Citroen 2CV: the star of the show
It may only be held every two years, but the French Motor Show, or Mondial de l’Auto to give it its official title, is always viewed as one of the most hotly anticipated events of the calendar year and one where carmakers from across the globe showcase their latest innovations.
And the 91st edition certainly lived up to all the hype with more than 100 exhibitors introducing new models, creative concepts with an eye on the not-too-distant future, along with some outrageous visions that will never see the light of day, but may shape future models.
Yes, there were show-stoppers with a race and performance focus and there were electric models highlighting ultra-fast charging possibilities, but the star of the show for us was a French car that took its inspiration from a model that was first unveiled in Paris back in 1948, and the queues of media absolutely lapped it up.
The click of the camera shutter may be a thing of the past with content creators standing in front of mobile phones these days, and others holding their cameras high above the crowds, but the enthusiasm for the all-new Citroen 2CV rarely calmed down.
That’s because this classic reinvention of the original ‘people’s car’ oozes charm and charisma in a world where so many models lack any visual inspiration or true identity. While the 2CV was displayed in concept guise it was instantly recognisable as a reinvention of last century’s model with its wheel-arch-mounted and protruding headlights, arched bonnet and curved wings.
The bland and rather dull interior of bygone years has been replaced by a thoroughly modern cabin, complete with yellow patterned seats and a smart upright infotainment screen.
Fellow French carmaker Renault has been enjoying enviable success with the rebirth of iconic models such as the Renault 5 and Twingo, albeit in electric guise, and now Citroen is aiming to claim some of that sales glory for itself. The new electric 2CV is expected to go sale in 2028 with a list price of about £13,000.
Chinese brands make their mark
These days, the Chinese manufacturers (of which there are many) feature heavily at motor shows and there was a large presence in Paris. Geely unveiled its all-new flagship model called the Monjaro, which should certainly inject fresh interest into the brand. And while we all poke fun at the name, which is actually based on Mount Kilimanjaro, it could be a genius marketing ploy that gains lots of publicity. The car itself, is quite the looker and will be available with both front and all-wheel drive, powered by a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain.
As is the Geely way, it will be very well equipped, packed with safety features and carry an eight-year, 125,000-mile warranty package. Geely also unveiled Project KO11, a high-performance all-terrain SUV that looks like it could actually conquer Mount Kilimanjaro!
Sister brand Zeekr, which will be arriving in the UK also proved popular with most UK eyes focusing on the 7X – a luxurious SUV that will be launched next year.
Elsewhere, the Omoda 4 stood out with its dynamic styling. The compact B-segment crossover will certainly be a head-turner and appeal to a younger audience with its sporty proportions. And they won’t need to wait long as the car will be arriving early in 2027, dripping with high-end tech and carrying a very tempting price-tag.
And BYD was out in force too with its Atto 8, a flagship SUV with seven seats and a driving range that tops 400 miles. The really big news though is this car’s charging technology. It’s the first BYD to gain full Flash Charging capabilities which means it can go from 20 to 97 per cent in just 12 minutes … if the right infrastructure is there, of course.
Hyundai proudly showed off its all-new Ioniq 3 model (which we will be reviewing at Regit later this month). It was also the ideal venue to unveil the new-look, fifth-generation Tucson SUV with a bolder appearance and whole new lighting signature. The horizontal LEDs that blended into the grille and were very distinctive have been replaced by a single light bar joining new vertical lights. Clearly in Hyundai’s eyes, less is more.
Best in show and blasts from the past
The accolade for the best-looking car at the show could have been awarded to a number of contenders. We were certainly drawn to the Denza stand, which is the high-end arm of BYD. The Denza Z looked epic and almost reinvents the word ‘streamlined’. It’s fully electrified, but don’t let that put you off as the 0-62mph sprint time is a shade over two seconds. Elsewhere, there was the Alpine A310 Vision Concept, a perfect blend of retro and futuristic designs and inspiration coming together in one model.
But the winner for us came from Italian marque Alfa Romeo with its gorgeous bright red Cuorerosso concept car. Boasting classic Alfa Romeo passion alongside futuristic technology, its streamlined body, complete with sculpted curves was enough to stop people dead in their tracks. And although there are no plans for the Cuorerosso 2+2 to be put into full production, Alfa Romeo has confirmed many aspects of this beauty will be incorporated into future models.
Another blast from the past came in the diminutive shape of the all-new smart #2. Like the Citroen 2CV, the original smart car debuted in Paris back in 1998. The 2026 reinvention of the model sticks closely to its dna with a two-tone body colour and iconic split tailgate design.
And not to be completely outdone in the naming stakes, Fiat’s new model which is based on the Grande Panda but larger, continues with the bear theme. It’s called the Grizzly and will be sold with the choice of petrol, hybrid or electric powertrains, with customers also able to choose between SUV or Fastback body styles.
The crowds parted as President Macron put in a brief appearance paying particular attention to the French brands, and our strangest highlight has to be the Asian gentleman being closely followed by a fully robotic dog.
We have really only touched on a handful of the many exhibits at the biennial event, but wow, what a show and so many new models we can’t wait to drive, alongside plenty that we wish we could.