Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor, takes the temperature as the motor industry gathers in the French capital
In the capital of haute couture, the world's economic temperament can often be judged by the length of the hemline. If the Paris motor show were taken as a similar gauge, the financial markets are in for a pretty torrid time.
This year's show, one of a triad of annual global gatherings, was dominated by small superminis with more airy cabins and innovative entry. But the motoring equivalent of the micro-mini, the 200 mph supercar, was sadly in abeyance.
Space rather than speed seems to be the order of the day. It's understandable given rising fuel and steel prices and concerns about west European labour costs.
Meanwhile, the big players are tripping over themselves to present an environmentally friendly image. Lexus yet again demonstrated the petrol-electric hybrid version of its SUV model, the RX400h, due on sale here next year, while Toyota played up not only its highly successful Prius but also its lower emission diesel engine range.
The hybrid v hydrogen debate seems set to continue. The Japanese seem determined to push forth the petrol-electric hybrid mix, while the Germans continue to go straight to hydrogen versions. BMW set a new speed record for a hydrogen car with its H2R single-seater managing 185mph at a French track on September 19th. The Munich marque plans to have a hydrogen-petrol version of its 7-Series on the market within the current model's lifespan. However, with little or no infrastructure in place for hydrogen sales, it's unlikely to feature on forecourts here.
As with all car shows, top billing traditionally goes to the home marques. So it was this year, with Peugeot launching its little 1007 supermini with electric sliding doors and changeable interior trim, while Citroën introduced its long-awaited Xsara replacement, the C4.
Both impressed, with the 1007's sliding doors certainly a winner for ease of access. We can imagine it being a hit in the ever-decreasing car park spaces.
The C4 looks far more striking than its predecessor and could at last offer the smaller of the French brands a real contender in the family hatchback market. The redesign of the front logo works well, making even the sedate C5 look a little more funky, though only just.
The C4's arrival coincided with Ford's official public unveiling of its entire new Focus range, from saloon to hatchback and estate - and even a hard-topped cabriolet, which it claimed was just a concept. Nevertheless, expect to see it on the road in the next few years. In the flesh, the most impressive car version seems to be the saloon - no longer simply a hatchback with a boxy rear end welded on. The front overhang has also been better aligned with the overall look of the car.
In the saloon market, Hyundai revealed its new Sonata, a significant improvement on the current model in terms of interior finish and styling, particularly at the rear. The Korean marque also introduced a facelifted version of its Coupe.
The SUV debate continues to rage. Paris is set to introduce tariffs and restrictions on entry to the city for these increasingly popular off-roaders. Cynics point out that none of the big three French firms produces SUVs - they are mostly German and Japanese imports.
Yet the Paris show saw yet more new versions to the SUV market: the mid-sized Kia Sportage and the much larger Nissan Pathfinder. Land Rover also brought its new Discovery to Paris and to judge by general comments at the stand it's being very well received.
For us, the greatest surprise of the show was the new Suzuki Swift. With squat lines and high roofline, the sweeping lines are sporty and stylish. Yet inside there's plenty of headroom.
Apart from the nauseating shiny plastic on the dash, the chunky switchgear seems to be a huge improvement on the current model. Proof will be in the driving, but for now it shows good promise and should be popular with city drivers.
Another functional but enjoyable car on show was the six-seater Honda FR-V. Impressive in terms of space use and still retaining decent bootspace, it allowed us squeeze three adults into the front row seats in an impromptu test, though the "driver" was rubbing elbows with the middle passenger. Honda's reputation for quality finish should pay off, making the FRV a popular choice with the family car set.
Thankfully, Paris wasn't all utilitarian. The supercars were there - from the 1,000bhp Bugatti Veyron, Ferraris and the new Porsche Boxster range.
Bugatti has confirmed the Veyron will finally go into production next year, 12 months behind schedule, due to several teething problems, not least a tendency to take flight at high speeds. This has been resolved with a double fin at the rear - it deploys at higher speeds to keep the car grounded on terra firma.
For its part, Peugeot showed that for all its mainstream sales, it's still capable of coming up with really eye-catching design. The 907 concept is unlikely to ever see the road, but if it did Mercedes would undoubtedly have a few words to say about similarities to its SLR supercar. Sales would also be limited in the real world by the fact that few millionaire motorists are likely to pay six-figure sums for a car from the French marque. Yet it shows a passion and capability within Peugeot which bodes well for the more realistic fare. The French may be concentrating on mainstream sales, but in styling terms they still have impressive flair.