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2012 Paris Motor Show mega gallery (pictures)

CNET attended the 2012 Paris Motor Show, digging up the latest cars in all their technically advanced glory. Our mega gallery encapsulates the major sights from the show.

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
Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
Wayne Cunningham
Antuan Goodwin
Stephen Shankland
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1 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Mercedes-Benz SLS EV

Mercedes-Benz gave high prominence to its SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive.
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2 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Mercedes-Benz SLS EV

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive
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3 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Lamborghini Superleggera

Lamborghini showed this sky-blue Superleggera at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.
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4 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Exagon Motors' Furtive-eGT EV

Exagon Motors debuted the production version of its Furtive-eGT electric vehicle at the Paris Motor Show.
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5 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Renault Twizy EV

Designers David and Cathy Guetta showed off this polka-dotted two-person Renault Twizy electric vehicle at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.
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6 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Renault Clio debut

Renault debuted a new design for its Clio compact sedan at the Paris Motor Show.
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7 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Peugeot concept van

This Peugeot concept van featured a prominent snout. It wasn't clear whether it was designed to hunt for truffles.
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8 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Low-profile tires

You'll find plenty of very low-profile tires at the Paris Motor Show. This one was at the Mercedes-Benz booth.
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9 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Peugeot 2008 Concept SUV

This Peugeot crossover SUV called the 2008 Concept was designed to be at home in Paris, Brazil, or China.
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10 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

McLaren MP4-12C Spider

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider at the Paris Motor Show.
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11 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

McLaren P1

A big star of the show was McLaren's concept P1, the template for its next supercar.
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12 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Nissan city car

This tiny Nissan has four-wheel steering for navigating parking spaces in confined urban environments.
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13 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Tire tech

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.
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14 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Mazda's new 6s

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.
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15 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupé

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.
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16 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Mini Cooper Paceman

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.
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17 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Volkswagen evolves the Golf

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.
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18 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

TRD Toyobaru

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.
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19 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Smart Forstars 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...
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20 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Citroen Numero 9

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.
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21 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Peugeot RCZ R

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.
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22 of 52 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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23 of 52 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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24 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

BMW i8 concept

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.
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25 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Slot car racers

It wouldn't be a good car show without a slot car race or two.
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26 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Magazine stand

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.
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27 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Honda EV-ster concept

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.
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28 of 52 Wayne Cunningham

Jaguar F-type

A star of the show was the Jaguar F-type, breaking cover for the first time in Paris.
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29 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Honda Mimo

Honda also showed off its Mimo robotic lawn mower. It's like a Roomba for your lawn, automatically keeping your grass neat and trimmed.
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30 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

First-generation Civic

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!
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31 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Aixam Coupe GTi

Micro-cars, like this Aixam Coupe GTi, and scooters seem to be the primary mode of transport in Europe's crowded cities.
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32 of 52 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Toyota Auris

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.
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33 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Audi Crosslane Coupe concept

This odd little duck from Audi proved popular, as everything with Audi does lately.
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34 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Lexus LF-CC

Could this be an IS successor? We hope so.
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35 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Nissan Terra SUV

Nissan's funky little fuel-cell-powered concept looks like the Juke from 30 years in the future.
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36 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

2013 Range Rover

The big daddy of luxury SUVs gets a rebuild, losing 700 pounds in the process, while getting more power.
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37 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

GT3

Bentley announces its Continental-based GT3 racing car.
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38 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Citroen

Citroen introduced the Cabrio version of the DS3, a car we could really use in the U.S.
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39 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Fiesta ST

The Fiesta ST, a high-performance version of the little hatchback, is coming to the U.S.
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40 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Opel Adam

The entry-level Opel Adam presents a mirror image of itself.
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41 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

F1 car

Infiniti partners with Red Bull Racing on this F1 car.
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42 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Toyota iQ

Toyota shows an electric version of the iQ.
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43 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta takes the stand.
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44 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Jeep Wrangler

A Jeep Wrangler sits in a pseudo naturalistic environment.
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45 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Hemera

PGO shows off the retro-styled Hemera.
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46 of 52 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Renault promotional macarons

To promote its new sedan, Renault offered the fashionable French cookies called macarons, each stamped with the words "new" and "Clio."
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47 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Delicious lighting

Renault's hanging lamps complemented its macarons, making for an entire theme.
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48 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Model T

Ford shows it has some history with this Model T.
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49 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Formula Ford 1.0L

This little racer may only have a 1-liter three-cylinder engine, but it lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes 22 seconds.
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50 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

1991 Range Rover

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51 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Toyota TS030

Toyota campaigned its TS030 hybrid race car at Le Mans.
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52 of 52 Wayne Cunningham/CNET

Fiat 500L

Fiat supersizes its 500 model with the 500L.

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