LEADIN :

Car designers are unveiling some unusual and futuristic designs at the Paris Motor Show in a bid to test market reaction.

Among them is a vehicle that has airless tyres.

STORYLINE:

Once every two years, car manufacturers roll into the Paris Motor Show ready to launch their latest four-wheeled designs on the world stage.

From luxurious motors to sporty hatchbacks and concept cars, manufacturers are displaying their vision of the future of motoring.

This beachy looking buggy is called America, a buggy cross over made by Venturi Automobiles, and a 100% electrical vehicle.

Small SUVs, also known as crossovers, are the fastest-growing segment of the market in the U.S. while in Europe sales are expected to grow 40 percent this year after doubling in 2014 according to IHS Automotive.

Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles says they were searching for a unique design.

"We try to propose always new things. We try to achieve niche markets with exclusive customers, so that is (why) we are looking for something different, we think different and propose something we think could be cool to use."

For some 370,000 euros (463,770 US Dollar) (without VAT) wealthy customers with style can purchase 407 HP electric car to take out for a drive on sunny days and stay in a range of 250km provided by the 53kWh Lithium ion battery.

Mauduit says the vehicle is both eco-friendly and boasts good acceleration.

"It is 100% electric vehicle, so it's a battery (equipped) vehicle with two motors at the back linked to the gearbox with two speeds. Two speeds are made to make a very good acceleration. 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.5 seconds and 0 - 200 km/h in 14 seconds, which is not so bad."

Another concept vehicle testing the water at the Paris Motor Show is MINI's new Superleggera Vision.

It's a collaborative venture between MINI and Italian design and body manufacturing specialists Touring Superleggera.

It's a compact roadster which - according to the manufacturers - focuses on the essentials, those being driving fun and aesthetic appeal.

The Superleggera is said to be a modern interpretation of a class open-top two-seater, combining British style and Italian flair with LED lights, chromed bars, smooth lines and colours.

Sam Livingstone, an automotive design specialist, says it is an interesting combination.

"I mean it's a fascinating car� this mash-up of being an Italian design house crashing into a sort of a very rationalist British brand. It's all about functionality, a very egalitarian brand with handmade Italian thing so the way those two things fuses� kind of a make this strange bastard (illegitimate) child. I think it works, it's a very lovely thing and it's one of the statements of Mini, it shows the boundary of the envelope of what they can do."

There are also several wacky looking personal mobility vehicles on show.

Toyota presented its improved version of i-Road, an ultra compact three wheels vehicle with a look of half car, half scooter.

The Japanese car manufacturer will by the end of the year start a three year test of integration of its electrical vehicle to public transportation in Grenoble, a mid-sized town in south-eastern France.

The vehicle that offers a range of 50km with a speed of 45 km/h, before you have to spend another three-hours recharging it.

"What we are doing in Grenoble is experimenting these very small personal mobility electric vehicles in connection with public transport system. We call it multi-modality transport and we think this is a future of cities in the world," says Jean-Yves Jault, a General Manager of Corporate Communication at Toyota.

Toyota's Coms concept car also appeared at Bridgestone's stand sporting the latest technology tyres, free air tyres that are designed to reduce CO2 emissions and all hassles linked to tyre maintenance.

"It is a tyre made of three parts, it's two circles which are stick to each other, the interior is (made) of plastic resin and on the top of the circle (wheel) comes a kind of a tyre patron in rubber. So in other words, there is no air in the tyre." explains Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone.

" What we see today, one of the biggest problems is that the people just forget to take care of their cars, to check tyre pressure and check tyre trap depth. So that, in the future� one day it won't be necessary anymore with this kind of concept," he adds.

4H, an exclusively electric car manufacturer from Eastern France, are presenting what is perhaps the quirkiest concept car on show.

Based on Suzuki Jimmny platform, 4H is testing the market trying to see if a mix of two seater in a row - buggy - 4X4 - retro - style car would win plaudits.

"For the moment, we are just testing the reaction of the public and we don't want to go as far as designing a fully electric vehicle but if reactions are really positive we may consider making a small production run and, of course, using electric engines," says Thomas Maitre, R&D engineer at 4H Automobiles.

Car shows are the perfect place for manfacturer's to test market reaction to their most futuristic designs says Jason Stein, editor of Automotive news, a US based auto news magazine.

"Autoshows are always great proofing ground, a bit of an incubation lab for car companies to flow out the ideas that could possibly be the next best thing. And let's face it, the car companies are working five to ten years out with cool gadgets, cool gizmos that they can then apply to some of their technology of mainstream vehicles. So it's a testing ground, it's a bit of a litmus test for the public to see if there is some attraction to some of those quirky things. But on the whole, this is a breathing ground for innovation; this is where the industry really comes together to innovate and create some new and exciting products".

One concept that will soon transfer to the road is MINI's new five door version which debuted at the Paris Motor Show.

The sporty feel and identity of the popular little car has been retained, but with a little more space this design is more suitable for families.

A third rear seat means more leg room, and also increased headroom are some advantages that MINI will use to attract new clients.

Starting at 18,300 euros (22,907 US Dollars) , the new 5 door MINI and dozens of other new designs can be seen at Paris Motor Show until October 19th.

AP TELEVISION

Paris, October 3rd 2014

1. Vide of America, buggy cross over made by Venturi Automobiles, 100% electrical vehicle, 400hp

2. Wide tilt up of America, by Venturi Automobiles

3. Mid of America, front side

4. Wide rear view of America, by Venturi Automobiles

5. Wide tracking setup shot of Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles :

"We try to propose always new things. We try to achieve niche markets, with exclusive customers, so that's what we are looking for ,something different, we think different and propose something we think could be cool to use."

7. Min of America's dashboard

8. Close up left pan of vehicle commands

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicolas Mauduit, Chief Technical Officer at Venturi Automobiles :

"It is 100% electric vehicle, so it's a battery vehicle with two motors at the back linked to the gearbox with two speeds. The two speeds are made to make a very good acceleration. 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.5 seconds and 0 - 200 km/h power in 14 seconds, which is not so bad."

10. Wide undershot of America, by Venturi Automobiles

11. Wide tilt up from America, by Venturi Automobiles to woman

12. Wide of Mini's electrical concept car 'Superleggera'

13. Wide front view of Mini Superleggera

14. Close up of Mini Superleggera front grill

15. Mid rear view of Mini Superleggera

16. Wide rear view of Mini Superleggera

17. Close up of rear stop light

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Livingstone, automotive design specialist, commenting Mini Superleggera concept car :

"I mean it's a fascinating car� this mash-up of being an Italian design house crashing into a sort of a very rationalist British brand. It's all about functionality, a very egalitarian brand with handmade Italian thing so the way those two things fuses� kind of a make this strange bastard (illegitimate) child. I think it works, it's a very lovely thing and it's one of the statements of Mini, it shows the boundary of the envelope of what they can do."

19. Wide left pan, side view of Mini Superleggera

20. Close up of Mini Superleggera's steering wheel

21. Close up of Mini Superleggera's GPS system

22. Wide right pan of Toyota's i-Road urban electrical car, driving on display

23. Mid tracking shot of i-Road

24. Close up of i-Road's front light

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Yves Jault, General Manager of Corporate Communications at Toyota

"What we are doing in Grenoble is experimenting these very small personal mobility electric vehicles in connection with public transport system. We call it multi-modality of transport and we think this is a future of cities in the world."

26. Wide side view of i-Road by Toyota

27. Mid of man sitting in i-Road

28. Mid of i-Road interior

29. Close up of i-Road's front wheel

30. Wide right pan from exhibit hall alley to Toyota's Coms concept car on Bridgestone's stand

31. Mid undershot of Bridgestone tyres on Toyota's Coms concept car

32. Mid pull focus of Bridgestone free-air tyres

33. Mid setup shot of Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone :

"So basically it is a tyre made of three parts, it has two circles which are stick to each other, the interior is plastic resin and on the top of the circle (wheel) comes a kind of a tyre patron in rubber. So in other words, there is no air in the tyre."

35. Close up pull focus of Bridgestone's air-free tyres

36. Wide undershot of Toyota's concept car with new Bridgestone tyres

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Gert Meylemans, Executive Manager of Corporate Communication at Bridgestone :

"What we see today, one of the biggest problems is that the people just forget to take care of their cars, to check tyre pressure and check tyre trap depth. So that, in the future� one day it won't be necessary anymore with this kind of concept."

38. Wide of 4H Automobiles stand

39. Mid tilt up of 4H Concept car, based on Suzuki Jimmny platform

40. Wide side view of 4H Automobiles Concept car

41. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Maitre, R&D engineer at 4H Automobiles :

"For the moment, we are just testing the reaction of the public and we don't want to go as far as designing a fully electric vehicle but if reactions are really positive we may consider making a small production run and, of course, using electric engines."

42. Mid of 4H Automobiles employee getting in 4H concept car

43. Wide front view of 4H Concept car

44. Wide rear view of 4H Concept car

45. Close up of stop light of 4H Concept car

46. Wide side view of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car

47. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car

48. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car, turning on display, rear view

49. Wide undershot of Volkswagen XL Sport concept car, turning on display, front view

50. Wide left pan of Exhibit hall

51. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Stein, editor Automotive news, US based auto news magazine :

"Autoshows are always great proofing ground, a bit of an incubation lab for car companies to flow out the ideas that could possibly be the next best thing. And let's face it, the car companies are working five to ten years out with cool gadgets, cool gizmos that they can then apply to some of their technology of mainstream vehicles. So it's a testing ground, it's a bit of a litmus test for the public to see if there is some attraction to some of those quirky things. But on the whole, this is a breathing ground for innovation; this is where the industry really comes together to innovate and create some new and exciting products."

Paris, France - October 2, 2014

52. Various of five door Mini