It all began when the automobile had only just been invented. The Exposition Internationale d’Automobiles, held at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris in 1898, was the very first event in the world devoted to this new mode of transport.
The Mondial de l’Automobile 2024 in Paris last week showcased the latest innovations and models in the automotive industry. The Renault Group and Stellantis brands Citroën and Peugeot launched new models. BMW, Audi and VW showed their latest work. Chinese automakers including BYD, GAC, Hongqi, and others had significant presence.
So let’s take a look at selected highlights! All Images are DVN images, unless otherwise declared.
Renault
With seven world premiere and two concept cars the Renault Group continues their progress to technological and ecological transformation.
The Renault Emblème demo car reflects the company’s vision of a car for low-carbon mobility. It was developed to maximise decarbonization through its whole life cycle. It is a family car designed to slash CO2 emissions (and equivalents) from cradle to grave by 90 per cent, compared with an equivalent vehicle today. It is a kind of shooting brake, 4.80 metres long. Its design is fluid, refined, even minimalist, with technological details reaffirming Renault’s ambition to continue innovating in the C segment and higher. The interior has not yet been presented, though at least from outside it looks like it would be pretty roomy.
R17 Restomod × Ora Ïto show car
Renault presented their one-off restomod R17, developed in collaboration with French designer Ora Ïto. It is a sculptural remake of the iconic Renault 17 sports coupé launched in 1971.
The R17 boasted all the interior features of a true tourer: a particular driving position, comfortable seats, a full range of equipment, and meticulous finish. The restomod version maintains the original standards of comfort, while making changes to the dashboard and center console. The seats have been redesigned around the original ‘petal’ structure, with new upholstery inspired by the world of interior design: heathered satin in fine Merino wool for the brown fabric, and a delicate, lightweight, long and thick wool bouclé for the beige fabric. As a contemporary vehicle, the restomod features a central screen with the current Renault graphic environment and four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.
Twingo
Renault showed a brilliant green Renault Twingo E-Tech Electric prototype, paying homage to their Twingo launched in 1992. The new, modern electric version is planned to go to market in 2026.
Renault 4
The 1961 Renault 4 revolutionized the automotive market in countries where it was sold, and went on to achieve emblematic status. It was Renault’s first family car with a front-mounted engine and no transmission tunnel so its floor was flat. It was a par-excellence roomy and resourceful car for driving around cities and the countryside, and gained great favor in more than 100 countries. Renault sold over 8 million of them!
Now, the electric Renault 4 E-Tech is designed to be at least as versatile as its predecessor. It is 4.14 m long, putting it in the B-segment alongside the the 3.92-metre-long Renault 5. It uses the same AmpR Small platform, engineered for agility, comfort, and interior space. The 4 E-Tech will be made in Maubeuge, France, and is slated to go on sale in 2025.
The surprising Renault FL4WER Power concept is a special version of the new R4, with details like the grilleboard lights in yellow (a French retro touch; France required all headlamps to emit yellow light from 1936 to 1993), reworked bumpers with yellow inserts, and black-and-body-color steel rims with all-terrain tires. The finish is a matte dark gray verging towards midnight blue. Renault says the ground clearance 1.5 cm greater than the regular E-R4. Inside, there’s a ‘flower power’ treatment: the seats are covered in a blue-and-green floral fabric which also runs along the dashboard’s front face as well as the canvas roof. Renault says the inspiration comes from surrealist painters.
Renault 5
The R5 was covered in the DVN-Interior Geneva Motor Show report.
Alpine
Alpine, which is Renault’s sport and race brand, Alpine, showed the A390_β concept EV fastback and said it is 85 per cent true to the future production model. It’s a 5-seat fastback with flowing lines the designers describe as a ‘monolithic bubble’ offering a balance between function and aerodynamics.
The car follows the Alpine A290 hatchback BEV, and precedes a planned future electric version of the Alpine A110.
Dacia
The Dacia Bigster is new, and its name speaks for itself—it’s big! Interior plastics are selected for durability, not æsthetics; the car appears designed to watchwords like simple, robust, and economical.
The 10″ digital dashboard display and the Media Nav Live multimedia system are designed to be practical. There’s wireless connectivity for smartphones, and an induction charger on the high-end trims. There’s an Arkamys 3D sound system, as well.
Stellantis
Stellantis brought their global portfolio, including a bunch of model debuts. Citroën, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo showed new BEVs with customer-focused performance and range, and Stellantis’ new Chinese partner Leapmotor showed the B10, their first compact SUV with global aspirations, as part of the new B-series platform in the brand’s expanding model line.
Citroën
Citroën unveiled their C4 and C4 X, both available in all-electric, along with a C5 Aircross concept revealing new proportions of what could be the brand’s next C-segment SUV in the range. Innovations, especially interior ones, were hinted at, but not described or shown in detail. There’s a ‘wellness area’ in the spirit of a lounge, where the five occupants will be able to relax and travel in complete serenity. To be discovered in 2025!
The ë-C3 was presented as the first Stellantis EV to be sold for around €20,000—a key offering to popularize EVs in Europe. With its small flat-bottomed steering wheel topped with a digital instrument cluster, it looks like Peugeot ergonomics. The driving position, raised by 10 cm compared to that of the previous C3, and the easily visible hood are more reminiscent of the SUV spirit.
The presented model has a 10.25″ touchscreen and height-adjustable advanced seats. The upholstery, as soft as it is welcoming, makes you feel good on board right away.
The brand also celebrated four years of the Ami micromobility vehicle by showing the all-new Ami, a Buggy Vision adventurer, and a spectacular tower display.
Peugeot
The unveiling of the E-408 expanded Peugeot’s lineup of BEVs to 12 models. Attendees could also see the long-range versions of the E-3008 (700 km) and E-5008 (668 km) SUVs, which are now available for order. They also showed the Inception concept previously shown at CES 2023.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo unveiled their compact 136-hp Junior Ibrida which, like the Elettrica, is available in two power variants: the regular one at 156 hp, and the Veloce at 280 hp. The debut was a highlight among the display of Alfa Romeo’s entire vehicle lineup which also included the premiere of the 2025 Tonale.
(Sabelt was founded in 1972 and started as a manufacturer of seatbelts for original equipment. Over the years, the expansion of seatbelts brought about new production systems allowing the company to consolidate and develop an extensive knowledge of buckle systems, seatbelts, and complex retention systems. This technological foundation made it possible to create specific systems for racing cars, with extreme conditions and safety requirements. Sabelt has expanded their range by also dedicating themselves to high-end sports car accessories and niche markets, becoming the European leader in the development and production of 3 different businesses: Racing, OEM seats, and belts for special applications.)
Leapmotor
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares explained that bringing Chinese Leapmotor into the company’s product portfolio will help to cover the affordable-EV segment, and help Stellantis development teams to be ‘inspired by the speed and efficiency’ of a Chinese car company.
In addition to the world debut of the B10 SUV, Leapmotor’s display included the T03, a compact A-segment urban EV with B-segment interior space; the C10, an electric D-SUV designed for modern, tech-savvy consumers—both available to order in Europe—and the C16 SUV, which features an 800-volt architecture and fast recharging capabilities.
VW
VW unveiled the Tayron, a large five- to seven-seater SUV in between Tiguan and Touareg.
Interesting cluster/display architecture of the new ID.3 GTX
Audi
Audi is expanding the Q6 E-tron lineup to include two coupelike models: the Q6 Sportback e-tron Quattro, and the SQ6 Sportback e-tron, both of which debuted in Paris.
Škoda
Škoda’s new Elroq is an electric SUV with a wheelbase of 2.77m giving a decent roominess for the segment, with the many features reflecting the ‘simply clever’ motto of the brand.
BMW
BMW showed two Neue Klasse Vision vehicles, which provided an outlook on the wide range of BMW’s future model portfolio. The BMW Vision New Class is a sporty electric sedan for the premium mid-range. The BMW Vision New Class X transfers the philosophy and technology of the future generation of vehicles to what BMW calls ‘the Sports Activity Vehicle segment’.
Cadillac
Cadillac showed the Lyriq and Optiq models. Inside, we were struck by the large digital panel measuring 33″. It integrates the instrumentation and the multimedia system. The presentation is modern, and the finish is of a very good level with enhancing materials and flattering details like the cylindrical gear lever.
Skyworth
Skyworth is a Chinese company founded in Shenzhen in 1988 as a robotics and electronics company. They make televisions, telephones, computers, tablets, storage batteries, semiconductors, and utility vehicles. Since 2017, the company has diversified into the production of EVs with CATL batteries and BYD motors. They presented four new products: the K, Q, Y, and Hongtu models. The Skyworth Y is an ultrapremium vehicle. Only the K is on sale in Europe, according to their website.
Hongqi
Hongqi is the oldest Chinese automotive brand, founded in 1958. They presented models including the EHS7, E-SH9, and more.
BYD
BYD brought several cars, including the popular Seal with its rotating display you change from portrait to landscape orientation by pushing a button.
GAC
The GAC Hyptec HT is an SUV coupé concept with a roomy interior.
Tesla Cybertruck
Perhaps this was the first appearance of Musk’s hallucination-made-real at a European car show. For show(off) purposes only, we must suppose, because the Cybertruck does not come close to meeting European safety standards.
