The world's biggest auto event, the Paris Motor Show opened on last week featuring a range of new models from leading auto manufacturers.

German luxury car maker BMW has the new 7 Series and 3 Series on exhibit.

Its new BMW 3 Series Sedan and the new 3 Series Touring are more powerful and more economical vehicles, which boast significantly improved fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels. The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid provides extra drive power with its eight-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor integrated in the transmission.

The BMW Concept X1 is the first sports activity vehicle in the premium compact segment, combining the functionalities of the BMW X models with the advantages of a compact car.

The Mini Crossover Concept debuts with its first Mini model measuring over four metres in length and almost 1.6 m high giving it greater practicality and enhanced flexibility.

While Renault unveiled the new Mégane and Z.E. Concept, Hyundai brought out six new models. At the show, Hyundai has showcased the i20 blue, the Santa Fe blue Hybrid, the new seven-seater ix55 luxury utility vehicle, the Genesis Coupe show car and the Genesis sports saloon.

Fiat Automobiles presented ''ecoDrive'', a software application that analyses in detail all the information relating to the vehicle's efficiency and the driver's driving characteristics, which can be read at a computer via the Blue&Me's USB port. This innovative system allows drivers to gain better insight into how driving style influences consumption and emission of pollutants.

Another German auto giant Porsche is coming out with the new Cayenne S Transsyberia with its 4.8-litre V8 naturally aspirated power unit featuring highly economical and efficient Direct Fuel Injection. The big difference is that the new Transsyberia comes with the high-performance power unit carried over from the Cayenne GTS. The Cayenne S Transsyberia is expected to enter the market early 2009.

The race to offer the most commercially viable green car is on at the Paris Motor Show as the world watches with bated breath.