Environmentally Friendly Is Fashionable
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Fall is approaching, which means it's time for the auto-show season to get underway once again.
Press days for the 2016 Paris Motor Show begin at the end of this month, and we already know several notable green production and concept cars will make their debuts in the French capital. That includes no fewer than 24 electric cars, according to the show's organizers.
At the same time, Ford will be conspicuously absent, as it's skipping the Paris show altogether.
Here is a list of the green cars debuting in Paris we are aware of, listed alphabetically by manufacturer. Note that we'll update this as the show gets closer; media days are September 29 and 30.
Credit: Opel
Citroën Cxperience Concept
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The Cxperience is a plug-in hybrid concept that previews the next generation of the French carmaker's C5 sedan.
A small gasoline engine and 8-speed automatic transmission drive the front wheels, while an electric motor powers the rear wheels for a "through the road" all-wheel drive setup.
Citroën claims the 13-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack provides enough capacity for 37 miles of electric-only driving, but that's likely as measured on the somewhat-optimistic European testing cycle.
It's unclear whether a plug-in hybrid powertrain will be offered on the next C5, but either way that model won't reach the U.S., as Citroën hasn't sold cars here since 1991.
Credit: Cirtoën
Honda Civic Hatchback and Type R
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Honda will continue the rollout of its 10th-generation Civic compact-car lineup in Paris.
The production Civic hatchback remains faithful to the concept that appeared back in March at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, and shares styling cues with the existing sedan and coupe models.
It will get the same engines in the U.S. as well, including 2.0-liter naturally aspirated and 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. Both engines will be offered with CVT automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions, the latter being offered in combination with the turbocharged engine for the first time.
Honda will use the Civic hatchback as the basis for the next generation of the sporty (and not all that green) Type R model, which will be sold in the U.S. for the first time. The standard Civic hatchback goes on sale this fall as a 2017 model, while the Type R is expected to launch during calendar year 2017.
Credit: Honda
Hyundai Elantra GT
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The Civic is far from the only hatchback appearing in Paris. The next Hyundai Elantra GT (known as the i30 in Europe) will make its public debut at the Paris show after an online reveal earlier in the month. It will share a platform with the Hyundai Elantra sedan, which was redesigned for the 2017 model year. But -- as with the current Elantra GT -- the hatchback will likely wear somewhat different styling to distinguish it from the sedan.
Credit: Hyundai
Kia Rio
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Alongside the Elantra GT, Hyundai sibling Kia will unveil a redesigned version of its Rio subcompact sedan and hatchback in Paris. The new model will have a slightly longer wheelbase, and will be slightly larger overall than the current car.
Other than that, Kia hasn't said much about the Rio, which is best-selling model globally despite being a bit player in the U.S. The next Rio will likely go on sale here as a 2018 model.
Credit: Kia
Mercedes-Benz Electric SUV Concept
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Mercedes-Benz is expected to debut an electric SUV concept previewing the first of what could be up to four new all-electric models.
Previous reports suggested the production SUV previewed by this concept could be a derivative of the current GLC-Class. Called the "ELC," it would share a platform with internal-combustion GLC models, but get different exterior platform.
Alternatively, Mercedes also unveiled a dedicated platform for electric cars in June that could be used for the concept. The production SUV is expected to appear by the end of 2018, or sometime in 2019.
Depending on which model it is, it could use the same electric underpinnings as the remarkable
Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept coupe
shown last month at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Pickup Truck Concept
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Mercedes plans to launch a mid-size pickup truck as it tries to expand sales in new markets. First announced in 2015, the truck will likely be previewed by a concept in Paris, and start production next year. The Mercedes truck is expected to share a platform with the Nissan NP300 Navara, as part of an ongoing partnership between the two carmakers.
The Navara may morph into the next U.S.-market Nissan Frontier, but it is unclear whether the Mercedes truck will be offered here as well. It remains to be seen whether the company will offer a diesel engine, and in which markets.
Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Nissan Electric Car Concept
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Nissan is expected to unveil a concept car in Paris that could offer hints at the next-generation Leaf electric car. It will likely feature a version of the 60-kWh battery pack first shown by Nissan last year. The company has indicated that the next Leaf will use a battery pack of this size, and that it will aim for a range of 200 miles. The second-generation Leaf is expected to go into production as a 2018 model.
Credit: Nissan
Opel Ampera-e
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The Opel Ampera-e is a European-market version of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. It differs from the Chevy only in minor styling details, making it an example of what is known in the industry as "badge engineering."
GM promises a 200-mile range for the Bolt EV in the U.S., though the rated range for the Ampera-e will likely be higher under the more generous test cycles used by the region's NEDC protocol.
In addition to European sales, right-hand drive versions of the Ampera-e will likely be sold in the U.K. with Vauxhall badges.
Credit: Opel
Volkswagen Electric Car Concept
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As it works to recover from the diesel-emissions scandal, Volkswagen is planning to launch 30 new electric models across multiple brands between now and 2025. That includes a rumored compact electric car that may be previewed by a concept at the Paris show.
The new Volkswagen electric car could have a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) on the European testing cycle, according to a recent report in German business magazine
Wirtschafts Woche
. It could use the MEB platform for compact electric cars unveiled by Volkswagen last year.
Credit: Volkswagen
Get more from Green Car Reports
New Kia Rio to debut at Paris Motor Show next month
Next Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback to appear at Paris Motor Show
2017 Opel Ampera-e (nee Bolt EV) to debut at Paris Motor Show
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