It was almost like a pilgrimage. One of the first things I
would do in my trips to Paris was go to Champs Elysees and visit the Renault,
Peugeot, Citroen, Mercedes and Toyota showrooms. There I would buy miniatures,
books, t-shirts, key holders, trinkets of all types (I love trinkets), articles
of clothing and take pictures of concept cars as well as racing cars.
I saw very up close a number of Red Bull, Renault and
Mercedes Formula 1 cars, Peugeot and Toyota prototypes, Citroen rally and
touring cars. Took a number of pictures. Happy days.
First to go was the Mercedes showroom. Granted that
everything was so bloody expensive there that it seemed they really did not
want to sell anything. There was never a thought of displaying the DTM cars,
but at least I saw the Mercedes F1 up close. A show car, I know, fake as fake
news.
Then, Toyota pulled the plug, curiously, just before finally
winning Le Mans after so many decades trying. In its place, a toy store.
2017 claimed the Citroen multi floor show room,
exceptionally designed outside and inside. 2018 was the year of demise of the
Peugeot store. Alone carrying the torch now is Renault, the only one that was
properly commercially explored from the get go, equipped with a properly run
cafe. How long it will last, I don’t know.
Car makers are run by boards, who make purely financial
decisions. They are interested on profits, and marketing expenses have to be
justified. Trinket buyers can go to hell. While it is true that four of these
manufacturers run Formula E programs, a category still in dire need of public
relations. which has a Paris round with promotional issues no less, just one of
the bunch sees the benefit of continuing with a Champs Elysees presence. None
have ever displayed the electric racer. No Formula E participant will admit
this, but most racing buffs are not all that keen on the category. It does need
promotion, big time, and Champs Elysees was the ideal place.
Mind you, there was not a single race car on display this
November at the sole lasting prestige showroom: a somewhat uncharacteristic 30s
Renault limousine graced the front of the store, a pretty 50s oldie van was
placed on the inside, plus a cutaway and concept car. No race cars, fake or
true, were on sight. Racing themes were still abundant in the shop, though.
Racing as a promotional tool or merchandising outlet is
losing power with every passing second, I hate to admit. Racing magazines are
disappearing, and only Auto Hebdo is doing a proper print job at this time. Websites
fail to excite. Stores selling racing miniatures and books are few and far
between, resisting against severe odds, and a lot have closed in the last 5 or
6 years.
Peugeot claims that a new prestige showroom will be built
somewhere else. Given the FIAT and PSA merger under discussion, I find that
implausible, for mergers always mean severe cost cutting. I would not be
surprised if the announced Peugeot WEC challenger were cancelled, just like
Citroen just cancelled its WRC presence.
I do hope in my next trip to Paris the Renault store will
still be there. Where else would I buy trinkets?
The now empty former Citroen showroom at Champs Elysees
Comments
Post a Comment