One of the best-known car shows in the world, and it showed, as crowds packed the roads leading to the traditionally chaotic Paris motor show.

Optimism flows through the car business better than almost any other industry; if conditions are even half-okay, car manufacturers across the globe will keep the new model count at a decent level, and so it was here. Carmakers learned decades ago that to stop improving what they offer is to hand the opposition an instant advantage.

Ford boss Mark Fields flew into Paris to introduce the new Ford Mustang for European markets. We also know that a right-hand-drive version is currently under development for developing markets like India.

Renault made the biggest gesture towards the future, confidently showing a svelte new Espace MPV (its roof chopped by 68mm so it could be called a crossover). Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn also hinted at a possible future in right-hand drive markets. French carmakers showed super-frugal concepts in response to a French government initiative to encourage them to build cars with fuel efficiency better than 50kpl.

Newly-independent DS (previously part of Citroën) showed off a sporty five-door (evidently based on the Peugeot 308) with radical surfacing and sculptural details to emphasise its new artistic nature.
New metal was everywhere, to the extent that JLR, which is used to dominating motor shows, didn't really dominate this one. The new Jaguar XE drew crowds, for sure, but the reception for the new Discovery Sport was a little less excited than the company would have liked.

That's because elsewhere there was the well-received Volvo XC90 for crowds to ogle at, not to mention the Fiat 500X micro-crossover that most agreed did a much better job of associating itself with the continuing success of the 500 sedan than the 500L MPV ever did.

Audi had a blizzard of models which included its five-door TT Sportback concept. The TT was originally born as a sports coupé with Golf underpinnings; now the coupé is becoming a sedan again.

Opinions were divided over the new Lamborghini Asterion, which found a new look for Sant' Agata marquee but looked quieter than the usual massive V10 seemed to promise, and the same lack of flamboyance went for AMG's slightly anonymous GT. It too, seemed more about mechanical parts and performance than looks.