The Mondial de l’Automobile ‘If cities have sexes, then New York is metro-sexual, London a man, but Paris is a woman. And a beautiful one at that.’ Ooh-la-la, Paris. Everything is designed for intimacy, from the sound of rain outside the window, to the shared experience of the seemingly endless, noble architecture. Here in Paris, you can’t escape the past, yet what’s so endearing is that the past and present intermingle so seamlessly, that it doesn’t seem to encumber you. The City of Light has inspired lovers, artists and poets for centuries, with its air of romance, majestic art and its venerated cafe culture. I flew to Paris to continue my life-long love affair with the city and was immediately reminded that Paris would take several lifetimes to discover. Yet I had four days to explore the city, two of which were to be spent at that ‘Other Paris Fashion Show’, where supreme mechanical artistry reins - The Mondial de l’Automobile, or Paris Motor Show. The halls were packed with lavish stands, all hosting the best new production and concept cars that manufacturers could muster. These are amongst, the most significant models to look forward to in South Africa in 2015. For some, cars like the Bentley Mulsanne are an opulent and ostentatious display of wealth – even a cry for attention. For others, and I include myself here, they are a thing of beauty and craftsmanship of a bygone era. Yet they have a sustainable future; they are cleaner, more frugal, safer and faster than ever and therefore are worthy machines to covet. >
Bentley Mulsanne Speed