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, Antuan Goodwin

Sept. 28, 2012 11:45 a.m. PT

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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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.