PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Top six cars

The 2018 Paris motor show gave us the gorgeous retro-designed Peugeot e-LEGEND concept, the stunning Ferrari Monza SP1 supercar and a preview of Skoda's bona-fide Golf GTI rival, the VISION RS concept.

The arrival of Vietnamese brand VinFast with a little star power from David Beckham was interesting, but there was a sense that one of the world's oldest, most prestigious and most fashionable motor shows was a little flat this year.

Part of the problem at Paris were the no-shows. Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Opel, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Volkswagen and Volvo didn't even RSVP.

Nevertheless, there was enough sexy metal to get somewhat excited about, so here are our top six cars from the 2018 Paris motor show.

First seen at Ferrari's HQ in Maranello two weeks ago, the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 were a sight for sore eyes. No roof? No worries. And that gorgeous retro styling? C'est magnifique. Powered by the Ferrari 812 Superfast's 6.5-litre nat-atmo V12 (588kW/718Nm), this pair did not disappoint. Just don't ask how much they cost…

The i30 N has been a sell-out success in Europe and Australia but one of its shortcomings has been a lack of visual attitude. Until now! The Hyundai i30 N Option accessories give the hot hatch a more street cred with more bling via a big rear wing, bonnet vents and funky interior appointments.

Skoda stamped its authority on the hot hatch market with this concept car, the Skoda VISION RS, which is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain. However, a production version would likely be propelled by the Volkswagen Golf GTI's 2.0-litre turbo engine. But really, if it looks like this, who cares what engine it gets!

The Peugeot e-LEGEND was arguably the star of the Paris motor show, which is fitting given the brand's local connections. The all-electric retro machine looked resplendent under the bright lights of the Paris motor show and signals a new design direction for the French car-maker… We reckon Peugeot should just built it!

What's going on here? The new BMW 3 Series doesn't look like every other BMW sedan in the range. Is the Russian doll factory broken? Nope, it might be fixed. This departure in design mimicry is equal parts refreshing and necessary as consumer tastes continue to evolve. Bring on the BMW M3!

Peugeot is on a stylistic roll at the moment, which is in stark contrast to its compatriot, Citroen, which is still floundering with clown-like designs. Case in point, the sultry new Peugeot 508. Whether it's the wagon or the sedan, the new French large car has a striking look inside and out.