2004 Paris Auto Show, Part V

 

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2004 Paris Auto Show by TCC Team (9/20/2004)
The well-loved lights of the City of Light take the stage.

 

Alfa Romeo 147

Alfa will unveil the successor of the successful 156 in the fall of 2005 and by the end of the year they will present the new GTV. In Paris, Alfa Romeo brought the facelifted 147. A new nose with a larger and lower grille and new headlights enhance a more aggressive look. New taillights have been fitted as well and the interior has been upgraded with new materials and a new instrument cluster. The Alfa 147 will get the faster 150-hp MultiJet diesel engine that will replace the same 1.9-liter variant with 140 hp. Also the Selespeed sequential transmission has been revised and the new 147 gets a Comfort suspension as well. It will be standard on the 1.9 M-Jet with 150 hp and will be offered as an option for the other versions.

 

Fiat Stilo Michael Schumacher

Special versions of the Panda and the Stilo contributed to the very stylish atmosphere at the Fiat stand. The Panda is already quite successful in Italy and other European countries embrace the Italian minicar as well. At Paris Fiat displayed a 4x4 version and a special Michael Schumacher sporty edition, as well as a Panda in colorful Alessi trim. The Italian design house had some clever ideas for the interior, such as writeable sun visors, and came up with another color scheme. Of course, the Fiat Group is proud of their Formula One world champion and they show that with the special Stilo, of which only 3500 will be produced. The car is equipped with a 170-hp 2.4-liter five-cylinder and has 17-inch wheels, while the body has been enhanced by tuner Zender.

One of the new versions of the Fiat Stilo is the Multi Wagon Uproad. The Uproad has a lot of black accents, 17-inch wheels, and a somewhat raised body. If it gives you the impression that this version has 4x4 as well, that is not the case.

 

Lancia goes B-Kini

At the Lancia stand there were two Ypsilons in “B-Kini,” which sounds better than it looks. The limited edition Italian compacts are simply painted two-tone. The interior is fitted with special “Glamour Cloth” leather in colors that match the exterior. The two Ypsilons are not the same in their somewhat different color scheme. Lancia also showed a Thema painted in two-tone beige/brown, to test the reaction of the public.

New is also the Musa. The compact minivan is the twin brother of the Fiat Idea, but in a more sophisticated trim and with a better equipment, such as the Bose sound system, automatic climate control, and the DFN (Dolce Far Niente) semi-automatic transmission. 

 

Pininfarina Nido

Next year, Italian design house and coach builder Pininfarina will start production of four new models for different car manufacturers. We know already that the Volvo design team of the S40/V50 design team of Fedde Tjalsma is working together on the development of the new coupe/cabriolet of the S40, possibly named C. Andrea Pininfarina said they will start production in Sweden in the fall of 2005. Pininfarina will also build three new models in Italy. We asked if that will be the Ford Focus Vignale, the hardtop convertible Ford unveiled yesterday and that will presumably be on the market by the end of 2006, but Mr. Pininfarina does not comment on any production model. What is already confirmed is the production of the Mitsubishi Colt Convertible.