Best of the British at Paris

"This year's Paris Motor Show was one of the busiest ever. Packed with high performance metal, eco specials and concepts galore, it truly was an extravaganza.
And we Brits had a huge presence with some show-stealing cars. People say that the British industry is dead, but our boys proved that it's very much alive and kicking.

Here are our top British-built offerings.

Bentley Continental GT


Price: £135,760
Release date: Now
The luxury car maker has given its successful grand tourer a nip and a tuck - and it looks more menacing than ever. The W12 engine is now more economical and has another 20bhp, taking it up to a mammoth 567bhp.
If that sounds too much, and the price a little on the hefty side, 2011 will see the release of a V8 version with less power and more efficiency. Can't see the footballers being interested, but for the rest of us it could make a tidy little runabout. Or not.

MINI Countryman WRC


Price: Over £100,000
Release date: Now
It's been a long time coming, but MINI finally revealed its World Rally Championship car in the metal at Paris. It has a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and will compete in next year's WRC.
No word on power yet, but it's bound to be boosted well above the 208bhp of the MINI John Cooper Works engine. And the car will have to be quick to compete with the other rally specials unveiled in Paris; the Ford Fiesta WRC and Citroen DS3 WRC don't look like they're messing around, either.

Range Rover Evoque


Price: From under £30,000
Release date: Early 2011
After much anticipation, the Range Rover Evoque made its public debut. Land Rover has confirmed that it will start at less than £30,000 and, in front-wheel drive form, will offer 58mpg and 130g/km emissions. The firm also announced that it would build a five-door version.
Either way, buyers will be able to boast about (or conceal) the fact that Victoria Beckham played some part in the interior design. Three versions will be available from launch: Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. The first is for those after the cheapest Evoque possible, the second for those who like leather, and the third for fans of massive alloy wheels.

Lotus Elan


Price: £75,000
Release date: 2013
Paris 2010 truly was a triumph for Britain, typified by Lotus performing a mesmerising six-car, celebrity-laden stage show. We could only pick one of the cars it unveiled, so we've gone for its Porsche 911-baiter, the Elan.
After 15 years away, the iconic Lotus Elan is back. It will go on sale in 2013 and have a 4.0-litre V6 engine available with 400- or 470bhp. Expect 0-62mph in a scorching 3.9- or 3.5 seconds depending on which version you choose. It will cost around £75,000.

Jaguar C-X75 concept


Price: Estimated at £200,000
Release date: 2020 - if at all
Easily one of the stars of the show, the Jaguar C-X75 stunned audiences with its Coke bottle bodywork and promises of immense performance. It's powered by eco-friendly electricity, but it will hit 205mph and accelerate to 100mph in an astonishing 5.5 seconds.
It's how that electricity is generated that proves most fascinating about this Jag: jet engines. Well, sort of. Two turbine engines, spinning up to 80,000rpm, generate power for the batteries. Sadly there'll be no flame-throwing though. Shame."