Paris Motor Show 2026 design highlights – more layers than a croissant

A motor show is a direct reflection of what the carmakers put into it. The recipe for success is typically a healthy mix of eccentric new concepts to preview design language evolutions, production car series that represent the strength of brand and, of course, the presence of the passionate car designers behind it all.  

That buzz and freshness was delivered in abundance in Paris this year. It’s safe to say that Paris is ‘back’ as one of the big players in the motor show world.   

While at some points the show did feel very much like a France vs China battleground (with halls varying in busyness), one message was echoed throughout our chats with designers – it’s all about instantly recognisable and strong design that pushes the brand firmly into the future. After all, the market is too competitive to allow for anything less.  

At a pre-event night with Volkswagen, ‘standing up’ for Europe was a repeated sentiment (take a shot every time you hear ‘In Europe, for Europe’) with French minister delegate for industry Sébastien Martin delivering a rousing speech about how China’s tactic of “doping their economy by providing subsidies and incentives” creates unfair competition. 

Car Design News' Lucy Abbott and Guy Bird were on the ground, with bonus words from Mark Smyth on BYD. 

Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso  

This was a showstopper and tops many favourite lists from the show for good reason. The Cuorerosso showcases a new chapter for the brand that continues to prioritise the driver experience with that classic Italian flair. The 4.7-metre-long exterior appears like a sculpture, with flowing volumes and a powerful stance – only disrupted by a white Alfa logo on the front of the bonnet that looked slightly out of place in this writer’s opinion. 

This concept was not put into clay, rather designed completely digitally due to the project only starting in May 2026. Design director Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos told CDN he “wanted to concentrate on the shape. I very quickly decided that I wanted to have a coupe-based sedan, four seats at 4.7 metres. I gave the team the proportions and as them to do just speed forms – it was like creating a human body without facial features, very difficult.” 

The new concept was shown alongside the new Edizione Luna Rossa that spans the entire line-up, an exclusive edition of the 33 Stradale and the 1966 “Duetto” Spider straight from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese.  

Alpine A310 Vision 

Through these eyes, the Alpine A310 Vision concept was a contender for 2026 Paris ‘star of the show’ and looked just as good in the metal as it did in the pre-unveil pictures.  

At 4.55m long, 2.03m at its widest and only 1.18m high, sitting on big wheels and a 2.45m wheelbase, the excellent proportions are matched by a beautiful mix of curvaceous sections and sharp-lined body work. Referencing slices of the mid-70s A310 – both the softer and narrower four-cylinder version and the later, much wider and more dramatic V6 – the 2026 A310 Vision concept manages to look better than the sum of those influences. 

Although basically shown as an exterior concept, the car came alive on the show stand through the clever use of red within the limited interior partially viewable through both upper and lower door glazing to hint at a fuller cabin. 

Talking to Alpine design director Antony Villain, the concept has real production potential too. Built on the same APP platform as the forthcoming new electric A110, the A310 could yet be a limited-run special edition. “It’s not fully developed,” he concedes, “but we had a lot of fun creating it and there’s a lot of thought behind its aerodynamics and colour and trim. We believe this could be a special project made in just a very few units with a high level of experience and performance. That’s the idea.”  

We like the idea a lot. 

BYD Atto 8 

BYD and its premium brand, Denza, put on a big show but its only new model was the BYD Atto 8. Already on sale in China, it marks the European debut of BYD's first seven-seater SUV, measuring in at 5.04 metres long. It features Wolfgang Egger's latest design language, with a sportier front valance beneath slimline LED lights. The side profile has more definition in its lines and the rear is dominated by the brand's 'infinity-knot' tail lights. The interior design is familiar, with the obvious addition of a third row of seats; instead there has been a focus on improving the quality of materials, essential for what is BYD's new flagship model. 

Citroen 2CV  

Undoubtedly the star of the show was the Citroën 2CV, part of Stellantis’ mega concept line-up for Paris and now a working prototype compared to what we saw in secret earlier this summer. This concept is a neo-retro remake of the iconic 2CV produced between 1948 and 1990. Unveiled with the help of French actor Omar Sy, the concept hits the nail on the head – suitably bringing the 2CV into the modern world while retaining the charm of the original. The colours used are bright and ‘in your face’ – easily drawing your eye straight to the 3.76m long car from across a busy show floor. Our favourite element? Definitely the removable 3D printed picnic basket in place of the centre console made out of wood and bio-based plastic. Is whimsy in? Perhaps. 

A bonus Citroën concept was revealed too – the 2CV Fourgonnette concept – a retro commercial vehicle based on the 2CV passenger car. The overall shape keeps the same feel as the original, with the friendly-looking lighting signature and expressive character lines on the body. Ultimately, if I saw this commercial vehicle on the road, it would make CDN very happy, and isn’t that what life is all about? 

Fiat Multiplay 

Another standout vehicle was the Fiat Multiplay concept, a reinterpretation of the 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla. Measuring 4.45 metres long this is a vehicle equivalent of a three-in-one shower gel – in the best way –with the space of an MPV, versatility of a pick-up and the character of an SUV. What really makes this vehicle special is the C-Pillar ‘Metamorfosi’ architecture that allows the vehicle to switch from a 6+1 family configuration to a four-seat pick-up with an open bed. 

Another highlight is the ‘Petsenger’ seat, with an outer section of the cushion detaching to be used as a leash, while a compartment in the door houses a folding bowl. Is this finally this writer’s sign to get a dog? I think it is. 

Speaking to advanced design manager Maximilian Kraus on the rotating stand (yes, I did feel motion sick), he explained further: “The CMF treatment of the vehicle is inspired by watermelon – it’s a very democratic food because you don’t buy a watermelon for yourself. You slice it and you share it with others – much like this car that is made for multiple people.” 

GAC – Aion UT Cross 

Looking past the uncanny valley reception robot on the GAC stand, the Aion UT Cross made its global debut at Paris. Marketed towards the adventure-inclined consumer, this crossover was designed at GAC’s Milan Design Centre and appears taller and more rugged that the original Aion UT that is already sold in Europe and other global markets. 

Design updates include redesigned front and rear bumpers for a more masculine look, black chrome logos, roof rack and two-tone body colour. The interior adds a different CMF scheme suitable for outdoor activities.  

Speaking to Fan Zhang, VP and head of design at GAC, he pointed out the group is pursuing a cautious strategy of launching fewer, more intentional models rather than flooding the market, even as Chinese competition intensifies. He also made an interesting point about GAC’s lack of concept cars at the show, especially when compared to French OEMs, stating: “For Chinese OEMs it’s about seeing all the innovation on the production cars. They’d rather use the production car to provide to the customer straight away rather than just showing some fancy piece on the stand that you don’t know when it can come into your life. I don’t think either way is the right way though, maybe we can learn from each other.” 

Li Auto – Li i6

The Li i6 model made its European debut in Paris – a five-seat electric SUV positioned in the luxury segment. The 3D halo lighting signature at the front is the most interesting design element for Europe, although commonly seen in China already. The black and white colourway shown in Paris did give the vehicle quite an emotionless feel, but perhaps other colourways bring the design to life. 

Ben Baum, head of design at Li Auto (previously at Porsche) explains the design: “We have a very down-to-earth design approach, following the Bauhaus philosophy in the beginning and then building on other principles later. What I’m actually really proud of is that we created our own form language which we call “future avant-garde" because our goal is to create icons.” 

Lucid Gravity 

A quick shout out to the interior and UX designers at Lucid who have created a great moment of functional well-being within their latest Gravity MPV model. During a super busy Paris Motor Show it was a necessary pleasure to have a quick rest in the front passenger seat and click the ‘Singing Bowls’ mode. With the large driver display and centre screens projecting a vista of calm ‘nature scenes’ while the seat gently massaged and the stereo played its soothing soundtrack, within five-or-so minutes CDN was refreshed enough to get back to the business of motor show reporting while avoiding President Macron’s stairwell and elevator-blocking entourage. Bliss!      

Opel STX 

Design director Mark Adams pulled another rabbit out of his Opel / Vauxhall hat with the dramatic STX concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The swept-back shooting brake-cum-bread van silhouette is a favourite among designers – especially European ones – but the STX is an excellent example of the breed, particularly so with the sloping roof made even more striking through the use of interlocking bodywork and glazing at its rear. Shame there was no cabin though...      

Peugeot RCZ Vision 

…unlike Peugeot’s RCZ Vision concept which resurrects the double-bubble roof coupé typology of the original production RCZ manufactured from 2009-2015, but offers some excellent new elements inside and out. The widely-spaced triple horizontal light bars accenting the concept’s shapely rear and highlighting the illuminated Peugeot ‘word mark’, is the stand-out exterior element – sadly unable to be photographed when we came on stand late afternoon due to a rear wing malfunction on the show car – while on the inside the ‘Hypersquare’ i-Cockpit looks well-designed and detailed. Closer inspection on the car’s podium only improved that impression. The RCZ Vision features the latest iteration of the unusual steering wheel first seen on the 2025 Peugeot Polygon concept and works well within the cool light-blue cabin.    

Renault E-Space 

Apparently, this Renault E-Space project was (re-)started from scratch when incoming design director Alexandre Malval took charge in February. All of which makes the resulting show car – with its fully realised interior and many moving parts – even more impressive than it looked at initial face value on the Paris Motor Show stand. 

At 4.7m long, 2.0m wide (for extra show car effect) and 1.67m high the E-Space offers chunky MPV proportions in a very sleek but simply surfaced body and is billed as an alternative to SUVs and sedans which Renault thinks can combine better aerodynamics than the former typology while improving on the interior space of the latter.     

Talking through the car’s features while on the turntable, Malval explained that the 1984 Mk1 Espace was a great starting point as another icon within the brand’s history, and also because it fits so well to the marque’s newly defined quartet of ‘brand markers.’ “The unique and iconic silhouette could be interpreted as ‘designed to be loved’ and the ‘electrified by patience’ element is about it being time to bring the Espace on an electric platform with a flat floor, with wheels at the corners,” Malval told CDN: “Then we have ‘people first’ tech because smartphones are now everywhere with a lot of connectivity, and we can showcase our interior ‘blade’ screen with a specific tone to the HMI that will be very intuitive and also full of life. Then we have this historical marker from Renault – ‘crafted space’. That means the intelligence we bring to the package with our engineers to extend the experience on board for customers. Like the original Espace you can have the four back seats facing each other and a table in the middle – a bit like in a train – or you can have rotating seats and so on. The only thing we don’t now offer [that the original Espace did] is removable seats, for safety reasons.” 

The E-Space concept also has many new and delightful features, from its Pierre Paulin-inspired seats – with unusually long and high headrests – to a dynamic instrument panel with fold-away screens to the left and right of the yoke-style steering wheel plus a dinky floor-scraping centre console that emerges from the lower footrest area to glide rearward to assist passengers in the back. All in all, a lovely and high-quality working concept.    

Renault 8 Gordini 

The third Renault Group concept at Paris – although revealed in advance – was the 8 Gordini sporty sedan. Suitably be-striped and slammed and also with a full interior, the concept looked great in the flesh, with its racing proportions suggesting how a future all-electric coupé from the Group could look.  

Volkswagen – a platform for all 

Volkswagen Group’s ‘one base, four models’ approach brings together the VW ID. Polo, VW ID. Cross, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval on a shared technical platform, with more than 80% of components and technologies common across the four models.  

This means that design is essentially the only differentiating factor, meaning it’s more important than ever for the brand. Head of Volkswagen group design Andreas Mindt gave a further insight about his new role as of April: “I understand myself more as a moderator between [those brands]. They should create their own content, but we need to be clear about the direction and values we have. There’s resistance all the time from all sides and everybody wants to reinvent something, but I want to chase a result that is interesting for customers.” 

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To finish the show off, CDN headed over to the Cupra stand where a DJ was bopping around with sunglasses on indoors and flying canapés were indeed flying around anywhere but this writer’s mouth. Floating around were hired actors confusingly donned in university graduation gowns labelled ‘University of the Streets’ as well as freshly plucked roadmen off the streets who were suitably intimidating. It all fits into Cupra’s young and fresh approach to its marketing and products, but it was at this point I started to fear I had fallen into a Lemsip-fulled fever dream and was, in reality, passed out in the corner by the water fountains. Time for bed.