Paris Motor Show 2026 highlights, with BYD and Denza leading the charge

The Paris Motor Show has always been one of the most important dates in the automotive calendar, and it’s better than ever in 2026 with plenty of important premieres.

The huge event isn’t just a showcase for French cars, dozens of manufacturers are attending, including many of the fast-growing Chinese brands, such as BYD, Geely, Changan and Aion.

BYD, and its upmarket performance brand, Denza, were out in force. All eyes were on BYD’s big new Atto 8 SUV with flash charging capability, and the Shark pick-up. Denza showed off its Z supercar, plus an automomous city navigation driving update for the stunning Z9GT.

Staged every two years over five halls at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the 91st Mondial de L’Auto (October 12-18) is packed with reveals of new cars and eye-popping concepts.

Below are some of our highlights from the 2026 Paris Motor Show…

BYD Shark

BYD unveiled its Shark pick-up truck, with DMO Super Hybrid Power (in other words, it’s a plug in hybrid). Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 32.2kWh battery, the 4×4 can travel up to 56 miles on electric power alone, while its total combined range is up to 419 miles. It’s no slouch either with a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds. The combined maximum power sis 436PS with 650Nm of torque.

Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso concept

We’re in for a treat if a version of this beautiful Cuorerosso concept ever goes into production.

Audi A2 e-tron

Audi has revived the A2 badge for a new Golf-sized hatchback, complete with ‘e-tron’ badge. It’s not a full on retro EV, but the rear especially is a reminder of the original, pioneering car.

Citroen 2CV

Can Citroen follow the success of the Renault 5 with its own homage to an icon? The new, all-electric Citroen 2CV city car looks fantastic in the metal and it could cost as little as £13,000 when it’s finally launched.

Dacia Spring

The original Dacia Spring city EV may have been cheap, but it’s fair to say that it was a little underwhelming. The Mk2 shares a platform and much of its running gear with the acclaimed Renault Twingo, so it should do much better if the price is right.

Fiat Grizzly

Great name for a fairly generic looking mid-sized crossover that wil be up against the likes of the Skoda Karoq. It will be available as an SUV or fastback.

Geely Monjaro EM-i

Time to meet this big plug-in hybrid SUV from the Chinese manufacturer, which is already makimg a name for itself with the EX5 and EX2 EVs.

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai unveiled the fifth-generation model of one of the UK’s biggest selling cars. There’s a lot riding on the family-sized SUV.

Denza Z9GT

Arguably the highlight of the Denza stand is not the awesome Z9GT electric shooting brake, but the announcement of an over-the-air update available from 2027. The upgrade to the car’s “God’s Eye” intelligent driving assitance system will mean that it can drive itself in urban areas when the City Navigation on Driving Assistant (CNOA) functionality is engaged. While the driver will always remain responsible, the Z9GT will be able to stop at red lights, tackle roundabouts, change lanes and obey speed limits. In fact, everything you’d expect in city driving.

Fiat Multiplina

If the cute Topolino isn’t big enough for you, then try the four-seat Multiplina version. Technically it’s not a car, but a quadricycle.

Omoda 4

Sister brand to Jaecoo, Lepas and Chery, the 4 is Omoda’s smallest model yet. The sharply-styled crossover will be available with a petrol engine, and as an EV.

Denza Z

Denza’s all-electric Z supercar, complete with 1604PS from a tri-motor set-up, is one of the stars of the Paris Motor Show. There were three on the stand (Coupe, Spider and Racing). Thanks to Flash Charging, Denza says it’s the first supercar with performance that can be “exploited and enjoyed comletely, without concerns over range or how long

Renault E-Space concept

Who said the MPV is dead? The legendary Espace has been reborn as an EV – and it looks magnifique.

Denza Bao 5

Denza’s first SUV got plenty of eyeballs too. A plug-in hybrid 4×4, it uses sister-brand BYD’s familiar Super Hybrid DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) powertrain. It’s quick off the mark, handy off-road and can travel 56 miles in EV mode, while the combined range is 518 miles.

Renault 8 Gordini concept

The highlight of the Paris Motor Show for many, this all-electric reimagining of the iconic Renault 8 Gordini looks amazing. Maybe if there’s enough interest positive feedback during the event, it will go into production?

Smart #2

Smart is kind of bringing back the ForTwo. The two-seater is now 100% electric. The rear-wheel-drive vehicle uses an 82hp electric motor producing 130Nm of torque. A 35.8kWh battery delivers a claimed range of up to 180 miles and it can be charged from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes.

Dacia Striker

Up against the likes of the Volkwagen Golf and Skoda Octavia, this rugged family-sized car can’t make up its mind up whether it’s an estate or crossover.

BYD Atto 8

This all-new flasghip electric SUV is the first BYD vehicle in Europe to feature the company’s revolutionary flash charging technology. As well as offering a range of up to 405 miles (enough to get from London to Edinburgh), it tyakes as little as nine minutes to charge the battery from 10-97%. Available with a choice of rear or all-wheel drive, the range topping AWD version develops 775PS and can sprint from 0-63mph in just 4.6 seconds.

Fiat Multiplay concept

Fiat says the Multiplay is a 3-in-1 vehicle, exploring a new approach to family mobility by combining the space of an MPV, the character of an SUV and the functionality of a pick-up in 4.45 metres.