BMW and GM to debut new vehicles at Paris Motor Show

The bi-annual Paris Motor Show is just over three weeks away. And while Europe, in general, and Paris, in particular, might seem like a long way away for most Americans, many of the cars that will be making their debut there as either production vehicles or concept cars may very well find their way over here in the next few years. Here are two of them.

Chevrolet Orlando Concept
The first vehicle is the Chevy Orlando Concept. The Orlando has nothing to do with the city in Florida, Tony Orlando or even Orlando Bloom, for that matter. What it really is is an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) based on the upcoming Chevy Cruze. The Cruze, you’ll remember, is a vehicle built on the same platform as the next generation Daewoo Lacetti. In the Chevy hierarchy, it is slotted above the current Chevrolet Cobalt and will be built at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant beginning in June of 2010. Current plans are for the Cobalt and the Cruze to be sold alongside each other, although the Cobalt could eventually be phased out.

But I digress. The Orlando Concept seats seven in three rows of seats and is powered by GM’s 2.0 liter, 150 horsepower diesel engine (remember, this is Europe). Although GM says the Orlando is a “powerful suggestion of the upcoming production MPV” (possibly an additional model or a replacement for the Opel Zafira) due on sale next summer in Europe, there is no word yet on whether the U.S. will get this model.

MINI Crossover Concept

In an effort to expand the very successful MINI lineup, BMW will introduce this design study for the fourth version of the MINI – the current 3 being the MINI, the MINI Clubman and the MINI convertible. This “maxi” MINI concept is a foot longer than the MINI and over 3 inches longer than the Clubman. To give the Crossover more ground clearance the height of the vehicle was raised more than eight inches compared to the Clubman (making it almost 9 inches taller when compared to the MINI Cooper).

Unlike other MINIs, the Crossover has 4 doors. And while three of them are conventional (both front doors and the right rear passenger door, the door behind the driver slides back, much like a minivan. Although many of the features of the concept may not make it to the production vehicle, the official word from BMW is that this concept is a preview of a forthcoming model that will be sold in the U.S. – possibly as early as 2010.

We should get the good stuff, too.

While the new MINI will be coming here, there has been no word from GM on whether or not some version of the Orlando will be making the trip across the pond. But with gas prices down only slightly from $4.00 a gallon and SUV and truck sales in the dumper, we say “bring ‘em all on!”

Tags: BMW, Chevrolet, chevrolet orlando, chevy cobalt, chevy cruze, clubman, cobalt, cruze, MINI, mini clubman, mini convertible, mini crossover, opel, orlando concept, paris motor show, zafira