2006 Paris Auto Show
Now that the Paris show is over, here's the rundown of what showed up and what didn't. As expected, the Chevrolet WTCC Ultra concept kicked things off with its take on what a European muscle car would look like. It was followed by the Opel Antara, which is almost identical to the 2008 Saturn Vue out next year. Volvo finally showed off its long-awaited C30 hatchback; not surprisingly, it looked just like the concept.
On the more exotic side, Porsche rolled out the 911 Targa alongside the track-ready 911 GT3 RS. Both wore odd shades of orange, yet they both looked pretty good anyway. There was an equivalent display of power on the Mercedes-Benz stand as it introduced the 2008 CL63 AMG and the SLR McLaren 722 supercar. Also on display at Mercedes were the redesigned CL550 coupe and the S63 AMG sedan. Audi got into the high-powered performance-car game as well with the R8 supercar.
For those with slightly shallower pockets, the Dodge Avenger was shown for the first time. Looking like a pint-size Dodge Charger, the Avenger will have V6 power at the most ? no Hemi. The next-generation Mini Cooper also got its first public viewing. It doesn't look much different from the old one, but with new engines and a new interior it should carry on the Mini name for many years to come. Volkswagen rolled out what it thinks could be the affordable performance car of the future with the Iroc concept. It doesn't look much like the old VW Scirocco, but in this heritage-soaked business that's probably a good thing.
Other notable debuts in Paris included the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, a Honda Civic Type-R and refreshed versions of the Hyundai Tiburon and Subaru Legacy.
