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 Jaguar XF

When Jaguar first introduced the XF sedan in 2008 it effectively kick-started a new generation of cars for the big cat. Cars sold by Jaguar before the XF were unashamedly retro with many styling cues taken from early classics, however dwindling sales forced Jaguar into rethinking this strategy and the XF was the first new Jaguars.
It’s a four-door executive sedan aimed squarely at the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6. A number of engines are offered on the 2012 model ranging from the entry-level 238bhp 3.0-litre V6 that provides relaxed and refined motoring, through to a 510bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 with 510bhp and a tendency to smoke its rear tyres. For those who are torn between the two, there is also a non-supercharged version of the 5.0-litre V8 available with a more manageable 385bhp.
All XFs come with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic gearbox, which sends power to the rear wheels. Four trim levels are offered – though even those choosing the base model aren’t going to feel short-changed – it’s call Luxury after all. Rich wood veneers and leather seats – complete with electronic adjustment controls – are standard fit. The top level Portfolio models are fitted with a world-class premium sound system and a suede headlining.
And whilst the Jaguar XF looks pretty good from the outside, it’s on the inside that Jaguar firmly shows its hand. Instead of a dour business-like interior as favoured by the XF’s German competition, the Jaguar has a much more contemporary feel. At night, the whole cabin is bathed in ice cool blue lighting, as well as the rising gear selector, the air vents swivel open when the engine starts – it just feels rather special for all those onboard.
Specifications
Price:
V6: AED 165,000 – AED 250,000
V8: AED 300,000 – AED 320,000
V8 Supercharged: AED 430,000
Engines
3-litre V6
Max power: 238bhp
Max torque: 293Nm
5-litre V8
Max power:385bhp
Max torque: 515Nm
5-litre V8 supercharged
Max power: 510bhp
Max torque: 625Nm

Jaguar XJL 2012 | First Drive

The folks at Jaguar are rather busy these days. Aiming at creating new brand identity, a new brand positioning and a new brand campaign, Jaguar is upbeat at reviving itself and with the all-new F-type scheduled for launch in 2013 and the Coventry based company is also freshening up its current range. Things couldn't get any better for the iconic British brand who at the moment seem to be on the rise since its takeover by the Indian auto giant, Tata Motors.
With a bid to popularise this brand transformation program, Jaguar’s marketing team has come up with a global campaign designed to capitalise on the emotional pull of Jaguar cars and challenges it’s consumers to answer: 'How alive are you?'
To reflect the ethos of the campaign, Jaguar recently hosted a two-day event in Dubai aimed at challenging attendees on how alive they felt throughout the experience - particularly while driving the XJL. Some lucky participants were also given the opportunity to sky dive from 13,000 feet over Dubai.