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The top 10 fleet cars from Paris (continued)
Date: 14 October 2008
BusinessCar walks you through the Paris motor show halls to point out the most important new models
6 Audi A1 concept
What is it? An Audi concept for a new supermini that makes no secret of its desire to challenge BMW's Mini.
Why is it important to business? It is a supermini from a premium manufacturer, something that is a rarity at the moment. Audi insists, however, that it isn't trying to copy its Mini rival.
On sale? The three-door version is expected to be the first to launch in the first half of 2010, with the five-door following soon after.
Other info? While it is a concept at the moment, Audi says all the sheet metal on the concept A1 will be the same on the production version.
7 BMW X1 concept
What is it? Baby off-roader concept of a car that will arrive late next year. Think premium-badged rival to the Nissan Qashqai.
Why is it important to business? With BMW's focus on CO2, this could be the most efficient off-roader on sale with the German manufacturer's 2.0-litre diesel. Expect prices to start somewhere above £20,000.
On sale? Late 2009.
Other info? The German brand reckons there's space below the X3 for another off-roader, despite the X1 being very close in terms of dimensions. Audi is likely to follow BMW into this sector with a 4x4 called Q3.
8 Peugeot Prologue
What is it? Peugeot's mouth organ-grilled 308-based crossover concept aimed at Nissan's Qashqai but initially without an all-wheel drive option.
Why is it important to business? Five doors and five seats and likely to be badged 3008, it moves into MPV territory that Peugeot had previously left free for its PSA partner Citroen.
On sale? Autumn 2009.
Other info? A lower-CO2 hybrid, all-wheel-drive version, with electrically powered rear wheels, is due within two years. A more conventional five- and seven-seater MPV stablemate is due in 2010.
9 Hyundai i20
What is it? A supermini Hyundai to plug the gap between the i10 and i30 and provide a cheap and well-kitted alternative to the likes of Ford's Fiesta.
Why is it important to business? Hyundai is taking fleet very seriously now, and the i20 will surely be specced with the corporate customer in mind.
On sale? January 2009 with prices expected to be starting around the £8000 mark.
Other info? The i20 launches with a 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol and two 1.4-litre diesels. Hyundai hasn't ruled out a more powerful 1.6-litre diesel to make an oil-burning hot hatch.
10 Citroen C3 Picasso
What is it? Citroen's latest MPV or "monospace" to tackle the Nissan Note, Vauxhall Meriva, Ford Fusion and Renault Modus.
Why is it important to business?
Dubbed a "cubist" design, the C3 Picasso's practical square-edged format should sustain Citroen's strength in the Motability MPV arena. With stop-start the 90PS 1.6-litre diesel should boast an 110g/km CO2 rating.
On sale? June 2009.
Other info? Likely to cost from around £11,000 and use the PSA/BMW 1.6-litre petrol engines with 95PS and 120PS outputs. New C3 expected within 18 months.
More cars that caught the eye
Peugeot 308CC: Continues the brand's steel roof drop-top approach from around £17,000. Debuts head restraint-mounted airbags. On sale? April 2009.
Seat Exeo: Seat's new upper medium saloon is based on the Audi A4 platform and hopes to challenge the likes of the Ford Mondeo. On sale? May 2009.
Seat Ibiza Ecomotive: 98g/km and 76.3mpg are possible from the new version of Seat's supermini. On sale? April 2009.
Vauxhall Insignia estate: Third Insignia variant arrives in the UK with price premium of £1250-£1400 over the hatchback plus claimed class-equalling load space of 540 litres, seats up, and a maximum of 1510. On sale? Spring 2009.
VW Golf/Passat Bluemotion: Stop-start tech brings the Golf and Passat CO2 emissions down to 99g/km and a potential 109g/km respectively. On sale? Golf April 2009; Passat late 2009.
