Stars of the 2026 Paris Motor Show: From the Return of Ziyan to the 816-Horsepower Peugeot (Part One)

Two main trends stand out at this year's show: the return of nostalgic European names with electric powertrains and the broad influx of Chinese automakers.

This year, there are two main currents in this exhibition: the return of nostalgic European names with electric propulsion and the massive influx of Chinese automakers.

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The 2026 Paris Motor Show runs from October 12 to 18, and this year will see two main trends more than anything else: the return of nostalgic European names with electric powertrains and the massive influx of Chinese automakers into the European market. Reuters reported that the number of Chinese brands present at the exhibition reached about 20 companies; Almost double the period of 2024.

On the European side, brands such as Citroën, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen have gone to revive old names and economic electric cars to compete with cheaper Chinese products.

For the Iranian audience, Paris 2026 has another attraction. Some of the names that have been revived this year have been part of Iran's automobile memory for decades; From Citroën 2CV and Xian family to Renault 5, Peugeot and Volkswagen. In the following, we review the most important cars that have been introduced or confirmed for the Paris show until the time of writing, focusing on the more familiar brands for the Iranian market.

Probably, for the Iranian audience, none of the unveilings in Paris has as much nostalgia as the 2 CV Concept. Of course, there is an important historical point: the car we know as "Xian" in Iran was actually Citroën Dyane, not exactly 2CV; But the Dyane was developed directly from the 2CV family and architecture and was produced by Saipa in Tehran. Citroën itself also recorded the production of Dyane at the Saipa factory in the official history of this model.

Citroën has now reworked the same philosophy that once made the 2CV and later the Dyane so popular for the electric car age. 2 CV Concept is only 3.76 meters long and its design is deliberately kept simple, light and functional.

The shape of the lights, body proportions and some design details are reminiscent of the original model, but the interior is completely modern, colorful and connected.

Importantly, this car isn't just an endless design exercise; Citroën says the new concept is a preview of a product that will be introduced in Europe within the next two years at the latest.

The price target is also set at around 15,000 euros; A number that brings it directly into the competition of European economic electric cars.

If the production version can maintain the same combination of low price, different design and simplicity, maybe 2CV will play for the new generation the same role that Xian played for several generations of Iranians: a simple and cheap car that is not supposed to have everything, but it has its own personality.

Peugeot is one of the most well-known French brands in Iran, but the car displayed in Paris is different from almost all the Peugeots we have seen on the streets of Iran.

The E-T16 Concept is a tribute to the Peugeot 205 T16; The legendary racing car that won the world rally championship in 1985 and 1986. The result of this return is an extreme all-electric hatchback with 816 horsepower, which Peugeot puts in a category called "Hyperhatch".

E-T16 can reach a speed of 300 km/h in 16 seconds from a standstill, and according to Peugeot, it is the most powerful product in the history of this company; Except for the 208 T16 Pikes Peak racing example.

The importance of this concept is not only in its strange power. Peugeot says the shape of the lights and the new generation cabin are a preview of the upcoming E-208.

The Hypersquare square steering wheel is also associated with the Steer-by-Wire system in this car; That is, the conventional mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels will be removed and the steering will be completely electronic.

This concept shows that Peugeot is not just looking to increase the range or make the screens bigger for its next generation of small cars; The company wants to bring the GTi concept and the French sports hatchback into the electric era.

For a market like Iran, where names like 205, 206 and 207 are still known, it is more interesting to see the path that the Peugeot small car family will take in the future.

Peugeot's second star is of a different gender. RCZ Vision revives the name of one of the most attractive modern coupes of this brand; The original RCZ was produced between 2009 and 2015, and even today is considered one of Peugeot's most distinctive cars.

The Vision version isn't just going to carry the RCZ's looks into the era of electric cars; Peugeot has used it as a showcase for the next generation technology of its products.

RCZ Vision is equipped with 500 horsepower all-electric powertrain and its target range is up to 600 km. The most important thing is the use of the solid state battery developed in cooperation with Factorial Energy and the 1000V power architecture.

Peugeot has announced an energy consumption of 11.5 kWh per 100 km for this car, which will be very significant if it is close to such a number in the production model. In the cabin, the Hypersquare steering wheel, Steer-by-Wire control and clear MicroLED displays are part of the image that Peugeot offers of the next generation i-Cockpit.

The RCZ Vision is actually the opposite of the E-T16: one represents Peugeot's future with violence and rally-oriented performance, and the other with coupe form, aerodynamics and advanced technologies.

It's not yet confirmed that the RCZ will go into production with the exact same specs, but Peugeot bluntly describes it as "the most advanced image of the brand's future". So we'll probably see some of its technology in more regular Peugeot models over the coming years.

Renault 5 is not a strange name for Iranians; This small French hatchback was produced in Iran for many years and later became the basis of products such as Sepand and PK.

Renault has now created one of the most extreme possible interpretations of this car, the 5 Turbo 3E. Unlike the regular Renault 5 E-Tech, this version is not a leisurely urban hatchback; Renault calls it a "mini supercar".

The two electric motors in the rear wheels produce a total of 555 horsepower, and Renault has announced 4,800 Nm of torque at the wheels. This car is considered the most powerful road-going Renault in history, and the version in Paris is an engineering prototype close to the production model.

The body design also directly refers to the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2 of the 1980s; The historic model's ultra-wide body, massive fenders and mid-engined proportions have been reworked this time for an electric powertrain.

The appeal of the 5 Turbo 3E is precisely this contrast. Instead of just putting the R5 name on a budget electric car, Renault has revived one of the craziest seasons in the model's history.

The presence of different versions with extensive coloring and customization in Paris shows that the project has gone beyond a simple show concept and that Renault really intends to bring it to customers.

Renault Espace was one of the cars that revolutionized the family MPV concept in Europe.

Now, in an era when almost all car manufacturers have gone for SUVs, Renault has tried to redefine the concept of "large family car" with the E-Space Concept.

The concept is 4.7 meters long, 2.02 meters wide and 1.67 meters high, and unlike many new cars, it deliberately deviates from the usual SUV form. The interior is the main part of the project. Six independent chairs are arranged in three rows on a completely flat floor and it is possible to change their arrangement to create a conversation space or use a central table.

The traditional dashboard has also been replaced by OpenR Panorama; A curved screen with a width of 1130 mm that covers almost the entire width of the cabin. Renault has said that some of this technology will be used in its future high-end electric cars.

Unlike the 2CV Concept, there are currently no announced plans for direct production of the E-Space. So this car is more of a design statement than a preview of a specific model.

The significance, however, is that after years of focusing the market on crossovers, Renault is asking again whether families really need an SUV, or whether the electric architecture can bring the minivan back to a more attractive and efficient form.

Renault didn't just go for R5 and Espace. 8 Gordini Concept revives the name of another historical car of this brand; A model that played an important role in the formation of Renault's sports identity in the 1960s.

The new model is an all-electric two-seater coupe with racing proportions whose design is clearly inspired by classic rally cars.

Renault has not yet announced full technical specifications such as power, battery capacity or acceleration of the concept, and the main emphasis is on design and historical heritage. However, choosing the name Gordini is not accidental.

The name has almost the same status for Renault as GTi for Peugeot or AMG for Mercedes-Benz; A sign of performance-oriented editions that are directly related to competitions.