2026 Paris Motor Show

A Matter of Character:
Le Grand Casting

What does Asterix have to do with a Peugeot, and why on earth would Monsieur Claude drive a Renault? At the Mondial de l’Auto in Paris, a wave of nostalgia is sweeping through the stands. Cars are showing real character once again. The French, in particular, have really gone all out to achieve this. With great success, in our view.

We’ve also got a distinctive face in mind for each of these eight new models. But see for yourself.

Text
Bernd Haase
Photos
Manufacturer

There are cars. And there are cars with personality. And then there are those that instantly take on a different personality. Like the Aston Martin DB5. Anyone who sees it thinks of Bond. James Bond. The Peugeot 403 Cabriolet is inseparable from the rumpled Inspector Columbo. And ever since Mr Bean, Mini really ought to offer an armchair for the roof as an optional extra. And as Paris is currently celebrating not only visionary concept cars but, above all, a wave of nostalgia sweeping across the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, we’ve had a look around for the perfect characters to match the standout models from France.

Peugeot E-T16: Asterix

Small, Gallic, indomitable. What the magic potion is to Asterix, three electric motors are to the E-T16. It is modelled on the Peugeot 205 T16, which won the World Rally Championship twice in the 1980s, and Peugeot sees this concept car as the ultimate vision of the next E-208. And because every Gaul needs a worthy rival, a candidate from their own village is already waiting in the wings: the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. We’ll go and get the popcorn.

Peugeot RCZ Vision:
Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano was recognised by his nose; the RCZ is recognised by its roof. The double-curved Zagato-style roof returns with this concept car, this time as an electric model with 493 bhp – around 500 PS. Its predecessor once competed against the Audi TT and VW Scirocco and was never regarded as a classic beauty, but it was certainly distinctive. Rostand’s hero knows the principle: he wins hearts with charm and quick wit. In the RCZ, the 500 PS take care of the quick-witted bit.

Renault 8 Gordini: Jean-Paul Belmondo

Bébel himself used to jump off rooftops, flirted his way through *That Man from Rio* and always cut a fine figure whilst doing so. It is precisely this blend of pace, style and a touch of humour that the concept car embodies. The two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupé reinterprets one of the first sports saloons and celebrates the history of Gordini, Renault’s sports division from the era before Renaultsport and Alpine. Renault has no plans for a production version as yet. Belmondo would hardly have let that slow him down.

Renault E-Space:
Monsieur Claude

Claude Verneuil wanted Catholic sons-in-law from good families and ended up with a family where four different cultures sit round the table. By the time of the next family outing at the latest, the question will arise: which car can accommodate this rambunctious bunch? Renault provides the answer. The E-Space takes up the idea of the ‘Voiture à vivre’, the car for living. Its friendly face is likely to put even Monsieur Claude in a good mood

DS F3VER:
Arsène Lupin

Paris, elegance and a sporty streak: Maurice Leblanc’s gentleman thief and the DS concept car share the same tastes. Omar Sy breathed new life into the legend in the Netflix series ‘Lupin’, playing Assane Diop, who takes his hero as his role model. The F3VER heralds the new DS N°3, combining a sporty look with Parisian luxury and the latest Stellantis technology under the bonnet. And, incidentally, it steals the show from the other models on the stand.

DS N°7: Phileas Fogg

Jules Verne’s gentleman bet that he could circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, and planned every stage down to the minute. A car for him needs one thing above all else: endurance. The N°7 follows on from the DS 7 and is making its world debut in Paris. It is available as a hybrid or a fully electric model, with a range of up to 740 km. Whilst that isn’t quite enough for a non-stop round-the-world trip, Mr Fogg would have planned his charging stops down to the minute anyway.

Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette: François the Postman

In the 1949 film *Tati’s Shooting Festival*, Jacques Tati plays François, a village postman cycling through the French countryside, who suddenly decides to deliver the post at record speed, following the American model. Charm beats any stopwatch. The Fourgonnette follows the same formula: the small, retro-style electric delivery van appeals to farmers just as much as it does to coffee vendors in the city, and its charm factor is immense. We’ve already reported in detail here on its little sister, the new 2CV.

Renault Twingo: The Little Prince

Saint-Exupéry’s hero places a glass bell over his rose to ensure nothing happens to it. Renault is now fitting the Twingo with an almost egg-shaped panoramic glass dome on the roof, the ‘Twingobay’, which fits perfectly with the nineties look and is set to be available from 2027. ‘It is only with the heart that one can see rightly,’ the book says. In the Twingo, from 2027 onwards, you’ll also be able to see quite well through the roof.

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If you’d like to see the line-up in person: the Mondial de l’Auto runs until 18 October 2026 at Paris Expo at the Porte de Versailles. sortiraparis

→ To the 2026 Mondial de l’Auto

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A Matter of Character: Le Grand Casting

Peugeot E-T16: Asterix

Peugeot RCZ Vision: Cyrano de Bergerac

Renault 8 Gordini: Jean-Paul Belmondo

Renault E-Space: Monsieur Claude

DS F3VER: Arsène Lupin