2012 Paris Motor Show mega gallery (pictures)

Mercedes-Benz gave high prominence to its SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive

Lamborghini showed this sky-blue Superleggera at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Exagon Motors debuted the production version of its Furtive-eGT electric vehicle at the Paris Motor Show.

Designers David and Cathy Guetta showed off this polka-dotted two-person Renault Twizy electric vehicle at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Renault debuted a new design for its Clio compact sedan at the Paris Motor Show.

This Peugeot concept van featured a prominent snout. It wasn't clear whether it was designed to hunt for truffles.

You'll find plenty of very low-profile tires at the Paris Motor Show. This one was at the Mercedes-Benz booth.

This Peugeot crossover SUV called the 2008 Concept was designed to be at home in Paris, Brazil, or China.

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider at the Paris Motor Show.

A big star of the show was McLaren's concept P1, the template for its next supercar.

This tiny Nissan has four-wheel steering for navigating parking spaces in confined urban environments.

Bridgestone showed off a number of innovations in technology where the rubber meets the road, ranging from lightweight tires that increases efficiency by reducing unsprung weight to these colorfully decorated rollers.

Mazda debuted the 2013 Mazda6 wagon alongside a sedan variant. Mazda's Skyactiv suite of efficiency techniques includes lightweight construction, regenerative braking, and start-stop technology. Look for the sedan at your local dealer sometime next year.

Show goers could pair their Bluetooth phone with the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe to download more information about this preview of the next-generation E-Class.

Mini shaves the Cooper Countryman's rear doors, chops its top, calls the result the new Mini Cooper Paceman. This is the seventh model in Mini's growing (in both number and size) lineup.

Volkswagen makes a number of evolutionary changes to the venerable Golf as the model enters its seventh generation. VW was able to make the new Golf both larger and lighter at the same time by using lightweight materials in its construction. Also be on the lookout for a set of cabin tech options.

Toyota and Subaru both brought out their co-designed GT 86 and BRZ sports coupes. Here, Toyota shows off a host of TRD styling and performance accessories for the 86, but on the other side of the show, Subie was showing off a carbon fiber clad BRZ XT Concept.

Smart's Forstars concept almost sounds like a normal car. It's got a production-ready electric power train from the Brabus Fortwo electric drive and its looks aren't that much weirder than a Scion/Toyota iQ. However, things get weird when the automaker starts talking about modding an LCD projector into the hood...

Citroen's dark Numero 9 concept looks massive, imposing, and downright sinister carving out its own shadowy spot in the middle of the brightly illuminated hall.

Imagine if the Mitsubishi Eclipse didn't grow into a bloated mess and was still relevant today. You'd have something like the Peugeot RCZ R, a 260-horsepower, front-wheel-drive sports coupe that looks absolutely amazing in bronze and matte black.

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.

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.

BMW's i8 concept makes a return appearance at the Paris show. You can be sure that its sibling, the i3, wasn't too far away.

It wouldn't be a good car show without a slot car race or two.

We may have been lusting over sweet European cars that will never see American roads, but it seems that people all over the world love American muscle cars.

Honda's updated 2013 CR-Z was on display in the automaker's booth, but it was hidden away in a back corner. The car that garnered the most attention was this EV-ster fully electric roadster concept.

A star of the show was the Jaguar F-type, breaking cover for the first time in Paris.

Honda also showed off its Mimo robotic lawn mower. It's like a Roomba for your lawn, automatically keeping your grass neat and trimmed.

In addition to the newly updated European Honda Civic, the automaker had this mint example of the first-generation Civic on display. I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather drive this one!

Micro-cars, like this Aixam Coupe GTi, and scooters seem to be the primary mode of transport in Europe's crowded cities.

Toyota's new Auris was on display in a major way at the automaker's booth, showing up in both conventional and hybrid trims. At one point, the word was that this car could replace the Matrix in Toyota's U.S. lineup, but those rumors have been put to rest by Toyota itself.

This odd little duck from Audi proved popular, as everything with Audi does lately.

Could this be an IS successor? We hope so.

Nissan's funky little fuel-cell-powered concept looks like the Juke from 30 years in the future.

The big daddy of luxury SUVs gets a rebuild, losing 700 pounds in the process, while getting more power.

Bentley announces its Continental-based GT3 racing car.

Citroen introduced the Cabrio version of the DS3, a car we could really use in the U.S.

The Fiesta ST, a high-performance version of the little hatchback, is coming to the U.S.

The entry-level Opel Adam presents a mirror image of itself.

Infiniti partners with Red Bull Racing on this F1 car.

Toyota shows an electric version of the iQ.

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta takes the stand.

A Jeep Wrangler sits in a pseudo naturalistic environment.

PGO shows off the retro-styled Hemera.

To promote its new sedan, Renault offered the fashionable French cookies called macarons, each stamped with the words "new" and "Clio."

Renault's hanging lamps complemented its macarons, making for an entire theme.

Ford shows it has some history with this Model T.

This little racer may only have a 1-liter three-cylinder engine, but it lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes 22 seconds.

Toyota campaigned its TS030 hybrid race car at Le Mans.

Fiat supersizes its 500 model with the 500L.