PETROLHEADS and car industry boffins gathered at this year’s Paris Motor Show to showcase the newest models and cutting-edge concepts – with no shortage of attention-grabbing displays.
The famous show, which runs through to Sunday, comes as European carmakers face challenges on the path to electrification.
Iconic manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Stellantis have issued profit warnings in recent times, with weak customer demand for EVs their main source of concern coupled with fierce competition abroad – especially from China.
Perhaps the biggest threat to the current status quo is the ever-growing car brand BYD, with the Chinese EV maker making huge strides across Europe.
In Paris, they showed off the Yangwang U8 – a plug-in hybrid SUV that can “swim” for up to 30 minutes, park sideways, and turn in place like a tank.
Equipped with four electric motors, one for each wheel, it even boasts a roof-mounted drone to help the driver see further ahead.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for European brands though, as Stellantis’ very own Peugeot drew attention with its Hypersquare steering wheel, which resembles a video game controller.
Set to debut in 2026, this quirky design is aimed at younger drivers and featured in the Peugeot Inception concept car.
Meanwhile, Peugeot’s French rivals Renault showcased their retro-inspired R4, a small electric SUV designed to rival Chinese budget models.
They also presented the new-and-improved Twizy – which this time is a two-seater electric runabout called the Duo.
It has twice the range and speed of Citroen’s Ami and will hit showrooms in May from £10,000.
Stellantis also introduced the Citroen C4 and C4X, which offers hybrid, electric, and combustion engine options – and even features clever pothole-proof tech.
Another stand out set of wheels from China was Xpeng’s all-electric P7+, which is curiously powered by a chip named after British computing icon Alan Turing – signalling a future of AI-powered mobility.
For a further look at the Paris Motor Show, Sun Motors’ supremo Rob Gill revealed his top ten cars from the event.
This comes as Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s driverless robot bus EV – with fans spotting an eerie similarity to an iconic kids’ show.
The brand’s new Robovan can carry up to 20 people at a time and transport goods.
Elsewhere, a wacky inventor has dug a 15ft trench with a network of tunnels under his drive to store his iconic DeLorean.
The crazy compound is more than worthy of Back to the Future’s Doc Brown and has been dubbed the “biggest DIY project” in the UK.
Alpine A110 R Ultime
Alpine’s Formula 1 efforts might be a steaming mess in 2024, but their business in the car industry couldn’t be more exciting.
The upcoming Renault 5-inspired Alpine A290 could be the hot hatchback of all hot hatchbacks for the EV era, while newly unveiled A110 R Ultime gives the loveable lightweight sports cars plenty of supercar oomph.
The R Ultime will cost the equivalent of around £222,000, and comes with 345bhp and a 0-60mph acceleration of just 3.6 seconds.
Unfortunately, only 110 examples will be made.
Renault Twingo
Renault’s Twingo is making a comeback as an affordable EV, expected to cost under £17,000. It takes inspiration from both the 1990s model and the new Renault 5, with retro details like round headlights and hidden rear handles.
Leapmotor B10
Little-known Chinese brand Leapmotor showed off their B10, a C-segment SUV competing with the likes of the Mini Aceman. It will feature a customisable digital cockpit and advanced driver assistance systems.
Citroen Ami
Citroen’s updated Ami quadricycle now sports a refreshed look, with design elements inspired by the iconic 2CV and Oli concept. The drivetrain remains unchanged, featuring a 5.5kWh battery with a range of 46 miles, and miniscule 8bhp output.
AN island has been described as paradise – with blue lagoons, sandy beaches and towns like something from a fairytale.
Gotland is off the coast of Stockholm, between Sweden and Latvia.
It’s not one to visit in winter – many stores close and temperatures drop as low as 2C.
But visit in the summer and you can see why it has been dubbed a paradise island by Visit Sweden.
The main town is on the east coast, with Visby feeling like you’re gone back in time.
Also compared to a fairytale town, the quaint shops and buildings are painted in bright colours.
One of the most popular foodie spots is Lilla Bjers with small plates that have been called “once-in-a-lifetime dining” with it all farm to table.
For something more laidback, there is the also-popular Surfers, a Chinese restaurant.
There is a huge Viking history too, with burial grounds, museums and even a reconstructed Viking village.
You can stay the night at Stavgard, with longhouses you can rent to ‘glamp’ in
Another popular attraction are sea stacks, also called raukar, which are limestone monoliths scattered along the coast.
While there, make sure to fine the island’s own Blue Lagoon, with waters that are bright turquoise in the summer.
Otherwise if you are outdoorsy, there are lots of flat cycle paths, hiking trails and even shallow beaches to swim in.
You will have to time it right, with temperatures between 20C and 25C in the summer.
Fancy staying? Some of the popular hotels include Clarion Hotel Wisby or the Hotel St Clemens, with rooms inside historical buildings.
There are also budget options such as Best Westerns and and Scandic Visby.
There are two ways to get to Gotland.
One is by ferry, taking around three hours when departing from either Nynäshamn or Oskershamn.
Or you can fly to Visby Airport on the island, with flights from both Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Brits can travel from the UK to Stockholm for £14.99 with Ryanair from London Stansted, or to Gothenburg from £15.21.
The Sun’s Associate Bizarre Editor Howell Davies went on one – here’s his review.
My trip on one of Hurtigruten’s ships, the 590-capacity MS Nordnorge, was in order to see the Northern Lights.
The cruise allowed me to cover plenty of ground, from Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim — frequently referred to as the Notre Dame of Norway for its stained-glass rose window — to the dramatic, snow-topped mountains in Finnsnes.
During my October visit the sun still rises, although hanging low in the sky especially as I headed farther north to the charming city of Tromsø.
The colourful houses of Norway, with window frames dusted with snow, make for beautiful Christmas card scenes and nothing made me feel more festive than watching them go by as I sipped from a hot mug of cocoa.
I’m still not a fan of the cold — but with this cruise, I was glad I took the plunge.
Here’s an island in Denmark that has been dubbed “sunshine island”.
Want to stay in the UK? Here are the British islands where you are most likely to see the Northern Lights.
