APART from the BMW 7 Series, other new models which debuted at the Paris Motor Show recently and which are bound for Singapore very soon include the Ferrari California, Lexus IS250C, Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane, Peugeot 308 CC and Ford Ka.

Of the lot, the first to be here will be the Peugeot 308 CC. If everything goes according to plan at distributor AutoFrance, the Coupe-Cabriolet should arrive by the end of this year.

This pretty four-seater convertible has the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine found in the 308 hatchback.

Next is the new Volkswagen Golf. This sixth generation of the popular German hatchback is scheduled for a second quarter arrival. Although billed as a new generation model, the car is actually an extensively re-worked facelift.

The line-up will start with the entry-level Golf 1.4 TSI with its powerful but fairly frugal 1,400 cc turbocharged engine.

But enthusiasts will of course be waiting for the big daddy of the Golf range - the GTI. Although shown as a concept car in Paris, very little is expected to change when it goes into series production in spring 2009.

After that, this turbocharged two-litre hot hatch is set for a tentative August arrival in Singapore.

Two other hatchbacks that were unveiled in Paris last week were the Ford Ka and the Renault Megane.

The Ka is expected in the second quarter and it should appeal to those who want a small, cute car with a slightly retro look. Those eyeing it should be prepared to work their left legs though; it will only come with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Peuegot 308 CC at the Paris Motorshow

On the other hand, the Megane has more contemporary looks. Despite being bigger and roomier than its predecessor, the new model is an average 8kg lighter.

Its safety features have also been enhanced, with double side-impact sensors and dual-chamber airbags - first seen on the new Laguna - to reduce the consequences of a side-impact collision.

Two high-end convertibles are also due here direct from Paris. The first is the Lexus IS250C. Based on the IS250 compact sedan, it has a folding hardtop roof and seats four. This will be the second convertible in the Lexus range after the SC430.

Expect the IS250C some time in the third quarter although no prices are available yet.

Also a hardtop convertible seating four is the Ferrari California. This new model has received rave reviews and a mountain of enquiries from interested well-heeled buyers.

It has a 4.3-litre V8 engine based on the one in the F430. But unlike the F430, the California's power plant is in front of the driver.

This frees up space in the cabin and allows for a bigger boot. Together with a new-generation twin-clutch transmission that is smooth and comfortable like a true automatic but still offers super fast gearshifts, the appeal of the California should be its immense useability.

To show how good the new gearbox is, although the California's 460 hp is slightly down from the F430's 490 hp, the car still does zero to 100 kmh in 3.9 seconds - the same as the F430.

The California could come in the middle of 2009 although production schedules and prices have not been released so far.

This article was first published in The Business Times on Oct 8, 2008.