C'est Magnifique!

PARIS, FRANCE – It’s nice to know that we’re in tune with the rest of the automotive world. At the press preview of the 2010 Mondial de L’Automobile, it was clear that the “green theme” that reverberated so loudly at the recently concluded 3rd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) is one shared by the organizers of the Paris Motor Show, one of the world’s largest and most important congregations of all things automotive.

With 323 automobile related brands from 22 countries coming up with either a significant display of product offerings or at least one important model launch, we’re glad to have found amongst the many Pavilions one – a sprawling 13,000 square meters, in fact – dedicated to “New Energies”. “As there are many new products that are tied to energy that respects the environment, the Show is offering for the first time a Pavilion of 13,000 m2 dedicated to ‘New Energies’ for the public and for professionals that are interested in them. They will also have a chance to gain real-world experience with these new vehicles on test tracks designed for electric cars and eco-driving,” stressed the Show’s general organizer, Thierry Hesse.

So adamant are the Show’s organizers about pushing for environmental relevance, in fact, that apart from the New Energies Pavilion, there are a couple of other areas dedicated to pushing for green technology. There is the Eco-driving Learner Centre in Terrace H, in which guests can learn how to improve driving habits using vehicles with thermic and hybrid engines in a controlled test track. Supervised practical driving drills can then be conducted within the City, as required.

Then there is the Electric Vehicles Test Track in Pavilion 2.1 in which several electric vehicles are made available for test drives. The starting grid of the Electric Vehicles Test Track is located inside the Pavilion and as in the case of the Eco-driving Learner Centre, continues outside in order to give the driver the experience of traveling without polluting (noise and smells) an urban environment.

Speaking of championing renewable energy, perhaps the most significant product lunch at the 2010 Mondial de L’Automobile came from Japanese luxury brand Lexus, whose CT200h promises to change the game where combining luxury, practicality and environmental responsibility is concerned. Apart from being Lexus’ first ever five-door compact car, it is also – and more importantly – the first and only full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment. Lexus officials are confident that the CT200h will bring a younger group of customers to the brand. And, they actually gave us significant driving time behind the wheel of the car (more on the CT200h next week).

Other significant debuts and displays (for the Philippine market, at least) included the new Volvo V60, the new generation Ford Focus ST and the new Kia Sportage (again, more on the new Kia Sportage next week). Primarily, the 2010 Mondial de L’Automobile is a showcase of both practical and earth friendly products and technologies. It is a good sign of where not just Europe, but the entire world is setting its sights on where automobiles and the future is concerned. The 2010 Mondial de L’Automobile is ongoing until the 17th of October.