Auto News 5

If the Mercedes CLS invented the concept of a sedan leaping up one rung on the coolness chart to a "coupe," then it has a new competitor in town: the Audi A7 takes two leaps. Don't say the words out loud, but it's a hatchback station wagon. One that happens to call itself a coupe. That's two steps up the cool ladder from wagon, straight past sedan, and to coupe. Or so says Audi.

As of late, Kia's forte seems to be bringing stylish cars to market that employ bold design to showcase new technology, if the Soul and upcoming Optima sedan's transformation from concept to production is any indication. Kia's latest surprise is an electric microcar, the Pop, a three-meter car designed to compete in global, urban markets.

Two years ago, Chevrolet rolled out its conceptual Orlando crossover at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It's fitting, then, that Chevy's using this year's Paris show to take the wraps off its production-ready crossover of the same name.

What happens when "sculptural artistry meets German precision?" According to Opel, you get the elegant GTC Paris concept, a preview of the upcoming Astra two-door hatchback.

Toyota's stepping up its B-segment MPV game at this year's Paris Motor Show, but it won't be without competition. Hyundai will unveil a competitor -- the 2011 ix20 -- at the same show venue.

Earlier this year, General Motors showed us its Chevrolet Aveo RS concept, which was supposed to be a thinly veiled version of the next-generation Aveo. Like GM's recent Cadillac CTS Coupe's transformation from concept to production, the Aveo RS concept carried over to the production 2012 Aveo, which debuts at the Paris Motor Show, almost unchanged.

At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, General Motors unveiled an eye-catching -- in more than one way -- concept. The Volt's futuristic looks caught the public's attention but it was the technology underneath the concept's skin that was truly noteworthy. It featured a lithium-ion battery pack that enabled the concept to travel 40 miles on a single charge and had a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine to act as an electricity generator after the battery pack was depleted.