2008 Paris Auto Show - 2008 Mondial de L'Automobile

Alfa Romeo had a particularly striking display showcasing the amazingly sensuous 8C Competizione, both coupe and roadster versions. We can't decide which we'd rather have.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three-door compact that comes in both diesel and gas-burning versions. There have been rumors it could be one of a handful of Alfa models to make their way to North America in the coming years. We aren't holding our collective breath. Here it made its French debut alongside another especially striking Italian model.

Aston Martin's hyperventilation-inducing DBS was introduced with the paddle-activated Touchshift2 transmission, optional equipment for the first time. Officially introduced earlier in the year, Aston has already built 1,000 DBS customer cars, yet another strong indicator of the company's surging health.

The One-77 is a limited-edition design study that will be made available to an exclusive group of Aston Martin owners. Based on a sophisticated carbon-fiber chassis, it features a handcrafted aluminum body and a 7.0-liter V12 power unit. As you might have guessed, only 77 will be built. Aston CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, had no plans to pull the cover off completely, opting instead to tease the masses with carefully exposed portions of the car's nose and rear flank.

The A1 Sportback Concept carries on the vision presented by the original A1 Project Quattro, but this time with five doors and four seats. It includes hybrid technology combining a 1.4-liter TSFI engine directing power to the front wheels (by means of an S-tronic dual-clutch transmission) and an electric motor that delivers an additional 110 lb-ft of torque during acceleration.

The Audi A4 TDI Concept E is propelled by a 2.0-liter diesel engine employing various experimental emissions-reducing technologies like reduced-friction internal components and an active oil cooler and water pump that switch off when not in use. It also uses an energy-recuperation system that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy during vehicle deceleration.

Audi introduced a sedan-bodied version of the 570-hp, turbo V10 RS6 musclecar. Along with the previously released RS6 Avant, it is the most powerful production Audi to date. If there's any doubt as to its latent performance, check out those massive carbon-ceramic brake assemblies.

If you consider yourself a hardcore Audi performance enthusiast, consider your prayers answered. The company marked a hallowed and much-anticipated return to V6 forced induction with the new TSFI-powered S4. We can't wait to get our hands on this puppy.

The new TFSI S4 also comes in the Avant flavor, of course. This one has a power-activated rear hatch and brushed aluminum roof rails.

The BMW 3 Series gets a makeover for the 2009 model year, with striking new exterior lines, an updated interior, next-generation iDrive, and upgraded engines across the range.

BMW's flagship 7 Series didn't just get a facelift. It's an entirely new animal from the ground up. The new 7 touts a completely new look, re-designed interior, and a raft of new technologies, like the twin-turbo V8 first introduced in the X6 SAV, along with alternative powerplants to advance the company's EfficentDynamics strategy as shown in this, the Concept 7 ActiveHybrid.

BMW also used Paris to pull the cover off the newest potential member of its Sport Activity Vehicle arsenal with the Concept X1, an even more compact and, we presume, more efficient and agile sibling to the successful X5 and X3 model lines. We're willing to bet money they build it.