It looks like the second-generation Ford Ka will finally make its official appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October, and Ford might want to seriously consider bringing this little puppy stateside along with the Fiesta. The Ka shares a platform with the Fiat 500 and Germany's Autobild has photos of the micro car devoid of all camouflage. Powerplants should include both gas and diesel engines ranging from a mild hybrid variant that can achieve 60.3mpg (U.S.) to a 100hp ST sport model. So far, there is no indication from Ford that they have any plans to bring the Ka to North America. Hopefully the Fiesta will prove successful here and Ford will see fit to send us this little beauty.

[Source: Autobild via CarScoop]

At October's Paris Motor Show, Mazda will be the latest manufacturer to unveil a new city car with the new 1. Based on this initial sketch, the micro sized 1 will apply the swoopy lines seen the company's recent concepts and apply them to a competitor for the VW up! and Toyota iQ. The concept version that will be shown in Paris may have sliding doors to ease entry and exit. In concept form, power may come from fuel cells and batteries although the production version will probably have either a small internal combustion engine or battery power.

[Source: AutoExpress]

click the Laguna coupe for a high-res gallery

Amongst the sun and stars of the Cannes Film Festival this weekend, Renault has unveiled the new Laguna Coupe with a pair of V6 engines. Each of the 6 cylinder powerplants uses a different fuel. One runs on gasoline, the other diesel. While Renault-badged cars haven't been available in North America for more then two decades, the Laguna's new diesel is of interest here because it is being co-developed with Japanese partner Nissan. The 3.0L common rail diesel will find a home in U.S.-market Nissan Maximas in 2010. The sparkless 6 cylinder is outputting 235hp and 331lb-ft of torque. That's 55hp shy of the 3.5L gas V-6 in the Maxima for 2009 but 70lb-ft more. Both engines will share a 6 speed automatic transmission in the front wheel drive Laguna which, unlike other recent coupes, actually only has 2 doors. Renault will release all the details on the new coupe at the Paris Motor Show in October. The initial Renault press release is after the jump.

The next iteration of General Motors Global Compact Car or Delta platform will provide the basis of a variety of models sold everywhere. Among those are the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn/Opel Astra as well as the Opel Zafira MPV and, of course, the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. The first next-gen Delta cars are expected to come to market next year as 2010 models, but we may get our first official look at some of them as soon as this October at the Paris Motor Show. Two Chevrolet-badged Deltas are expected in France, the conventional one that will likely supplant the current Daewoo-built Lacetti and the production shape of the Volt. We've seen hints of where the Volt is going with the wind tunnel models but everyone has been waiting patiently to see it in final form with all the detailing. GM is also expected to make an announcement in Paris about an Opel/Vauxhall-badged E-Flex vehicle going into production with a diesel range extender. Expect that one to look much like the Flextreme concept but without the pair of on-board Segways.

[Source: Channel4.com]

Here's more from Autoblogger Eric Bryant at the Paris Motor Show.

The third vehicle that Monaco based car-maker Venturi is showing is peculiar looking tandem two seater called the AstroLab. Venturi claims it is the first electro-solar hybrid vehicle. It can charge its batteries either from the sun via the flat upper surface covered with photo-voltaic cells or by plugging it into an outlet. Questionable aesthetics aside this is a technologically-interesting vehicle. The manufacturer claims that even the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the production process will be offset by other environmental actions, hence the label "The CarbonNeutral Company". More details from Venturi after the jump.

The other day, AutoblogGreen reader John wrote in and asked why there were no good, green convertibles. He figured the Mini was the closest thing (along with the Peugeot diesel hybrid 307 CC HDi that's not going to be available in the United States). Well, John, here's another green cabrio to pine for.

Over at the Paris Auto Show, Autoblog editor John Neff found Puegeot's new 207 ePure fuel cell concept car. Peugeot says that "the experimental power train that equips the 207 EPURE includes the latest advances of the PSA Peugeot Citroen group in this area, without any adverse affect on the vehiclefs functional and stylistic features." This power train is 20 kW fuel cell that is supplied by five 15-liter hydrogen tanks placed under the trunk, driving a 95-hp electric motor. It's not the fastest thing on four wheels, but the 207 ePure convertible is one of the few ways to actually feel the air your car is helping to clean.

For full details and lots more pictures, check out sibling blog Autoblog's coverage here.

[Source: Autoblog]

Just a quick note to AutoblogGreen readers: tomorrow, our sibling site Autoblog kicks off their on-the-scene coverage of the Paris Motor Show. What that means for us on the green side of things is that we've got an inside track to any green news and cool new green concept vehicles that will be announced at the show. We don't know exactly what's coming (but we do know that the new smart fortwo will not be unveiled there), but AutoblogGreen will be your source for Paris Motor Show news, thanks to emails and photos from Autoblog bloggers in Paris. Feel free to get up early or stay up late to watch the news from the Mondial de l'Automobile from the comfort of your own browser. Considering the show's website features an earth-shaped car, it's safe to assume there's good things coming.

[Source: Autoblog]

Unveiling the C-Métisse concept car is not enough green for PSA Peugeot Citroën at this fall's Paris Motor Show. The company will also unveil the 207 Epure Coupé/Cabriolet concept car, which is a new fuel-cell hybrid that uses a fuel-cell stack developed in part by PSA, according to Green Car Congress. The stack in the 207 Epure, called GENEPAC (GENérateur Electrique à Pile A Combustible), was developed with the help of the French CEA (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, or Atomic Energy Commission).

The 207 Epure has a range of 218 miles and a top speed of 81 miles. Pickup is not the fastest, with 0-62 time of 15 seconds. The GENEPAC in the 207 Epure powers a single electric drive motor that provides 40 kW of power (with a peak output of 70 kW) and 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque. A lithium-ion battery provides up to 50 kW of power. The car's five 15-liter cylinders hold a total of 3 kg of gaseous hydrogen compressed to 700 bar, says GCC.

[Source: Green Car Congress]