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| A revolutionary Italian sports car: the F430. |
Paris will host the eagerly anticipated biannual 76th Paris Motor Show from September 25 to October 10. A wealth of new models and concept cars will be on display. The Paris Motor Show is one of the most important automotive shows in the world.
The Ferrari F430: straight off the racetrack
The Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari's F430, the successor to the 360 Modena, has a more compact and aggressive appearance. In fact, it looks like it escaped from the racetrack. Inside, the steering wheel resembles that of the 612 Scaglietti. The F430 has a 4.2 litre engine, maximum 483 HP at 8500 rpm and a maximum torque of 465 Nm at 5250 rpm. The F430 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 40 seconds, has a maximum speed of 315 km/h, and owes its power to its 6-speed gearbox.
New models from Porsche and Peugeot
German automobile manufacturer Porsche's most accessible and affordable model, the Boxster, has been remodelled. The new Boxster follows the design philosophy first seen in the Cayenne and carried through in the later Carrera GT and the new generation 911. The Boxster's modified 2.7 litre 6 cylinder engine has an additional 12 HP power, bringing the total to 240 HP.French manufacturer Peugeot's new concept car, the 907 Coupe, is the product of one of the design stages of the 407 Coupe. Its profile resembles the Mercedes SLR MacLaren. The 907 Coupe design aesthetic could be described as futuristic simplicity. The interior features authentic wood inlay as well as brown leather and light grey alcantara trim. The instrument panel, although digital, is displayed in analogue style. The central console has a touch screen. The heart of the vehicle is its 6.0 litre V12 engine. Its 500 HP is derived from its 6-speed CVT transmission.
The new generation Focus
Ford's compact class Focus was the star of the motor show. Although the front and rear of the car have been completely remodelled, you can still see traces of the original design. The new Focus features larger mudguards similar to those of the Mondeo, Fiesta, Fusion ad C-MAX. The roof slopes down towards the rear, creating a silhouette reminiscent of a coupe and giving the car a sportier appearance. The new Focus family includes 6 models, four with petrol engines and two with diesel engines. The base model is has 1.4-litre engine with 80 HP. This is followed by a 1.6-litre 100 HP model. The 1.6-litre engine provides 111 HP and features the pioneering new Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Technology. The top model in the new Focus line is the 2.0-litre Focus with 145 HP.
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The Paris Motor Show was first held in 1898. The total exhibiting space (indoor and outdoor) measures 180,000 m2. Some 1.5 million visitors attended the last Paris Motor Show held in 2002. Hundreds of automotive companies took part (a total of 559 brands from 23 countries). The show is divided among 7 halls. The entrance fee this year is 10 Euro. Children under the age of 7 can enter free of charge. Groups of more than 15 people are eligible for a special group discount. |
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