The industrial production of electric vehicles was initiated by Tesla. However, now traditional automakers are unveiling new electric products at the Paris Motor Show - one of the oldest auto shows in the world - indicating that the automotive world is undergoing transformation.
Peugeot unveiled a product at the Paris Motor Show that can be considered the "crown jewel" of the exhibition. This product is an electric and self-driving car at level four. The Peugeot E-Legend is designed based on the old and popular Peugeot 504 Coupe. One of the criticisms that electric cars have faced in recent years is their "soullessness." Now, with the entry of traditional automakers like Peugeot, which draw on a century-old style, electric cars are beginning to "gain personality." The electric motor of this car has 450 horsepower and 800 Newton meters of torque, and it can travel up to 600 kilometers on a single charge. Peugeot states that this car will enter the market in 2025.
Renault also unveiled several electric vehicles at the Paris Motor Show. Unlike Peugeot's product, these vehicles have dimensions that resemble more of a science fiction movie than real cars. The EZ-Ultimo and EZ-Pro are two Renault products that reflect the company's vision for future vehicles. The EZ-Pro is essentially an electric and self-driving work vehicle. The EZ-Ultimo is a seven-meter-long vehicle that some experts consider unusually long for a car and more akin to a train carriage, but Renault believes this vehicle could represent luxury electric cars in the coming years. Renault thinks that soon cars will become more shared, and for this reason, it has directed the design of future vehicles in this direction.
Mercedes-Benz also introduced the EQC at this year's show, an electric SUV that could challenge Tesla's products. This vehicle can travel 320 kilometers on a single charge. It is offered in the size of the GLC model. 80% of the batteries of this car can be charged in forty minutes. There is one electric motor in the front and another in the rear, providing a total of 400 horsepower.
However, Mercedes-Benz has shown that instead of solely focusing on electric cars, it is also concentrating on hybrid vehicles that combine electric power with fossil fuels. Some say diesel cars will be phased out, but if they had attended this year's Paris Motor Show, their opinion might have changed. Almost all new products at the show have either gasoline or diesel versions. All these products will also be produced within the next three to five years. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz has also focused heavily on diesel engines in its hybrid products. The company also introduced a new series of its "B-Class" vehicles, which features a 1500 cc diesel engine capable of producing 114 horsepower. The other diesel engine is a two-liter with outputs of 147 and 190 horsepower. This product also has two 1300 cc gasoline engines with powers of 134 and 161 horsepower.
BMW also showcased its Series 8, the most expensive product of this brand, alongside the new Series 3, which is its best-selling product. In this car, aerodynamics and handling have been improved, and the vehicle is slightly larger than the previous generation. By using new materials, BMW has managed to reduce the weight of this car compared to the previous model. This car will be available in Europe with five different models that use either gasoline or diesel engines. In the gasoline model, the strongest is the 330i, which has 255 horsepower. In the diesel model, the 330d has 262 horsepower. The 330i can reach 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.6 seconds, which is satisfactory for a car in this class. BMW has stated that next year it will also release the 340i model, which has 380 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers in just four seconds.
Tesla was also present at this year's show, showcasing its Model 3. This product, which faced production issues for several months, has now managed to reach a monthly production record of 22,000 units. This year at the Paris Motor Show, Ferrari unveiled the Monza SP-1 and SP-2. One of these two products has a one-passenger capacity, and the other has a two-passenger capacity. This car recalls the designs made by this company over the past 60 years. Ferrari claims these cars provide a driving experience similar to Formula 1 cars. This vehicle has a twelve-cylinder engine with a volume of 6.5 liters, producing 800 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in less than three seconds. This car is priced at 1.6 million euros.
The DS company also introduced the new DS-3 at the show, and Citroën presented the Citroën C5 Aircross, the largest crossover from this company. This year's Paris Motor Show also had side sections focusing on classic cars with an adventurous background. Overall, it can be said that this year's Paris Motor Show did not have the same vibrancy as in the past and was held in the absence of many major European automakers such as Ford, General Motors, Fiat, and Volvo.