At the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Mondial Tech makes its debut for the first time — an event dedicated to mobility viewed through the lens of innovation, new materials and the circular economy. Many no-shows, although electric and hybrid novelties are not in short supply.
The Paris Motor Show has just opened the doors to its 120th edition, and the no-shows are already being counted. Among the major absentees: the entire FCA group (Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Lancia and Fiat), Ford, Nissan, Opel, Volvo and many others. Indeed, mobility is changing, and motor shows as we know them today are destined to die out (see the recent cancellation of the Bologna Motorshow). There is, however, one positive sign: an openness to innovation. This year, for the first time at the Paris Motor Show, "Mondial Tech" made its debut — a show within a show dedicated not to the car but to mobility. Many of the themes are finally current ones: safety, automation, cybersecurity, new materials and weight reduction, industry 4.0, energy and new storage systems. In short, the Paris Motor Show too is looking to the future and, following in the footsteps of CES in Las Vegas, is playing the innovation card. It's about time!
Manufacturers' journey towards electrification continues, at an ever faster pace. Here are the main new arrivals on show at the Parisian event.
Audi is showing at the Paris Motor Show for the first time its new electric SUV, the e-tron, a direct rival to the Jaguar i-Pace (which makes its Paris debut with a 100 kW charging system for a full charge in just 40 minutes) and the Tesla Model X, with 408 horsepower, 400 km of range and fast charging at 150 kW. The first fully electric Audi is an SUV nearly 5 metres long, with a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. Equipped with all-wheel drive to tackle even low-grip terrain, the Audi e-tron delivers sports car performance: 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h.
Following the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, which are already on sale, Kia brings to the Paris Motor Show the new e-Niro, an electric crossover that will be launched in Europe at the end of the year. There are two versions: one with a 64 kWh lithium-polymer battery offering a range of 485 kilometres and an electric motor producing 204 horsepower, and the other equipped with a 39.2 kWh battery; in this case the range is 312 kilometres with a 136-horsepower electric motor. Among its distinctive features, a 7-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty.
Mercedes presents the EQC, the first of ten fully electric vehicles to come from the EQ sub-brand, a direct rival to the recently launched Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV. Mercedes's electrification plans also include an electric saloon, the EQA, and a luxury saloon, the EQS. Ola Kallenius, a member of the Mercedes board, confirmed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show that the EQ electric versions will also have their own AMG performance variants; reportedly due in 2020 is a plug-in hybrid supercar equipped with a 4-litre V8 engine paired with a powerful electric motor, an 80 kWh battery and an output of over 400 horsepower.
The PSA group has a massive presence at the Paris Motor Show. While the plug-in hybrid variant of the new C5 Aircross SUV is still in the pipeline, Citroën has brought to Paris the C5 Aircross Hybrid Concept, which previews its lines and features. Premium brand DS turns the spotlight on the 300-horsepower plug-in hybrid version of the DS 7 Crossback SUV. The Peugeot e-LEGEND concept has also attracted considerable interest, blending retro styling cues with electric drive. Inspired by the iconic Peugeot 504 Coupé, the e-LEGEND uses a new electric platform with all-wheel drive and an electric motor powered by a 100 kWh battery pack. Output exceeds 450 horsepower, and a new fast-charging technology would allow the battery to reach 80 per cent charge in just 25 minutes; we'll be hearing more about that in 2025…
Two new arrivals from Renault. K-ZE, a new segment-A electric vehicle with an SUV-inspired style and a range of 250 kilometres, easy to charge thanks to a dual charging system compatible with domestic sockets and public infrastructure; for now it will only be driven in China. More intriguing is the EZ-ULTIMO concept, an example of electric and autonomous mobility that will offer "a premium travel experience", as Renault puts it. Anticipating the scenarios of autonomous driving, Renault has imagined a vehicle available only on demand, to be used for a single journey, for an hour or at most a day. EZ-ULTIMO is designed for city travel, offering a "premium" travel experience to businesses and individuals in the age of future smart cities.
The Japanese manufacturer, a pioneer in hybrid technology and hydrogen with the Mirai, presents at the Paris Motor Show the new RAV4 (the world's best-selling SUV), in the 2.5 Full Hybrid-Electric version with 222 horsepower. The new fourth-generation Full Hybrid Electric system boasts a thermal efficiency of 41 per cent, among the best in its segment, and aims to achieve the lowest fuel consumption and emissions levels in the category, starting from 102 g/km for the two-wheel-drive version.