Paris Motor Show: Honda Insight stars

The Honda Insight hybrid is the clear star of the show, despite the best efforts of dream merchants from Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes- Benz and new production front-runners from Audi, Alfa Romeo, Renault, General Motors and all the rest.

Even Australia had a share of the action, thanks to the Chevy Orlando concept which was under lights on the GM stand after being built by the dream merchants in the design department at Fishermans Bend.

But nothing could top the Insight, which is a petrol-electric superstar which will be run out around the globe. It will come to Australia with a starting price likely to be less than $30,000 - more than $7000 better than the benchmark Toyota Prius.

It revives the name from Honda's first hybrid in a package which looks a lot like a Prius but takes its IMA running gear - with a 1.3-litre petrol engine and battery pack - from the company's existing Civic hybrid.

There were plenty of other hybrids in Paris, including the production version of the Mercedes S400, but none had the elegance or affordability of the Insight.

Still, it had to beat a lot of good cars to draw the crowds - including Ford's global president Alan Mullaly, who was tossed out of the driver's seat by a security guard - on a day when carmakers did everything they could to offset global doom reflected in everything from tightening consumer credit for car loans in Europe to the latest dismal sales results in the USA.

It is never easy to pick the future showroom successes at a show, but the latest Renault Megane has dumped the frumpy bum and should do well in Australia, just like the funky Alfa Romeo MiTo coming next year.

And no-one would bet against the all-wheel drive Mini Clubman and BMW

X1 concept which will both become production cars in double-quick time.

And the rest of the Paris hopefuls? How about these verdicts from Gorden Wagener, the new head of design at Mercedes-Benz who created the great looking ConceptFASCINATION coupe-wagon for the show:

Lamborghini Estoque: "It was surprising to me. I'm don't know that I like that."

Alfa Romeo MiTo: "I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't like the Ferrari California at all."

Mazda Kiyora: "I am a little tired of all these sculptures at every show. If you only do a sculpture you are not doing a car."

Audi A1: "If you take away the gimmicks we are looking at a very conventional car."