Renault's newest Sedan/Saloon previews on Champs Elysées

A new Renault up for close inspection before

your nearest dealer gets it in the show-room ....

The Mégane range of (european) midsize cars was launched in 1994
The products family was made up of
an hatchback 4-door sedan/saloon

an hatchback coupé 2 doors
a 4-door + boot regular sedan/saloon
a stationwagon (or Estate for readers from the UK)
and a mid-size family van labelled as the Scenic
last year, the third generation hit the show rooms,

without a regular sedan/saloon.
Admittingly, France is not anymore a perfect market place for sedans/saloons.
Starting with the launch of the Renault R-16 in 1965,
France has turned as a country of hatchbacks.

Now set to single out as a proper standalone like the Scenic,

the regular sedan is previewing at the carmaker's show case

on Avenue des Champs-Elysées.

and can be inspected at close quarters.

Now called the FLUENCE, it will be put on sale across Europe next spring

The ride to Today - Tomorrow - Toyota - keeps driving upstairs

There, Toyota displays a GT-One, also known as a TS020 in Japan and which raced at Le Mans in 1998 and 1999

The 900 kg grand-touring (and later upgraded to Le Mans protoype class) racer was powered by a 600 HP V8 engine. ZENT is a leading Japanese alloy wheel maker.

The Formula racer sits next to the GT-One

is mated to an extremely popular racing simulator

Today - Tomorrow - Toyota

filling the space of former movie cineplex UGC-Biarritz, Toyota's show room at Champs-Elysées avenue sits on a strategic location and specifically showcases the manufacturer's technological achievements and latest models made avialable on the french market. Not to be outdone by its four EU competitors doing the same close-by, Toyota brought in two of its latest development cars.

First of which is the SS.Q Roadster displayed right by the entrance and keeping company to an IQ in a rather unusual and spectacular position.

Just this part is worth the look, but one is not over, and two options are avialable, going upstairs and staying at the street level. Where another development car

the MTZC is on display just a few steps away

MTZC's engine

MTZC left side
A few more steps into the room
And it's back to reality, first

by calling at IQ's, and still set aside the best for

Prius III
The first generation went unoticed in France, but in sharp contrast, the next has been a real SUCCESS, especially by major cab companies and independant drivers alike.
Toyota also brought in along a complete animated familiarization set for hybrid power made of

A video presentation avialable in several language

and which clearly show how the different component work.
This time, a German visitor triggered the start.

The engine

The batteries

Dreaming of a Mercedes, but still desperately short of money ?

Then think twice, and in terms of two wheelers. Handsome bicycles are now part of the product family.

the models on display feature this neat colapsible one

and mountain-bikes just asking for hitting high sloped trails

Peugeot Gets a Green Light on Green Cars

Peugeot's showroom at Champs-Elysées Avenue is used for periodic exhibitions centered to events with which France's top automaker is closely associated. This time, green concept cars are the cornerstone of the running exhibition, featuring

The Quark quad

The HY racing car running on hydrogen

The Tulip electric urban micro car

And the long-standing electrecity powered compact fire engine, made up by using the chassis of a mass produced Peugeot 206 compact car. The new generation bicycle also acts as a good reminder that Cycles Peugeot sister company has been in business for decades.