Paris Preview: Citroën C3 Picasso unveiled ahead of show

click above for more hi-res shots of Citroën's new C3 Picasso

It sounds as if Citroën sees it's new C3 Picasso as a rolling contradiction in terms. According to the automaker, it is compact and spacious and blends strength and comfort; quality and affordability; performance and economy; contemporary and retro design; square shapes and flowing curves and style and practicality. All right, we can give them style and practicality, which the peculiar C3 seems to offer in spades -- though the French people mover is stylish in the same way it's namesake's paintings are a beautiful, if not an acquired taste. After reading through Citroën's press release, pasted after the break, it sounds as if there are plenty of innovative storage options as well. We do like how the automaker revels in its own quirkiness and was able to make the cockpit seem so bright and airy with all that glass. Four engines will be offered, two gas and two diesel. Look for more when we visit Paris later this month.

Gallery: Citroen C3 Picasso

Honda reveals its plans for Paris

Click above to enlarge the new Honda Insight

The big news coming from Honda for the Paris Motor Show is the introduction of the Insight hybrid concept. We are glad that previous reports that the name would be changed were incorrect. For the rest of their booth, Honda has other things to show off as well, and we've pasted the official press release after the break. The next big debut is the Euro-market Honda Jazz, which is known in most of the rest of the world as the Fit. We tested the U.S. Sport version and you can read all about that here. Although everybody knows what the Jazz looks like, Honda will be trotting out the entire line, which includes 1.2, 1.4 and 1.4 i-SHIFT Automated Manual Transmission models.

Along with the Insight and Jazz, Honda will show off its newly-updated Civic hybrid for the first time. Drivers who want an automatic with their 2.2-liter diesel engine will get that option for the first time ever. Lastly, Honda will bring along its latest FCX Clarity and the CR-Z concept that we've all seen a million times already. Anything we left out? No? All righty then, there you have it.

Gallery: Paris 08: Honda Insight concept

Paris Preview: Honda readies refreshed Civic Hybrid and i-DTEC gearbox

click above for more shots of the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

It's the impending debut of the all-new Prius-assaulting Insight hybrid that's got our hearts all aflutter over Honda's booth at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, but that's not all the automaker will be bringing with it to the City of Lights. Along with the new dedicated hybrid we'll see the latest version of its older and somewhat less interesting brother, the Civic Hybrid, that along with the rest of the Civic line for '09, gets a small bit of freshening for the new model year. We do like the looks of the new front-end, but besides that, there's not much to see here... and so we move along to the CR-Z hybrid coupe that Honda's been showing off since Tokyo. Big H's other stab at saving the world runs on hydrogen, the FCX Clarity. Despite the fact that nobody in Europe will be able to buy it, it'll be there with bells on.

Honda will also use the Paris Motor Show to introduce the Continent to its new-for-'09 Jazz, known to us Yanks as the Fit. Something else that should be of interest to the Europeans is Honda's first automatic gearbox for its ubiquitous 2.2-liter diesel engine, dubbed the i-DTEC, which rounds out the new stuff that Honda has to show in Paris.