New Mini

Essentially a total re-skin rather than an all-new car, the new Mini attracts some odd reactions from most visitors to the stand. Typically, they immediately seek out an example of the previous model and then spend time swapping between the two cars to compare, so similar are the two versions that it's hard for most people to understand what's really changed. In essence, the roof and basic glass surfaces are unchanged but a revised nose was needed to accommodate the new BMW engine and to meet pedestrian safety laws. Thus, the beltline became around 20mm higher at the base of the A-pillar and that alone drove the redesign for the whole car: all the sheet metal below that had to be revised. "We had to rebalance the whole car and took the opportunity to refine the surfaces more than the previous design, adding more tension and more refinement in them" explains exterior designer Marcus Syring. In most areas, the differences are within 7mm and only the front end is noticeably new, with a longer hood, shallower grille and wrap-around headlamps - now fixed rather than in the hood.

The interior is dominated by a huge cental 'cyclops eye' incorporating the speedometer, NAVI screen and air con readouts. There are other nice features too: check out the range of Color Line options and interior finishes available, or the neat circular 'UFO' key fob, for example.

True, the new car is neater and sportier than before but does that make it automatically better? While nobody doubts the valuable cultural anchor that underpins the previous Mini's great success over the last five years, it would have been nice to see a few more ideas to advance the brand DNA this time.

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Audi R8

There's never been a supercar like the R8. A 420bhp mid engine two seat sports car, based on a lengthened version of the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, and standing only 1.25 metres high - from a brand that makes a broad range of mass produced cars, and clothed in a relatively sober exterior aesthetic.

The R8 is essentially the Audi Le Mans concept car from Frankfurt 2003 by exterior designer Frank Lamberty and interior designer Jens Sieber, that the two designers have now translated into a production design. Car Design News spoke with Jens at the show who was particularly proud of the way that carbon fibre (and other optional materials) have been integrated into the design - this material is used optionally for the panel behind the rear door and for quasi structural elements that wrap around the driver to maintain the 'monoposto', motorbike derived theme of the driver focused interior from the concept to be one of the most unique aspects of its design.

The two most notable elements of the exterior are the panel behind the rear door, which does look as if it should open and thus appears to be a false door (and whose leading edge shut line runs straight up and across the roof to give the impression that the car is in two parts) and the wholly LED lighting which affords some exquisite detailing - see the 'R8' logo detail on the headlamp inner in the adjacent photo - and is a production car first.

Clearly the Porsche 911 has been front of mind for those behind the conception of this 'everyday use supercar', but unlike that car the R8 has scant heritage, and, perhaps more critically, none of its unique proportions and conceptual design born of its rear engine configuration. These seem likely elements that other mainstream premium brands will be aware of as they watch to see how commercially successful the R8 proves to be.

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Ford Iosis X concept

Ford is continuing its evolution of 'Kinetic Design' with the surprise debut at Paris of the five-door concept compact crossover vehicle, Iosis X.

A sure sign that Ford of Europe is determined to enter the European crossover SUV segment, the car is an obvious link to Ford's Iosis concept of 2005 and not just in name. The company also announced it would be building a very similar production version in about 18 month's time.

A more extreme and urban version of Iosis, the X stands for crossover, of course. The resulting design, taking a DNA as emotional as Ford's kinetic design and applying it to such a very different vehicle, appeared rather fussy and less assured in this form, although it was certainly dramatic.

The exterior design is by Stefan Lamm and the interior by new recruit Curic Kemel, under the direction of Ford of Europe Design Director Martin Smith with whom Car Design News spoke to at Paris.

Inside the cabin is dominated by a floating central tunnel "like a scorpion's tail" according to Ford. All elements of the interior are floating and the trapezoidal theme of the exterior is continued inside, similar to that seen on the Iosis. Orange and blue again dominate with chrome, albeit this time with piano-white surfaces for enhanced 'sportiness'.

The most immediately striking features included the floating side 'skid plates' which are separate to the car and not integrated into the actual body panels. These elements were inspired by the aerodynamic foils on the side of a Formula One car, according to Lamm. Yellow X-pattern Continental tires, were also designed by the team.

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