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Toyota GT86 TRD New Hybrids - Paris Motor Show

Toyota has a long line of debuts planned for the upcoming Paris Motor Show, including several hybrids and the official debut of the GT86 TRD Performance Line of accessories.

The TRD items, including everything from interior and exterior parts, to mechanical upgrades, will be offered separately, rather than put together in pricey packages. Show goers will also get to experience the GT86 virtually with a GT86 racing simulator.

Several European market hybrids will also debut, including the Auris hatchback and Auris Tourer (wagon). Sharing a platform with the Corolla they will be a look ahead to the 2014 Corolla which will arrive in America in the near future, though it’s not clear if Toyota plans to offer a Corolla hybrid

In addition to these is an all new Verso compact MPV , while Toyota is sure to draw onlookers with the Toyota Racing TS030 Hybrid WEC race car, which after an embarrassing debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finished in second place at its most recent race.

2013 Lexus LS 600h F Sport - Paris Motor Show

Lexus bringing the all new LS 600h F Sport to the 2012 Paris Motor Show for its European debut, alongside a mystery concept car, the details of which are still hidden.

This new concept vehicle will be released online on September 17, but it’ll be up to speculation until then. Odds are that it is a new IS concept, although a new CT200 is also a possibility. A new RX is due sometime soon as well, although this concept could also be something brand new from the Japanese luxury brand.

Also debuting for the first time in Europe is the LS 600h F Sport, that most powerful hybrid in Lexus’ lineup. This car is reserved for the European market, although in America just get the LS 460 F Sport.

2013 Mini John Cooper Works GP - Paris Auto Show

Mini has revealed its fastest production car to date the second-generation John Cooper Works GP. Set to make its public debut in September at the Paris motor show, the go-fast hatchback builds on the solid performance credentials of the standard Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works with a slightly more powerful engine, upgraded suspension, reinforced body, larger brakes and various styling changes.

The pocket rocket packs 218 hp from a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Torque peaks at 1,750 rpm with 192 lb-ft, and an over boost feature allows for 207 lb-ft for spurts of speed. Drive is channeled to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Mini says the GP hits 62 mph in 6.3 seconds, and top speed is 150 mph.

The heightened dynamic properties of this model rather than outright straight-line speed set the GP apart, Mini boss Kay Segler said. Central to upgrades is an adjustable suspension that makes the GP highly suitable for track-day outings.

New adjustable dampers allow the ride height to be lowered by 0.8 inch. The geometry has been completely revised, with the front dampers turned 180 degrees and mounted upside down in a move Mini says helps provide significantly improved cornering ability, owing to added camber offset.

The car can lap the Nurburgring in 8 minutes, 23 seconds a whopping 18 seconds faster than the first-gen John Cooper Works GP.

Further changes include the adoption of grippy Kumho Ecsta tires; Recaro sports seats up front; a substantial strut brace set across the space usually dedicated to the rear seat; larger brakes; a re calibrated electronic-stability program with a so-called GP racing mode; and a range of subtle aerodynamic tweaks that help improve the drag coefficient.

Mini plans to limit John Cooper Works GP production to just 2,000 units, a quarter of which are heading to the United States, which is set to become the new car’s biggest single market.

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander EV plugs in - Paris Auto Show

Mitsubishi will display an Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at the Paris motor show.

The body is based on the new Out lander, which debuted in July in Russia. It uses an electric system derived from the i-MiEV small car and other Mitsubishi vehicles.

The electric Outlander will operate in three modes: EV, series and parallel. EV mode uses only power from the rechargeable lithium-ion drive battery. In series mode, the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine operates as a generator; the system switches into that when the battery dips below a certain level. In parallel mode, both the battery and engine power the wheels.

The 12-kilowatt-hour battery has a cruising range of about 34 miles.

The Outlander also runs a twin motor four wheel drive system with two electric motors, one for each axle. Mitsubishi says it delivers a better response and more control than conventional systems. It's comprised of fewer parts than a mechanical system and works with the company's all-wheel-control system.

Outlander sales are down about 20 percent in the United States from last year. The SUV will hit the streets of Japan in early 2013, and then spread to Europe, North America and other markets around the world.

Mercedes F1 boss downplays Hamilton says 2013 driver decision still not made

Ross Brawn refuses to be drawn in by speculation that Lewis Hamilton could abandon McLaren and move to Mercedes next year. Brawn said that no decision had been made on who will drive alongside Nico Rosberg, who has a multiyear contract with the team.

Inevitably, the idea that Michael Schumacher will stop at the end of this season is gathering momentum, although Brawn said nothing was clear yet. Brawn said that Schumacher's future plans are not yet clear. Read More Story

2013 McLaren F1 successor - Paris Motor Show

Mark your calendars, because McLaren has scheduled the upcoming Paris Motor Show as the place it will reveal its plans for the future, which the automaker has teased in an image showing the silhouette of a car that could be an F1 successor.

2012 McLaren MP4 12C front on water While it has been confirmed McLaren is planning such a car, it would be a great addition to the carbon fiber clad MP4-12C. The McLaren supercar has a mid-mounted twin-turbo V-8 engine making 616 horsepower in 2013 models. The 2012 model, which puts out 592 hp, was featured in our Best Rivera’s Car competition, and nipped the Lamborghini Aventador a heels in the World a Greatest Drag Race 2. While the $241,800 car placed mid-pack in our 2012 Best Driver a Car competition, a McLaren F1 successor could challenge the top contenders for the crown in a few years.

Testing of the F1 car has reportedly started in Europe and, according to Autocar, only 500 are planned for its production run. The price could be well over $1 million, and while rumors suggest power could come from a V-8, a V-10 remains a possibility. Only 100 of the BMW V-12-powered, 627-horse McLaren F1s were built during its production run from 1992 to 1998, and until the Bugatti Veyron came along, the F1 held the production-car top-speed record at 243 mph.
While it‚ a unclear at this point what these flowing lines form, we expect to get more information on the mystery car over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for updates on the McLaren and other Paris Motor Show debuts.

Price: NA
Body Style: Coupe
Performance & Efficiency: Engine: 3.8L V eight-cylinder DOHC with variable valve timing