5 Paris Motor Show Originals

The biennial Paris Motor Show, or Mondial de l'Automobile, opened last Saturday (Oct. 4) at the Paris Expo in Porte de Versailles and will close next Sunday (Oct. 19).

The 2008 version features 19 concept cars and some 50 production vehicles from 38 manufacturers and one design studio. With four, Porsche has the most entries.

In recent weeks, we have featured several vehicles from the glittering array of cutting-edge Paris machinery. To pick a small group from this splendid lot for our weekly OnCars 5 feature has been a wrangle. How does one set criteria? As it turns, one doesn't. We finally just went for an eclectic grouping over a wide range of prices and with a solid shot at market success, plus one wild card.

Here are our 5 Paris Motor Show Originals...