I’m at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, and these are the best cars I’ve seen so far
Car changing is a big deal
Consumer writer Siobhan Doyle is on the ground at the Paris Motor Show, and these are all the cool new cars and concepts she’s seen so far.
The 2026 Paris Motor Show is in full swing, and I’ve been wandering the halls on the lookout for new and exciting models to show you. So far I’ve seen the return of Smart’s tiny city car, some radical new concepts from Peugeot and a BYD with some very interesting charging tech.
In no particular order, here’s a roundup of the most exciting new cars at the 2026 Paris Motor Show.
- Peugeot RCZ Vision
- Peugeot E-T16
- Fiat Multiplay
- Citroen 2 CV
- Vauxhall STX
- Smart #2
- Renault E-Space
- BYD Atto 8
1. Peugeot RCZ Vision
Remember the Peugeot RCZ? It was a cool-looking coupe from the early 2010s which served as an alternative to the Audi TT and BMW 2 Series. Well now it’s back, sort of.
The RCZ Vision is a concept car which gives you a look into the future of Peugeot’s electric cars. It has a futuristic-looking interior with see-through displays and a new “Hypersquare” steering yoke. It’s powered by a solid-state battery which delivers up to 373 miles of range and can charge from 10-80% in under 10 minutes.
Just a concept car for now, a production version could be on the cards before the end of the decade.
2. Peugeot E-T16
Sticking with Peugeot for a moment, this is the E-T16. It’s a hot hatch concept which previews the next E-208, and it’s got 816hp.
That means it’ll do 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, but don’t expect the production car to be quite this fast. The E-T16 is more of a technical showcase, with wild styling based on Peugeot’s 205 rally car from the mid-1980s.
Like the RCZ, this car also has the Hypersquare steer-by-wire system. It’ll be offered in the next E-208, and it’s a rectangular yoke with no physical connection to the front wheels. It allows you to turn from lock-to-lock in 180 degrees, and you can find out more about what it’s like to drive in News editor Jamie Edkins’ review.
3. Fiat Multiplay
Fiat has revived the Multipla – that weird-looking MPV from the early 2000s. That car had an unusual seating arrangement with three in the front and three in the back, but this concept car is even more quirky.
It can transform from a seven-seater family car into a four-seat pickup truck, and there’s a “petsenger” seat for your dog with a detachable lead built in. It also looks similar to the old Multipla on the outside, with the stepped front end and high-mounted headlights.
Fiat calls the Multiplay a “laboratory of ideas for future innovations” – which is corporate speak for a concept car you won’t be able to buy. That said, it lays the foundations for the return of the Multipla in the future.
4. Citroen 2 CV
There’s a revival theme at the Paris Motor Show this year, because not only are Peugeot and Fiat bringing back old names, Citroen is reinventing the iconic 2 CV as an affordable electric car.
It’ll cost less than £13,000 when the production version goes on sale in 2028, and this concept car brings a lot of the character from the original 2 CV. Those protruding front lights and the curved wings look the same as the car from the 1950s, and the interior features plenty of retro touches as well – such as the deck chair-style seats.
5. Vauxhall STX
Vauxhall has revealed a concept car showing what future estate models may look like. The STX could preview the next Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, or even a new Insignia, as an antidote to all the SUV models flooding the market right now.
It’s an electric car with a focus on aerodynamics and efficiency. It has an active rear diffuser, just like a McLaren W1, to smooth airflow at the rear of the car and maximise range. It also features Vauxhall’s new Griffin emblem.
The STX is just a concept car for now, but production models featuring similar styling could hit the streets before 2030.
6. Smart #2
This is the new Smart #2, and you can think of it as a spiritual successor to the old ForTwo city car which made the brand famous back in the late 1990s. It’s an adorable little thing, isn’t it? And with up to 180 miles of range it can go 15 miles further than a Renault Twingo.
It’s about a metre shorter than a Twingo, and the turning circle is tighter than a Citroen Ami’s. It’s clearly a car designed for tight urban streets, but its practicality is limited as a strict two-seater.
Order books will open in early 2027, and the new Smart #2 will cost less than £20,000.
7. Renault E-Space
The Renault E-Space concept is a modern-day interpretation of the original Espace people carrier from 1984, and it would certainly stand out in a crowded car park full of grey SUVs.
It also debuts a new interior concept from Renault called OpenR Panorama, and it’s a massive display measuring 1.1 metres across at the base of the windscreen. It’s similar to BMW’s Panoramic iDrive display, and it keeps all your driving data and sat nav functions in your direct eyeline.
The E-Space has six seats which can slide and swivel to rearrange the cabin layout as you want, and it also features steer-by-wire like the Peugeot models I saw earlier. It’s just a concept for now, but a road going version could come along in the next few years.
8. BYD Atto 8
Last but not least, this is the BYD Atto 8. It’s a seven-seater electric SUV which features some clever new charging technology. BYD’s 1,500kW Flash Chargers can get you from 10-70% in as little as five minutes.
You can also get a version with 775hp, and you can get luxury features such as heated, ventilated and massaging seats in the front and back, plus there’s a Google-based infotainment system with apps like Spotify built in.
Order books will open in early 2027, and we reckon it’ll cost around £70,000.
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