Mini reborn at Paris Motor Show

Another attraction of the Paris Motor show: the new Ferrari 550 Spider

By James Foxall

PARIS, France (CNN) -- It is like time has stood still for 41 years as the Paris Motor Show opens to a dose of Mini mania. BMW, which builds the new car, is likely to have its stand swamped as visitors get their first glimpse at the rebirth of a legend.

The all-new car is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, a symbol of the swinging sixties and a cult car across Europe. It goes on sale in June 2001 for about $15,000.

But while the Mini may draw the crowds, the real battle in the Paris Expo this year is being slugged out between heavyweights Ford, Volkswagen, Renault and Citroen. It is for a share of the lucrative family saloon market, popularised by travelling salesmen.

Despite fuel price protests and a glut of quality second-hand vehicles, Europe-wide figures offer optimism for manufacturers.

By the end of August, 10,373,609 new cars were sold throughout the EU, according to the motor trade body ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Européen d'Automobiles). This is one percent down on 1999 but ACEA predicts a bumper year.

Ford has unveiled an all-new version of reps' favourite, the Mondeo, which it hopes will tap into the best-selling VW Passat's European market dominance.

Ford vice president Martin Leach said: "Our market share across Europe fell of a cliff over the past two years. We have an inconsistent brand position at the moment and must fill in the niches." The Mondeo is the start of that process.

VW is hitting back with an all-new Passat. In order not to alienate current conservative customers, VW has only tweaked the external features of its family car.

Renault has gone the hi-tech route to recovery in the sales charts. It needs to increase sales by 25 percent to have an impact in the family car sector and hopes its new Laguna can do this.

The first car in its class to be keyless, drivers of the new Laguna have a credit card that they push into the dashboard. A start/stop button then fires the engine.

And competitor Citroen, despite naming its new car after Sir Clive Sinclair's failed alternative to the bicycle, is also hoping to crack this market. Citroen hopes its C5 will be the first of a new range to resurrect the French company's image.

Elsewhere in Paris, Nissan dropped its dull mask with a wacky replacement for the UK-built Primera and showed the X-TRAIL off-roader that it hopes will rival the Land Rover Freelander.

And Peugeot is showing off its 306 replacement to be launched in 2003 while Honda's stand boasts the new Civic that will keep the company's workforce at Swindon, England, in jobs for years to come.

All these will sell more than the Mini but even after all these years, Paris has proved none is as much of a crowd pleaser.

The Paris Motor Show is from September 30 until October 15 at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.

From CNN.com Europe

Paris Motor Show

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