Automotive

Gallery: Electric cars, museum classics, robo-limousines and more from the Paris Motor Show

View 104 Images
BMW 3 Series 
The newest car brand to hit the scene: VinFast
VinFast becomes Vietnam's first volume car manufacturer
VinFast's LUX A2.0 sedan has a very nice interior with tablet-style infotainment screen
If you're starting an all-new auto company, hiring Pininfarina to do your design work is a good move
Mercedes introduced the EQC, its first all-electric EQ vehicle, last month and gives it a proper debut at the Paris Motor Show
The Mercedes EQC has a 402-hp AWD powertrain with up to 280 miles (450 km) of range
Mercedes-AMG A 35 debuts in Paris
Taking a look in the tailgate of the new Suzuki Jimny
Suzuki keeps things cheap, simple and capable with the new Jimny
The new Jimny is powered by a 100-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder or 660cc turbo
The Lego Bugatti Chiron shows up in Paris
One of the coolest Lego builds you're likely to see, this Bugatti Chiron can even drive, packing 5.3 hp from more than 2,300 Lego Technic motors
Lego's Czech-based team built the life-size 1:1 Bugatti Chiron model out of more than 1 million non-glued Lego Technic pieces
Lego's Chiron can hit a speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h)
If those look different from the Legos you remember from childhood, it's because they're Lego Technic parts, not traditional Lego blocks
The Kia ProCeed wasn't the only sexy sports wagon debuting in Paris: Here we have the Peugeot 508 SW
Along with gas and diesel engine options, Peugeot offers the 508 SW Hybrid with plug-in hybrid powertrain
Inside the Peugeot 508 SW
Inside the Mercedes-AMG A 35
1968 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1 4.2 Litre Saloon
1968 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1 4.2 Litre Saloon
Land Rover celebrates its 70th anniversary and shows the Series I "Reborn"
Peugeot will begin selling 508 models in early 2019 and the hybrid option will launch later in the year
Peugeot 508 SW Allure
Renault premieres the new Kadjar
DS 3 Crossback
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
The DS 3 Crossback also includes an all-electric E-Tense trim
The visually impactful Nervastella, one of Renault's heritage vehicles on show
Renault Classic at the 2018 Paris Motor Show
While others celebrate a mere 70 years, Renault goes back a full 120, as does this car from 1898
BMW debuts the new 3 Series
BMW 3 Series 
BMW 3 Series Berline
Mercedes EQC400 4-Matic
Inside the BMW i3s
BMW recently upped available range on the electric i3 and i3s to 160 miles (260 km) with a larger 42-kWh battery pack
GAC Enverge concept
The GAC Enverge concept has lost the body-work covered glasshouse it had in Detroit, looking a bit more traditional (but still quite conceptual) in Paris
Smart Forease concept
BMW i3s
Renault's EZ-Ultimo concept plays with the idea of a luxurious autonomous limousine 
The EZ-Ultimo's door slides forward and roof panel lifts to create a large entry. Meanwhile, the VIP chair slides forward to greet the passenger (at least in the renderings - doesn't look like it did that here)
The EZ-Ultimo completes Renault's 2018 autonomous vehicle trio
Renault EZ-Ultimo
1934 Renault Nervasport
1934 Renault Nervasport
Vinfast didn't just launch with a sedan, it also revealed the LUX SA2.0 SUV
VinFast may not be well-known yet, but with those front and rear lighting signatures it is immediately recognizable and easily remembered
Inside the VinFast LUX SA2.0
New Kia Ceed
Mercedes GLE interior
Mercedes shows the all-new GLE
Mercedes GLE
World Premiere of the new Mercedes B-Class
Mercedes B-Class
Skoda debuts the new Kodiaq RS
Skoda Kodiak RS
Porsche dives into its museum collection and brings along the 911 GT1
Porsche celebrates its 70th anniversary by showing some of the Porsche Museum collection
The venerable Porsche 959 still looks like a tour de force today 
The Porsche Museum goes on tour
Jaguar i-Pace
Jaguar i-Pace
Land Rover Series I 'Reborn'
Along with the EZ-Ultimo, Renault shows the EZ-Pro autonomous delivery concept
Porsche Macan
Renault has quite an exhibit in Paris
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati Ghibli
Classic Lotus racer
Classic Lotus racer
Classic Peugeot on show in Paris
This Peugeot has some serious coattails 
Ecurie Gordini
Morgan 3-Wheeler
The electric Kia Niro gets up to 301 miles of range on the WLTP cycle
Kia's all-electric Niro
Moke at the 2018 Paris Motor Show
Moke at the 2018 Paris Motor Show
Audi R8 LMS customer race car debut
Honda CR-V Hybrid
The Audi e-tron is not quite as toothy as last year's Q8 concept, but we're still not sure what Audi is doing with its grille designs
Inside the Audi e-tron
The electric age is starting to really blossom in Paris, with the Audi e-tron joining the Mercedes EQC as two major all-electric luxury offerings, and the BMW i3 getting some extra range
The Audi e-tron 55 quattro features a 402-hp AWD powertrain offering up to 250 miles (402 km) per charge
Citroën debuts the new C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept
Inside the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept
The C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept foreshadows the plug-in hybrid version of the C5 Aircross SUV, which also makes its debut at the Paris show
Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept
1978 Renault Alpine race car
1929 Bentley
911 GT1 from the Porsche Museum
Porsche celebrates 70 years
1972 Alpine
Citroën CX Series 2 special vehicle
Last time we saw the Citroën HY (Type H) van, it was being modernized into a camper van a few months ago. Here, it's all decorated as a Michelin van
Michelin Citroën HY van
Ready for the unexpected: High atop the Namibia Experience Land Rover 
Land Rover "Namibia Experience"
Range Rover SV Coupe
1922 Renault Torpedo
1905 Serpollet
View gallery - 104 images

The sports concepts and cars are a part of the Paris Motor Show story, perhaps even the best part. But it's 2018, which means an even bigger part of that story reads electric vehicles, SUVs and crossovers, and autonomous concepts. Fueled largely by the birthday candles blazing brightly around the automotive world, this year's Mondial de l'Auto also has a healthy serving of classic cars and heritage exhibits. The next best thing to seeing it all in person is taking our photo tour.

Electric surge

The Mercedes EQC has a 402-hp AWD powertrain with up to 280 miles (450 km) of range

New electric vehicles and concepts are a part of every auto show these days, but the Paris Motor Show has some serious electric buzz, serving as the public debut platform for a few all-new EV products that should help to popularize electric commuting. Electric cars are officially growing up from tiny city cars with 100-mile (161-km) ranges into larger, more practical products like the 280-mile (480-km) 402-hp Mercedes-Benz EQC and the 250-mile (402-km) 402-hp Audi e-tron. These are fully capable, all-wheel-drive luxury models in the always-popular SUV segment, melding practical range and solid performance figures.

The Audi e-tron is not quite as toothy as last year's Q8 concept, but we're still not sure what Audi is doing with its grille designs

Both the Audi and Mercedes were introduced last month and make their broader public debuts in Paris. Much more than just standalone electric models, each of these new models represents its respective badge's first major step in a rapid expansion of electrified vehicles set to occur over the next five to 10 years. In short, electrics are on the brink of mainstream and Paris 2018 will be remembered as an important landmark in that unfolding history.

Classic beauty

Speaking of history ... there are a number of birthdays happening around the auto world, and Paris is making for quite a party venue. The best part of that is all the heritage cars from recent and distant history dressing up the show. Porsche, Land Rover and Lotus celebrate their 70th, while Renault adds a half-century to that in celebrating 120 years.

While others celebrate a mere 70 years, Renault goes back a full 120, as does this car from 1898

It's a bit hard to pick out a single favorite among the many cool vehicles of street, track and off-road past, so we've picked out two: a motor buggy from Renault's earliest days and a high-performance Porsche 911 GT1 from roughly a century later. Who said history is boring?

Porsche dives into its museum collection and brings along the 911 GT1

Technological chauffeur

Technically, any autonomous car is its own sort of tech-driven chauffeur, but one car in Paris stands out as a true limousine from the self-driving future. The EZ-Ultimo concept continues in Renault's ongoing exploration of futuristic autonomous vehicle usage, showing what a premium car service might look like in the autonomous world. And it looks awfully nice, giving passengers a super-spacious space to relax, work and enjoy the company of others, all without the hassles of operating a multi-ton machine.

The EZ-Ultimo's door slides forward and roof panel lifts to create a large entry. Meanwhile, the VIP chair slides forward to greet the passenger (at least in the renderings - doesn't look like it did that here)

Renault adds a seat that slides to greet you at the door, dresses its cabin in classic home decorating-inspired decor, and introduces a new type of seamless, personalized news and content management system it calls the "augmented editorial experience" (AEX). We'd certainly love to skip the rush-hour gear-grind and take a ride in this thing every day of the week.

And More

One of the coolest Lego builds you're likely to see, this Bugatti Chiron can even drive, packing 5.3 hp from more than 2,300 Lego Technic motors

You'll find more electric vehicles, classic cars of all styles and sizes, and autonomous concepts in the greater gallery. You'll also find other styles of concept car, an all-new auto brand, more of that (drivable) Lego Bugatti just above and ... plenty more. Jump to the gallery to see it all.

View gallery - 104 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
3 comments
apprenticeearthwiz
What a pity Tesla weren't there, at least in your report. They have some mildly interesting stuff.
guzmanchinky
Tesla should have been there. How so many storied companies are just now barely playing catch up is astonishing to me. And by the time they have electrified all their vehicles Elon will have come out with a new battery chemistry to leave them all behind. Again... great pictures of the show!
ljaques
Tesla, Bollinger, and Zero. How could it be a show without them?