh gear and sticks to the sixth gear. The steering mounted paddle shifters also come in very handy if you want to take matters in your own hands. The dual clutch box is known for its instant response but you will find an uncomfortable lag if you downshift a couple of cogs waiting for the same clutch to reengage with the right gear.

The drive select modes, along with altering engine and gearbox response also initiates the adaptive damping suspensions. In Dynamic mode, the car firms up a few notches and the improvement in handling is instantly noticeable. You really have to drive this car along twisties in Dynamic mode with the roof down to truly enjoy the performance and handling. Weighing in at about 1.9 tons, the A5 cabriolet is not exactly light and it definitely isn’t sports car like in its demeanour but the Quattro drivetrain and the Dynamic driving mode certainly don't leave much to be desired.
Standard safety features on the A5 cabriolet includes a two-stage driver and adaptive passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front knee airbags, active headrests, electronic stability control, ABS, EBD and tire-pressure monitors. Audi has also added a start/stop system to the 2012 model that helps reduce fuel consumption by killing the engine at red lights or traffic jams but we hardly saw it in action when we had the car.

Base pricing for the A5 cabriolet starts at AED 195,000 for the 1.8-litre variant, AED 213,000 for the 2-litre variant and AED 238,000 for the top of the line 3-litre variant. At that price, you miss out on the Style package and the Equipment package. For the fully loaded 3-litre version you will have to shell out AED 259,000. That might seem a lot but lets not forget the advantages the Audi A5 Cabriolet offers over its rivals. It is the only all-wheel-drive in its segment and then there is that priceless look…
Specifications
Price as tested: AED 259,000
Price range: AED 195,000 – AED 259,000
Drivetrain
Engine: 3-litre V6 TFSI (turbocharged, direct injection)
Layout: Front engine, all wheel drive
Max power: 272bhp @ 4,780-6,500rpm
Max torque: 400Nm @ 2,150-4,780rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch with paddle shifters
Dimensions (mm)
Length: 4626
Width: 1854
Height: 1383
Wheelbase: 2751
Curb Weight: 1850kg
Fuel tank capacity: 61 litres
Seating capacity: 2 + 2
Tyre size: 245/40 R18
Competitors
BMW 3 Series Convertible, Lexus IS Convertible, Mercedes-Benz E Cabriolet, Infiniti G Convertible