The word chic was coined in Paris, so it's no great surprise that the biennial Paris Motor Show is filled with stylish and elegant machines. Among the most fashionably dressed sheet metal are the concepts, cars built to demonstrate an automaker's creative vision and technical prowess and to test it, in a public way, without taking a huge financial gamble on a full production car. Here, we've selected 10 concepts on display in the City of Light that we think represent the best of the breed.

The 2010 Tour de France cycling race is now over, with Spain's Alberto Contador claiming his third win in Paris yesterday. Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished 39 seconds back, and seven-time tour winner Lance Armstrong finished 23rd in his final Tour de France. This 97th running of the iconic race started in Rotterdam with 198 riders in 22 teams of nine, and finished yesterday, 3,642 km (2,263 mi) later in Paris, France on the Champs-Elysees.