Citroen 2CV returns! The 5 coolest cars revealed at the 2026 Paris Motor Show

Remember when we all thought motor shows were dying? Waning interest, empty show halls and a dearth of manufacturers to fill the stands were all painting a grim picture, but like a phoenix from the ashes, the motor show seems to be roaring back.

Here in Australia car makers dominated the recent Everything Electric show, and overseas the 2026 Paris Motor show has just opened with a bang of striking reveals. We’ve chosen five of the best new models from the show floor.

Citroen 2CV

Yes, the deux chevaux is back! And it’s as cute as ever. The original Citroen 2CV was launched back in 1948 and it became an icon of the motoring world thanks to its relative affordability, quirky styling and ultra-comfortable long-travel suspension which was designed to drive through rough paddocks without breaking a basket of eggs.

As you’d expect in 2026, the new 2CV is an EV but Citroen is yet to reveal any details about battery size or driving range. It does have a target weight of just 1000kg, which is light for an EV, and at 3.76 metres long, the modern 2CV is actually shorter than its petite forebear.

Citroen’s designers have clearly thrown the kitchen sink at the concept, which is inspired by the original on the outside and pushes boundaries inside with no dashboard, a single-spoke steering wheel, and bench seats. Will it come to Australia? Given Citroen no longer sells new cars here it’s unlikely, but we can hope!

Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso

Gorgeous, isn’t it? And incredibly, Alfa Romeo’s showstopping new concept car isn’t an EV. It has the brand’s lovely 2.9-litre V6, which was actually co-developed with Ferrari, under that long bonnet.

Alfa calls this new concept the Cuorerosso (or ‘red heart’ in English), and it’s a sleek 2+2 with rear-hinged back doors, a la the Mazda RX-8.

Underneath, the Cuorerosso sits on a ‘versatile platform’, and Alfa has electrified the V6 with a hybrid system that sends drive to all four wheels. Will Alfa Romeo actually make it? Sadly not, with Alfa instead saying it previews design themes for future models.

Peugeot RC-Z Vision

Cast your mind back to 2010-15 and you might recall the original Peugeot RCZ, which was a striking two-door coupé with a cab-forward design and bubble-top roof.

Well now we have a new RCZ, with Peugeot revealing the RCZ Vision in Paris. Many of the original’s design cues remain (this is a good thing), although the interior is far more radical with a square steering wheel that arranges its switches into four rings.

Of greater relevance is what powers the RCZ Vision. Naturally it’s an EV, but it uses a solid-state battery built on a 1000-volt architecture. Solid state batteries bring greater energy density (more power from a smaller pack) and faster recharging times, with Peugeot claiming 10-80 per cent is possible in just 10 minutes.

Peugeot E-T16

In the pantheon of great hot hatches, the Peugeot 205 T16 is unquestionably one of the all-time icons. And now Peugeot has reimagined its Group B rally legend for 2026, with this: the E-T16.

The E in the name is a giveaway that it’s powered by electricity and the concept actually has three electric motors, two on the rear axle and one up front. Power is a colossal 608kW and 0-100km/h takes just 2.5 seconds, while boxy wheel arches, a chiselled bonnet and a cabin infused with carbon fibre, leather and aluminium amp up the wow factor. One parting thought? We’re glad we won’t have to clean those intricately designed alloys.

Renault E-Space concept

Paris 2026 wasn’t all unobtanium coupés and concepts; it previewed some relevant family cars as well. Chief among them was this, the Renault E-Space. An evolution of the original Espace people mover, the E-Space is all-electric, has room for six, and its boxy cabin is bristling with curved displays and rotating seats. Renault won’t confirm if a production version is planned but it’s easy to imagine a toned-down model rolling into dealerships.