This year's Paris motor show is expected to be one of the biggest in years as the European car industry rallies against the wave of Chinese newcomers. The show floor will naturally be dominated by electric cars, but it will also signal a shift towards the bottom end of the market, as the likes of Citroën, Dacia, and Peugeot all aim to address how they can convince the majority of buyers to make the switch away from gasoline.
The revival of the Citroën 2CV will snatch a great many headlines, but there will also be fresh details on the next-generation Alpine A110 sports car, a replacement for the Smart Fortwo city car, and much more besides. The new 2CV will have the same purpose as the original did in the late 1940s, offering affordable transportation for the masses, but for the electric era.
Audi has yet to officially confirm the A2 will appear at Paris, but it has pointed to a debut for it this autumn and is confirmed as an exhibitor. That suggests the new EV – an upmarket sibling to the Volkswagen ID 3 styled to look like the original A2 – will be present. The Dacia Spring has established a niche for itself in Europe as an affordable second car for the school run, trips to the shops, and other mundane tasks.
Leapmotor is making waves in Europe, with sales of 56,005 cars in the region during the first half of 2026, up by 558% compared to a year before. The new B03 will play a key role in boosting the already impressive growth, as a small electric hatchback to rival the Renault 5. Maserati's future has long been in question, but a new concept car will be displayed at the Paris motor show to point the way for its next models.
Source: autocar.co.uk
