Paris Motor Show 2016 preview: What to expect from Ferrari, BMW, Land Rover and more

The Paris Motor Show is open to the public between 1 and 16 October, but it is on the press preview days of 28 and 29 September when the world's biggest car brands reveal their latest models.

IBTimes UK will be attending on both days to bring you the latest news, photos and first impressions of the highlights of the show. We will see new cars from the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes, as well as BMW, Honda and Land Rover, plus futuristic concepts from Citroen, Lexus, Nissan and Volkswagen.

Here is our guide to the expected highlights from Paris.

Ferrari

Just as the Bugatti Chiron hogged the headlines at Geneva earlier this year, it is safe to say the majority of the mainstream press will talk about the new convertible version of the Ferrari LaFerrari. We don't yet know if it will be called Aperta or Spider, but what we do know is that 150 will be built and it is already sold out.

The new car's performance is the same as its hard-topped sibling, meaning 950hp from a petrol/electric hybrid motor, 60 miles per hour in under three seconds and a top speed of 218mph. Also on the Ferrari stand will be a new version of the GTC4Lusso, powered by a turbocharged V8 engine

BMW

BMW is expected to use the Paris show to reveal a new car called the X2. This will be a slightly larger version of the X1 crossover already on sale, and will fit above this but below the X3 in BMW's small off-roader range. The company could also reveal its new 5-Series, having recently published a teaser trailer for the saloon car.

Land Rover

The new Discovery will take centre stage on Land Rover's Paris stand. Teased recently (and starring in an advert with a parachuting Bear Grylls), the car is a seven-seater aimed squarely at the lifestyle/luxury SUV sector of the market. Whispers of Land Rover, or sister company Jaguar, entering the electric market are thought to relate to the Los Angeles motor show in November.

Mercedes

The Mercedes stand will be home to the new convertible versions of the company's two flagship sports cars, the AMG GT and AMG GT S. They will be joined by the new AMG GT R, a modified version of the regular GT which has 577bhp and is set to take on the very best from Porsche.

Also on the Mercedes stand will likely be an electric concept car by the company's AMG division. Teased on the company's Instagram account, the vehicle looks peculiar to say the least, with the high ground clearance of an SUV or crossover, but the finish of a small plastic model. The company says "big things are coming" so hopefully we will find out more soon.

Volkswagen

Star of VW's show in Paris will be an all-electric concept car. Recently teased online, the car is a hatchback with a range of around 250 miles and expected to look like a Golf from the not-too-distant future. The production car spawned from this prototype will likely become a rival for the Tesla Model 3, given its size, hatchback design and claimed range.

Speaking of Tesla, the company will have a stand at Paris but is unlikely to show off anything new aside from the P100D variant of the Model S and Model X. Europeans will have to wait a bit longer to see the Model 3 for the first time.

Lexus

One of the most extreme concepts expected at Paris is the UX by Lexus, which features a hologram dashboard instead of traditional dials. There is also a floating display for the infotainment system, cameras and screens instead of wing mirrors and a removeable music sound bar.

Opel

Known as Vauxhall in the UK, Opel is preparing to show off the all-electric Amera-e at the Paris Motor Show. It is based on the Chevrolet Bolt which caused a stir in the US earlier in 2016 and could be a real contended in the increasingly affordable lower end of the electric car market. Sadly, General Motors has no plans to offer the Ampera-e as a Vauxhall in the UK. At least, not in its "current generation".

Smart

Mercedes offshoot Smart will reveal all-electric versions of the recently updated ForTwo and ForFour city cars. It will also show off an enhanced petrol ForTwo tuned by Brabus, which is to go on sale soon.

Mini

The ever-expanding Mini range will be joined by the new John Cooper Works Clubman in Paris. The car takes the usual JCW recipe of extra power and more aggressive styling, and adds it to the quirky Clubman, a small estate with space for four adults and a boot with sideways-opening double doors. It will also get Mini's four-wheel-drive system and optional semi-automatic gearbox; prices start from just under £30,000.

Honda

The latest Civic doesn't look or feel like an ageing car (especially given the Type R and its spaceship styling has only just landed) but already Honda thinks it is time for an update. The new model was recently previewed in the US and will earn its European debut in Paris. The styling is certainly a bit 'out there', but we've come to expect that from Honda of late and no doubt a decade down the line we'll likely be praising it for ageing so well.

Vauxhall

Taking advantage of Ford not attending the Paris show this year, Vauxhall will take the covers off its new Insignia, a saloon car to rival the Mondeo. The Insignia will get a new range of petrol and diesel engines, a new, sleeker design and technology inherited from the latest Astra.