THE BAD... FROM THE 2008 PARIS AUTO SHOW

Thus far, two cars that hadn't yet been displayed on these pages have garnered "good" ratings at the Paris auto show. Audi's A1 Sportback and the Renault Megane Coupe are intriguing, handsome, and properly evolved transportation. (Click to read about the ugly and the weird, too.)

Now, for the bad. Although suitable for the ugly category that's yet to come, Lexus' IS250C fits in this space simply because Lexus should know better. Already, Toyota's luxury brand has cancelled continuing production of the SC430 that The Good Car Guy placed in The Bad 8. A second convertible appears, this time of the hardtop variety, and it sucks. The current Lexus IS appears to be a sound starting point. But perhaps its lines don't favour the removal of doors and the fitment of a large and heavy roof. In fact, the IS hardtop-convertible looks downright Chrysler Sebringesque from some angles.

Good gone ugly equals bad. The Lexus IS250C is bad, indeed.

Joining the Lexus is the Peugeot Prologue. There's more to its label, but you don't need to care. Worse than its grille is its description: a new kind of crossover. Will there ever be the same kind of crossover, the kind that one manufacturer releases; indentical in concept to its very direct competitor? The Lexus RX300 and Toyota RAV4 were new kinds of crossovers. We didn't even call them crossovers back in the 90s. Now Peugeot is saying the Prologue HYmotion4 is "a new type of cross-over" and that Peugeot is "anticipating future trends" 

Shut-up. Please. The Prologue may turn out all right; just don't believe Peugeot's hype.

THE GOOD..... FROM THE 2008 PARIS AUTO SHOW

Good can be defined in many ways. When it comes to automobiles, The Good 12 from GoodCarBadCar.net requires a car to be available to North Americans and in a reasonable price realm before consideration for goodness even begins.

For the purpose of mentioning what has been good - so far - at the Paris auto show in 2008, a vehicle needs to be impressive all-around. Not just to look at; but in conceptual terms as well. Vehicles that have already been seen at GoodCarBadCar.net need not apply. Here then are the Audi A1 Sportback and Renault Megane Coupe. Check back soon for the bad, the ugly, and the weird.

CHEVROLET VOLT, ORLANDO, AND CRUZE MAKE APPEARANCES UNDER EIFFEL TOWER

Completed almost 110 years ago, Gustave Eiffel's radio broadcasting and observation tower, one of the world's most famous free-standing structures, now sits over a new engineering marvel. Ironically, French automaker Citroen made use of the Eiffel Tower with 250,000 lights spelling out the company name in 1925. 

Now a foreign manufacturer has pictures on the internet of the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Orlando in a not-so-subtle way of showing their rightfulness in the world market. Few European elements are as un-American as the Eiffel Tower. Even with a replica in Las Vegas, this Paris landmark forms a barrier that speaks volumes about the differences between the United States and, really, the rest of the world.

Dominant in so many things, America's automotive capabilities have not measured up in Europe. General Motors wants that to change with the Cruze and Orlando. The Volt, meanwhile, should stand as a symbol of GM's ability to find solutions with R&D and, to be frank, determination. 

GM would like to be seen for what it once was, the largest home of automotive innovation and engineering. If BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and niche manufacturers continue to be the focus of regard, how can General Motors conquer markets where once it was competitive?

As pictures of the GM's desired future then, the Volt and Cruze and Orlando sit in a place where 200,000,000 people have toured, the world's most visited paid monument. 

WHO WILL BUY THE BMW X1?

Within hours of naming the Audi Q5 the fifth-best looking current Audi, BMW sends out pictures of the X1 Concept, making their smallest "sport-activity vehicle" the worst-looking BMW. The battle with the X6 for that position is fierce, however. 

Moving on, the Q5 won't likely be perceived as a direct competitor for the BMW X1. Isn't that the X3's job? Then again, the X1 will certainly be plentifully-powered, as BMW's tend to be, and is only 4.3 inches shorter than the X3 from bumper-to-bumper. If the X3 is the direct competitor for the upcoming Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, and thus; the Infiniti EX35; Acura RDX; Land Rover LR2 and Volvo XC60, with which vehicles will the BMW X1 compete?

The $39,000 X3 leaves plenty of room beneath. A well-equipped and thoroughly-accessorized Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited easily tops $34,000. Likewise, consumers who like their Volkswagen Tiguan SEL up-optioned also spend over $35,000 easily. Spend a few minutes with options on a Toyota RAV4 and $34,168 comes up quickly. 

The point of all this? Luxury badges are one thing; luxurious vehicles another. Premium brands move downward as mainstream brands swing upward. Everybody wants what everybody else already has. BMW will put the X1 into production and market it in a segment that's difficult to define. Nevertheless, competitors already exist. Most people just don't know it.

FOUR DOOR LAMBORGHINI ESTOQUE IN PICTURES

Along came the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide, Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, and.... multiple drum rolls pleeeeeeeeez.... the Lamborghini Estoque. 

Sporting four doors, a sporting reputation, and a super-luxury pricetag, this segment is about to be blown wide open by a Lamborghini four-door that is oh-so-very Lamborghini. It's modern, aggressive, and unlike anything else available to mankind. Expect all-wheel drive and a high-octane V10, although Lambo is good at surprises.

L'Auto Journal has pics. Because of poor quality, GoodCarBadCar.net has switched them to B&W and boosted the colour a bit. This'll help show off the lines.

MCCAIN MANSION IN PHOENIX HAS BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR IN GARAGE

Senator John McCain of Arizona, along with his wife Cindy - the real breadwinner in the family - will be auctioning off their 2.7-acre Phoenix compound soon through The Larsen Company. How does this relate to GoodCarBadCar.net?

Apart from The Good Car Guy's in-depth following of American politics, the brief look at the "first" garage was interesting. Now, it's true that the Senator no longer resides in the house. Perhaps friends or squatters renters have taken up residence at 7110 North Central Ave. Thus, assuming the vehicles in the garage to be the Senator's would be just that, assuming. Because, after all, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur wasn't listed in the Republican presidential candidate's recent rundown of automobiles - eight automobiles.

Watch the CNN video below, obtained through KTVX, and pay close attention at the 1:03 mark. This link will take you to the list of McCain cars, this link to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur site, and this link to the Cars.com price scheme for Bentley. I'll trust Senator McCain on this one as far as now owning a Bentley. More disclosure would, however, be wonderful.

X5, X3, X6, AND NOW THE BMW X1

Up until a few years ago, design mistakes by BMW were few and far between. In truth, BMW wasn't exactly a risk-taking car company in terms of the exterior image. Risks were left up to talented engineers in the research and development branch.

Along came a new design theory, and BMW introduced some flops. Sales haven't been hurt; although plenty of critics point to hypothetical numbers - what sales figures could have been. 

So, when BMW misses the centre of the target; the German luxury automaker basically fires completely off the shooting range. The X1 may be more successful in the metal and in another colour. But for now, oh my... the BMW X1 follows the X3 into small-SUV dreadfulness. Since it's slightly more offensive than the X3 to look at, we can hope it will at least be better to drive. Full gallery is below.