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From Pari

Tony Whitney
Contributing Writer
PARIS in the spring is wonderful to
be sure, but fall can be pretty nice
too -~ especially if you plan a visit
around the big Mondial de
Automobile show.

er made it to the Paris show until

ent and it turned out to be more

interesting than Pd expected.

Naturally enough, it’s very much a show-
case for French automakers, but th re usu:
ally lots of new vehicles destined for the North

ecand the 2000 event was ne

Of course, Renault, Peugeot and

were there in force with huge displays to
remind visitors from these shores that the
French auto industry is alive and well and
bristling with innovation. More’s the pie that
we can't buy some of these automobiles aver
here, but there are solid reasons for that, as
I've often pointed out in this column. [cis

tough to start from scratch in a market as com-

petitive as ours, but even so, rumours persist

S t0 Canada

that the Nissan Renault allance may result ina
breneh product turning up here at some stage.

The Paris show has grown in at years to
the esteat that many globai automakers choose
it tor important world debuts. Wandering the
unudtiplicity of display buildings revealed all
kinds of new velicies that will ultimately take a
bow in

Db : the valiant cfforts of the Freach
automakers and of Ford with its all-new
Mondeo (once sold here as the Ford
Contour/Mercury Mystique} it was the strik-
ing new Mini that stole the show. The new
Mini will be built bv BAIW ata plant in
England and captures beautitully the charm of
the much-loved microcar that did everything in
the sixties from transporting pop starts to win-
ning the Monte Carto Rally, Even today, there
are old-stvle Minis everywhere in 2.

st the new one te bea big hit with
The car woo't arrive he:
but ic will be well worth wa

It promises to go head-to-head with the
New Beetle, Chryster PP Craiser and Pontiag

See VV page 38

| 10.8/26 &

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GUIDE +
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image supplied
BMW’S new Mini was the centre of attention at the Paris Mondial de Automobile
show. Built in the U.K., it will be availiable in Canada sometime in the fal! of 2001.

Features...

All Wheel Drive

ABS Brakes

Power Steering

Power Door Locks

Dual Air Bags

Fog Lamps

Rear Cargo Tray

Roof Rails

Four Cup Holders
Cruise Control

Bush Bar

Compass

2.5L, 165 hp engine (LEV)
Air Conditioning

Power Windows
Keyless Entry

AM/FM Cassette Stereo

= Splash Guards

Rear Bumper Cover

Heated Front Seats

Ambient Temp Gauge

Fioor Mats

15” Alloy Wheels

Auto Dim Rear Mirror

Special Blue Ridge Pearl Paint
with Titanium Pearl Cladding

For Safety info, go ta:
www.highwaysafety.org

NCE INSTITUTE