The Paris Motor Show Offers a Peek in to the Future– and More Electric SUVs than You Can Count!
Scotty Reiss
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The world is listening to you, girls.
When you really want to know what is going on the world, take a trip to Paris. It’s not just a beautiful city filled with art and fashion and fabulous food. It’s where the world’s artists and thinkers come together to forge philosophy and ignite trends that impact people around the globe.
And it’s where the global auto marketplace is on view right now; visit and you can see what the future holds (if you can’t, keep reading; we visited for you!).
Further Reading: Why visit an auto show? To shop, of course!
This display advertises the idea that you can buy a Hyundai Kona from Amazon. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The Big Message at the Paris Motor Show? Sustainability and Capability
The world has never listened to women more than this year—in all realms, including automotive. There is hardly a car on show at the Paris Motor Show that wasn’t designed and based on what women want. Truly.
Women have long been asking for better fuel economy, environmentally sensitive cars with a small or zero carbon footprint but that are big enough for families and cargo, and are strong and capable. Essentially, the electric SUV. And that is what the Paris Motor Show was filled with.
Nearly every brand had electric or hybrid SUVs on display, and even those that didn’t had plenty of SUVs. Most notably, Citroën, known for small city cars, is moving into SUVs with the Aircross.
We walked the show floor and shared the experience on Facebook Live; see the broadcasts here, here and here.
Most impressive, though were the Toyota and Lexus exhibits: All hybrids. Toyota showed exclusively hybrids, including hybrids not yet available in the US. Lexus showed hybrids for every model in the lineup, though they did have a couple of gas engine cars on display–the UX and the RC sports coupe.
And electric SUVs dominated, from Audi’s e-tron, which was recognized by the World Car Awards committee for its history of WCA wins, to Jaguar’s iPace, Tesla X, Kia e-Niro, Hyundai Kona electric and coming electric SUVs from Mercedes Benz, BMW and more.
Further Reading: Infiniti reveals the future of hybrid performance at the Paris Auto Show
The Mercedes Benz EQC 400, which will come to market in 2020, is an all electric SUV. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Seven Pavilions of Cars, Luxury, Food, and Fun
Held at the Port de Versailles just south of the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Motor Show is a sprawling village of cars, food, fashion, shopping, fun simulator rides and more. Many automakers have sweet swag shops where you can buy all sorts of branded items — many of them fun and useful (not just water bottles and sweatshirts!). From a Toms shoes partnership at Hyundai to cleverly decorated items such as cups, plates, and socks at Citroën, you can walk away with a little branded swag to fuel your dreams or nostalgia.
Further Reading: Dress like you mean business at the auto show – but wear comfortable shoes!
The great thing about auto shows is being able to get in and see what every car feels like as a driver and passenger, such as the glass roof of the Tesla 3. Photo: Scotty Reiss
How to Choose the Best Car for You: Follow the World Car Awards
There are so many choices at the Paris Motor Show— and at every other auto show. While auto shows are a great place to shop for a car, how can a girl choose? Car show shopping can also be demanding of a little guidance.
That is what the World Car Awards is for. The most prestigious awards organization missioned with celebrating excellence and innovation in autos, WCA engages 85 journalists from countries around the world to review the most important cars of the year and deem one a World Car of the Year, as well as World Luxury Car, World Green Car, World Urban Car, World Performance Car and Design of the Year.
The 2019 World Car of the Year competition kicked off at the Paris Motor Show. Assessment of the short list of contenders will begin at the LA Auto Show in late November, where jurors will drive the cars nominated in each category. Evaluations will continue through the winter when each juror will cast their votes. From there Prime Research and KPMG will tabulate the votes and the winners will be announced at the New York Auto Show in April, 2019.
The World Car Award committee with the trophy, which will be awarded in April, 2019 at the New York Auto Show. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Your Seat on the World Car Awards Jury
Did you know you have a seat at the World Car Awards jury table? Recently I was nominated to join the jury — and of course, how could I resist??? This is an unprecedented opportunity to bring your voice point of view to this very important global initiative. To weigh in with what is important to you, to bring even more insight and clarity to what matters to the most important car buyer, both in the US and around the world. You.
Visit Mondial l’ Automobile, the Paris Motor Show, Port de Versailles, Paris, October 4-14, 2018.
More from our visit to the Paris Motor Show
Á votre service!
Robert DeNiro made a surprise appearance at Kia’s unveiling of the e-Niro plug in at the Paris Motor Show. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The Lexus NX300h hybrid is one of the many Lexus hybrids on display at the Paris Motor Show. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The Jaguar IPace all-electric SUV. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The interior of the Hyundai Nexo fuel cell crossover. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The BMW 3 Series sedan features an all-new design. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Citroen’s mini shop offers t-shirts novelties and of course, scale models of all the models in the French auto maker’s history. Photo: Scotty Reiss