The Paris Motor Show is well and truly on the horizon, so we decided to take a look at what we can expect from one of motoring's most prestigious events.
What do the major manufacturers have planned in Porte de Versailles?
Almost every major manufacturer has an announcement planned, or a project in the pipeline and they'll be a constant stream from October 2nd onwards when the show kicks-off. We've already seen a fair chunk of the cars set to debut, but the show gives us a fantastic opportunity to see how the next few years of the motoring calendar are set to pan out. There was great hope that the electric car phenomenon would gather great momentum at the latest edition of the show, and while this was always firmly at the rumour stage it's disappointing that it seems unlikely to materialise.
The 4C Spider is the biggest news planned for Alfa Romeo who recently debuted it's sister vehicle the 4C coupe. A lot of what we saw from that original model will carry over to the Spider. The hi-tech strong build for the Coupe will mean swapping out the fixed roof and the return of the folding fabric. We saw glimpses of the Spider at the Geneva Motor Show back in March, so it won't be a total surprise. The Italian manufacturer boasts a 'fun-to-drive' ethos, which may seem a bit of a null statement but seems to suggest that the model won't be affected by the obvious adjustments. According to varied sources, it's distinctive noise will be significantly more audible should the roof be down. The spider will hold a 237bhp and 1.75 litre engine that will allow the car to go from 0-62 in no less than 4.5 seconds. A lot to look forward to for Alfa Romeo who arguably have a great deal of work to do in order to make a splash at the show. Definitely one to watch. 
Audi is looking to use the show as a platform for the release of the all-new A4. It'll have a hard time making an impact, as it's main rival is the XE which has attracted a truck-load of interest in the last few months. The new-look grille and distinctively designed front and rear lights will make an appearance, and the car will also be significantly lighter, more econimical and faster than the initial model. Speed demons may be disappointed at the loss of the bulky V8 engine- Instead, Audi are set to go with the far more economical 3.0-litre V6 petrol. They will also be looking to showcase their new Audi Q7 , which should shake-up things up a bit in the SUV department. The Audi TT coupe also got an airing at the Geneva Motor Show, and many sources believe the brand new Audi TT roadster will be available for public viewing in Paris. There is a great deal of clamour for the Audi R8 Supercar and it's likely the reception this gets will have a significant bearing on the success of the Audi show.
Usually at the top of the tree when it comes to excitement BMW may have their work cut out this year. The manufacturer are to unveil the 2 Series Active Tourer for it's public debut, and the new model shares the same 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines as the five-seater versions and apparently the new MINI hatchback. This is represents a milestone for the BMW brand as it's the first front-wheel drive ever built by the legendary manufactuer. The BMW 1 Series is expected to recieve an upgrade at the show and the rumour mill suggests the BMW X6M could make an appearance.
There is expected to be an unveiling of new versions of the Ford C-MAX MPV and the S-MAX MPV will feature at the American manufacturing giant's presentation. The C-MAX will gleefully recieve the stylish chrome grille that is synonymous with the new Ford Focus. The EcoBoost petrol engine will also join the C-MAX, alongside the 1.5-litre engine which is now atleast 20 percent more efficient than the original 1.6-litre engine.
Honda will face fierce competition in terms of hatchbacks from both Renault and Seat, even though the The Honda Civic Type R has been touted as the most anticipated hot hatchback of recent years. The new model has a more brash and toned look which could give it an a advantage over it's more subtle and dainty counterparts. The Type R is also quite nippy, and it has been tested at the Nurburgring race track. One of the biggest selling points for the Type R will be it's raw energy and pace. The model will recieve a turbocharged engine for the first time in it's short history.
