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Last Updated: Aug 16th, 2006 - 11:01:00 |
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: All New Ford Focus
The first generation Ford Focus was definitely a successful car for Ford of Europe. It proved to the European motoring press that the company could produce a dynamically exciting, stylish, and quality compact that deserves a rank beyond the typical “fleet car” image often associated with Ford. In America, the Focus initially challenged perennial leaders like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla until a string of recalls and quality gaffes tarnished the vehicle’s image in a highly competitive market. The result is that while Americans get a facelifted version of the MKI Focus, Europeans get a sleek new MKII generation Focus.
Oct 24, 2004, 12:06 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: V10 Powered BMW M5
A consonant and an odd number: M5. Simple enough, yet these two digits hold enough power to make just about any red-blooded car enthusiast mess himself. The previous generation M5 with its superb V8 and six speed manual transmission was, simply put, the ultimate sports sedan in the world. With its balance of refined luxury and its ability to embarrass the owners of some exotic sports cars, the M5 has definitely earned its place in the automotive hall of fame. If you were BMW, how would you go about replacing this modern legend?
Oct 17, 2004, 22:07 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: BMW 1-Series Makes Official Debut
BMW has been on a drive lately. Once content to make small, amazingly well-tuned touring sedans, the Bavarian industrial machine is now expanding to cover just about every niche a luxury brand can play in. The company now has two SUVs, three sedans ranging from compact to full size, and full slate of performance coupes and roadsters. Then there’s the affordable Mini hatch and stratospheric Roll Royce Phantom. But one segment the BMW brand hasn’t competed strongly in is the Golf-class of compact cars, until now.
Oct 3, 2004, 14:35 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: Nissan Tone Concept
“An enthusiastic driver does not become disinterested in driving the moment children have arrived, but finding a car that appeals on both emotional and practical levels is almost impossible. Tone is Nissan’s answer.” These are the words from Nissan Motor Company’s chief product designer, Taiji Toyota. This is the philosophy that inspired Nissan to create the new Tone concept vehicle, a vehicle that hints very strongly at a new model headed for the European market – and just maybe, the United States as well.
Oct 2, 2004, 22:50 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: Nissan Pathfinder and Murano Head to Europe
Nissan of Europe is banking some of its future growth on a couple of vehicles originally designed for the United States market. One, the Murano crossover, has been on sale in America for over a year while the other, the new-generation Pathfinder SUV, will go on sale stateside within a matter of weeks. The casual observer has to wonder, how much success does Nissan expect with this pair of midsize SUVs on a continent that looks at America’s obsession with those exact types of vehicles as some sort of ridiculous show of extravagance?
Oct 2, 2004, 19:27 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: Volkswagen Golf GTi
Almost thirty years since the launch of the original, Volkswagen is showing off their newest Golf GTi. Now in its fifth generation, VW is counting on the new Golf GTi to (re)ignite enthusiasm in their brand just as the first one did. It couldn’t come at a better time, as the VW brand in the United States and – to a lesser degree – in Europe is in a bit of a dark period thanks to nagging quality issues, an aging lineup, escalating prices, and increased competition.
Oct 1, 2004, 22:10 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: Audi A3 Comes to America
Looking for a premium-badged vehicle but don’t quite have the cash for a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4? Well get your checkbooks ready for the new Audi A3 Sportback. Like the Mercedes Benz C-Class sport coupe and the little-loved BMW 318ti before it, the A3 is going after a new set of buyers yet unable to afford the price of a stripped entry-level 325i or A4 1.8T.
Oct 1, 2004, 22:07 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
Paris2004: Facelifted Audi A4 and S4
With the new A3 on deck to become Audi’s entry-level model, their current near-luxury range – the A4 – is getting ready for a bit of internal competition. Now in the middle of its life cycle, the popular A4 sedan and Avant (and their high-performance S4 siblings) are receiving an unusually extensive revamp. Audi considers the changes substantial enough to warrant a change in the vehicle’s internal code: “B7” from the current model’s “B6” generation tag.
Oct 1, 2004, 22:06 - [ Discuss this story ]
A European Diary
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2004 Paris Motor Show
AA Presents 2004 Paris Motor Show
It has been about two months since the launch of AutomotiveArticles.com. In that time, dozens of articles have been published and the response has been immense. Tens of thousands of readers are turning to AA for the latest in automotive news, vehicle previews and reviews, in-depth tech reviews, and news from the tuner industry. In the coming weeks and months, readers can expect even more from the staff of America’s newest online automotive magazine. Throughout October, AutomotiveArticles.com Editor-in-Chief Mike Cervantes and the AA staff take you to France for one of Europe’s premiere automotive events, the 2004 Paris Motor Show.
Sep 25, 2004, 13:55 - [ Discuss this story ]
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