I arrived at the Paris Mondial de L’Automobile too late for the press days. Big mistake. My first attempt to gain entry to the second largest auto show in the world fell on a weekend. I could barely squeeze through the entry gates, let alone get up-close-and-personal with the more attractive models. So I retreated into the Metro, vowing a working week return. Monday morning proved a bit more relaxed, although by midday the crush returned. Luckily, there were a few machines worth the scrum.
I’ve been fascinated with the mid-engined Audi R8 since it first appeared as a concept two years ago. Seeing it in the flesh, I wonder for whom the schnell tolls– other than eccentrics like me. Although the German supercar’s pricing has yet to be released, it will probably live in the neighborhood of $100k; which is rarefied air for an Audi. Still, if Ingolstadt keeps production volumes low, the price tag would make some kind of sense. If not, well, Audi’s historical problems with cliff face depreciation make an “investment” in an R8 seem as dicey as real estate south of North Korea’s lower border.
This is perhaps the first Audi where the oversized grill is pleasing to the eye. (Or maybe I’m just getting used to the brand’s open mouth bass look.) The R8’s overall dimensions are quite compact; the vehicle’s height seems much lower than even the new TT. The basic proportions are spot on. But I still can’t get over the large plastic shroud behind the side windows. It may have something to do with an eventual cabriolet model– or the German automaker’s determination to match the Toyota FJ’s trendy blind spot. It’s the only exterior blemish in an otherwise svelte and sexy design.
The R8’s powerplant gleams through its Ferrari did it first glass hatch. After much conjecture, the German roadster ends-up with the new RS4’s 4.2 liter, 420 horsepower FSI V8. So quipped, the R8 promises zero to 60 sprints in the low 4’s. Industry wags continue to suggest that the R8 will eventually holster a V-10 borrowed from the [Audi owned] Lamborghini Gallardo. Perhaps not. The move would undercut the Gallardo’s price and exclusivity, and deny the R8 the V8 growl it needs to intimidate Porsche’s blown six.
Meanwhile, the R8’s interior looks far too pedestrian, too similar to the TT. The high seat bolsters make for an awkward entry. Still, I look forward to driving and possibly owning Audi’s first retail supercar.
The Peugeot 908 RC was the most striking and sinister sedan at the show, obviously influenced by the Maybach-based Exelero coupe. The French beast is powered by a 5.5-liter twelve cylinder diesel engine that generates 691 horspower and 885+ foot pounds of torque. The 908 promises astounding performance and something resembling reasonable fuel economy– adding a bit of environmental luster to the brand's RC sports models.
Obviously, French carmakers enjoyed premiere placement in the show venue. There is no question that they design cars with flair. If the French (and the Italians) can find a way to add the build quality that Toyota has introduced to the American market, the imports might even find some sales success stateside. The Citroen C-Metisse is a bad example. While I love the name and admire the front wheel-drive diesel-hybrid powertrain, I found the car's styling too similar to the Dodge Magnum wagon– whcih is not a good design benchmark for a foreign car.
Speaking of odd design, the VW Iroc concept, meant to be the precursor of a new Scirocco coupe, looked strikingly similar to the silly Skoda Joyster. Take one Joyster and bake in the oven for an hour and out comes the VW. The choice of electric green– an homage to the "viper green metallic" paint offered on the 1976 VW Scirocco– did not enhance its appearance one whit. The twin-charged four-cylinder powerplant is supposedly good for 210hp– about the limit of what you'd want through the front wheels.
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. I'd buy it just to be able to say the name to people. The car's design is a little too wacky, but the performance sounds awesome. As does the price: around $187k.
Watch out for Alfa though. If the Brera, GT and Spider are any indication, this marque is going to be a lot more important in the world market. If their cars don’t break or rust, if their US dealers don’t treat customers like merde, the cars’ long-awaited return stateside might actually work. The Italian vehicles would certainly benefit from the fact that all the folks who are old enough to have first hand experience with Alfas are too old to remember how bad they were.
There was only one place I could find wide open spaces at the biennial Paris auto show: the General Motors pavilion. Seems that the French, like the Americans, have diminished interest in what was once the world’s most stylish and innovative automobile producer. Until GM can figure out how to Earl-up their designs and power their engines using pomme frites and mayonnaise, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen have little to worry about. Fortunately, I ran pretty well on the stuff, with help from some fine Bordeaux. Salut.
Gimme one each Peugeot 908 and a Citroen C-Metisse. Exception looking!
I don’t know if I’d ever want a French car for its styling, but I still can’t take my eyes off of them. What lines!
Nice work, Jay. I like the “Earl-up” reference. GM needs that in America more than they do in France.
The pre-75 Alfa’s were truly wondrous, I didn’t live in Chicago so watching them turn to rust instantaneously was not a problem, and I practically cried when I sold my ’74 GTV 20 years ago (sigh, it wouldn’t carry wife and two growing kids..) and still miss it. The combination of style and performance was just sublime. Alas, like most car manufacturers the late 70’s and much of the 80’s was just not a good time for Alfa. But maybe America might like hatchbacks and go for the 147, and the 4 doors would make a nice alternative to ubiquitous Beemers and Lexi. Now the 8c looks like sex. I just hope they screw them together reasonably these days. I would guess the looks would sell them, but if it is like the old days, Alfa would be done in America FOREVER.
You think the 8C is “too wacky?”
Has the whole world gone crazy?
C-Metisse looks like a magnum? wha? sure, the citroen looks kinda like a hatch/wagon that got stepped on, but that’s where the similarity ends–that thing is hot (can’t see the front, though…) the magnum looks like it was built out of legos.
as for the iroc–what happened to all the rumors that the next scirocco would be RWD?
now that i think of it, looks like the iroc got stepped on too.
So VW thinking about resurrecting the International Race of Champions, or did they just randomly choose the middle 4 letters of Scirocco?
You guessed right, the Iroc name is derived from those middle four letters of the Scirocco.
The rear ‘door sides’ are made out of CF, and if I read correctly, are an option. When they are not ordered, the ‘door sides’ match the body-color.
Jon.
The term “Competizione” is one that Alfa-Romeo used way back in the immediate post World War II period, as well as just before that war (if memory serves). When I was at the Kirkland (Washington) Concours d’Elegance on September 9 of this year, a 1946 Alfa-Romeo 6C2500SS coupe took a trophy for Most Elegant Closed class. It was reminiscent of a time when Alfa was actually in F1 racing.
Cliff G’s comments about the wonderful little GTVs of the late 1960s and early ’70s, which for a time dominated the 2.5 liter class in SCCA racing ring true. (Pete Brock’s team, Brock Racing Enterprises – not to be confused with the recently deceased Australian rally racer Peter Brock – knocked Alfa off that perch with the Datsun 510, more than ably driven by John Morton.)
It would be wonderful if Alfa, now running under Fiat and ready to roll into Maserati/Ferrari showrooms, could supply the parts and service support, needed to re-establish the marque in the States. In today’s world, consumers won’t tolerate any of the nonsense they were asked to, back before the Japanese started rolling out world class sports cars.
The R8’s looks improve without the carbon fiber treatment behind the doors. This part needs to match the rest of the car to avoid interrupting the otherwise sinuous lines. I like it. The Krauts are getting the design right these days.
I visited the Paris Motor Show show and was also very impressed overall with the character of the French cars.
Jay, in what way is the C-metisse concept similar design-wise from the Dodge Magnum??? I can see no resemblance what so ever regarding proportion, surfacing, and concept.
Jay, how can you say `obviously` the Peugoet 908 RC was influenced by the Exelero coupe?? Please explain. I understand that are both black and big…but that is it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this editorial.
Wow, those cars look nice, like what people expected to be driving in The World of Tomorrow instead of the fairly bland offerings we have today. I’d love to see the Peugeot pull up to a red light beside a Chrysler 300. Imagine the looks on the face of the Chrysler driver. (Yes, yes, the Chrysler is a Great [German-]American Car that costs so much less yada yada yada)
That Alfa… I can see it being a trailer queen, not because it wouldn’t be terrific fun to drive but it’s just such a breathtaking piece of sculpture. That’s a car for someone who likes curvy cars.
I had to Google the Skoda but what exactly makes it “silly”? It is just a concept, isn’t it? I think it’s an interesting idea and not bad looking at all. Not that it matters since Skodas probably won’t ever make it to America.
100k for an Audi that isn’t much faster than a 30k sedan. I don’t get it. Very attractive car and I am a fan of the new Audi nose (And I like the Bangled bimmers too go figure) but they did it a disservice using the 4.2, should have had a V-10. Once you get up to those numbers why not a 911 Turbo?
I think we could use a little French funky design flavor over here as well as some affordable svelte Italian design. The majority of what we get in the states is boring.
I agree with Steve_S.
Now, does that 500HP V12 turbodiesel from the Q7 fit in there? That would be interesting :)
I saw a few R8s the other day. They look better in silver with the silver side air intakes.
I also saw a Lamborghini Gallardo with an R8 auto-gear box…..my guess is that they will be putting the V10 in the R8 next….