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Concept cars of the 2012 Paris Motor Show (pictures)

This year's Paris Motor Show featured quite a few concepts, design studies from major automakers featuring new technologies such as electric drive systems.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
Wayne Cunningham
Antuan Goodwin
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McLaren P1

McLaren showed off its next supercar as a concept, without specifying engine or performance figures.
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McLaren P1

The company plans on launching the production version of the P1 at the 2013 Geneva auto show next March.
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Nissan Terra SUV concept

Nissan's concept uses a fuel cell stack and hydrogen to generate electricity for its electric drive system.
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Nissan Terra SUV concept

The Terra SUV unlocks with a tablet, which also docks on the dashboard, where it becomes the car's instrument cluster.
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Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo concept

Porsche calls its Panamera-based concept its "sports car of tomorrow," an interesting direction for the company known for the much smaller 911.
PorschePanamera_concet_SS03.jpg
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Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo concept

The Sport Turismo uses a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on the same hybrid system in the current Panamera Hybrid, yet with the ability to drive on purely electric power for almost 20 miles.
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7 of 17 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Smart ForStars

Smart brought out this funky little concept, which could be its best-looking car yet.
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Smart ForStars

ForStars hides an LCD projector in its hood, so you can turn any wall into a drive-in theater.
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Suzuki S-Cross concept

Trying to capitalize on the European youth market, Suzuki presents this rugged yet economical little car.
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Suzuki S-Cross concept

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Lexus LF-CC

The LF-CC continues a line of concepts that Lexus has been showing lately. The LF-CC uses Lexus' current design language, called L-Finesse. The headlights are three individual LEDs, one set on each side.
Lexus_LF-CC_SS04.jpg
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Lexus LF-CC

Lexus specifies a hybrid drivetrain for the LF-CC, an electric motor complementing a 2.5-liter direct injection engine, good for 200-plus horsepower.
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Lexus LF-CC

The cabin shows some very concepty elements, such as a big LCD fitted into the center console.
Audi_Crosslane_SS01.JPG
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Audi Crosslane Coupe concept

Rather than a design concept, the Crosslane Coupe is about the type of construction used for the vehicle and its drivetrain. Audi constructed this new space frame of aluminum, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, and glass fiber-reinforced polymer. This type of space frame could save substantial weight in future Audi vehicles.
Audi_Crosslane_SS02.JPG
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Audi Crosslane Coupe concept

With two electric motors and a gasoline engine, the Crosslane Coupe gets 177 horsepower. The engine is only three cylinders, with displacement of 1.5-liter, which should lead to excellent fuel economy.
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16 of 17 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

BMW Concept Active Tourer

BMW's Concept Active Tourer is either a preview of an upcoming 1-series GT that slots between the 1 and 3 series wagons or it's a stepping stone to an inexpensive front-wheel drive BMW model based on Mini underpinnings. Either way, this plug-in hybrid concept has an interesting all-wheel drive power-train that's worth exploring.
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17 of 17 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Peugeot Onyx

A bit further up the Peugeot performance ladder is the Onyx, a 700-horsepower, turbodiesel supercar that gets a staggering 118 miles per gallon. Yep, I'll believe that when I see it.

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