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From swimming cars to rectangular steering wheels, here’s what’s going on at the Paris auto show
CNBC ^ | October 16, 2024 | Sam Meredith

Posted on 10/16/2024 7:28:21 AM PDT by Red Badger

Key Points

* Auto giants have descended on the Paris Motor Show to showcase their latest concepts and production models.

* The biennial trade show, which opened on Monday and runs through to Sunday, comes as Europe’s carmakers contend with some hard truths on the road to full electrification.

* Peugeot said the rectangular shape of its Hypersquare steering wheel, which resembles a video game controller, will be in production from 2026.

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PICTURES AT LINK.......Can't Post - Getty Images...........

PARIS, France — Auto giants have descended on the Paris Motor Show to showcase their latest concepts and production models, jostling to capture the public’s attention with eye-catching designs and futuristic technologies.

The biennial trade show, which opened on Monday and runs through to Sunday, comes as European carmakers contend with some hard truths on the road to full electrification.

Manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW and Stellantis have all issued profit warnings in recent weeks, citing challenges including faltering demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and intense competition from abroad.

The pressure on European automakers is poised to ratchet up even further next year when emissions-reduction targets come into force.

It is hoped that the Paris Motor Show can prove to be something of a turning point for Europe’s auto industry, with many rolling out affordable EVs in an attempt to keep up with their Chinese competitors.

French car giant Peugeot was one of those creating some buzz. The automaker welcomed visitors — including French President Emmanuel Macron — to take a close look at its Hypersquare steering wheel.

Peugeot said the steering wheel’s rectangular shape, which resembles a video game controller, will be in production from 2026. It hopes the innovative design will be particularly appealing to a younger audience.

The Hypersquare was featured in Peugeot’s Inception concept car.

Elsewhere, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD unveiled its Yangwang U8 model to a French audience for the first time.

The plug-in hybrid SUV is capable of “swimming” for up to 30 minutes, parking sideways and making a complete turn on the spot, a BYD spokesperson told CNBC.

The Yangwang U8 model can undertake these maneuvers thanks to four electric motors, one in each wheel.

BYD said the vehicle’s ability to float “is not just a gadget,” adding that the feature could prove to be lifesaving in the event of flooding or an accident involving water.

The vehicle also comes with a built-in drone mounted on its roof, which BYD said could be deployed to show the driver what to expect further down the road.

The Yangwang U8 was first introduced last year in Guangzhou and is currently only sold in China.

French carmaker Renault showcased its retro-inspired R4, a small electric SUV based on the iconic Renault 4. The compact EV is designed to rival budget models from Chinese manufacturers.

Germany’s crisis-stricken Volkswagen held the premiere for its seven-seater Tayron SUV, a range that comes as a mild hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. Volkswagen said the Tayron is the firm’s second-largest SUV in Europe, behind the Touareg, and is available to order from 45,475 euros ($49,525).

Stellantis unveiled two new models at the Paris Motor Show. The company, which owns household names including Jeep, Dodge, Fiat and Chrysler, announced the new compact Citroën C4 and C4X. Both models have hybrid, electric and pure combustion-engine versions.

China’s Xpeng on Monday launched the P7+ at the Paris Motor Show, an all-electric model that it hopes will cement its place in an era of autonomous driving and artificial intelligence-powered mobility.

The P7+ is powered by Xpeng’s so-called “Turing chip,” named after British scientist and mathematician Alan Turing. The chip is designed to operate in a number of the firm’s AI-driven vehicles, ranging from robots to flying cars, one of which was on display above the Xpeng stage.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 10/16/2024 7:28:21 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: muleskinner; Fiddlstix; TexasTransplant; Squeako; dennisw; norwaypinesavage; 1Old Pro; weps4ret; ...

Ping!.................


2 posted on 10/16/2024 7:29:10 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

and pure combustion-engine versions.


there is a concept.


3 posted on 10/16/2024 7:29:59 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Red Badger

How about a car that is simply designed and allows the average owner to perform maintenance themselves and does cost upwards of 60k and every little software glitch needs to go to the shop for days.


4 posted on 10/16/2024 7:32:22 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Red Badger

swimming cars...aka....boats


5 posted on 10/16/2024 7:32:28 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (mY)
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To: Red Badger
I used to be in the habit of attending the NY Auto Show in April. But the last one I attended was mostly EVs and it was then I decided to stop. But now I just might go next April.
6 posted on 10/16/2024 7:32:54 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
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To: Red Badger

we don’t need any more distractions behind a steering wheel...


7 posted on 10/16/2024 7:35:52 AM PDT by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: Red Badger

Was in Rome last week, and the number of “JESUS that’s a small car!” on the road there was amazing.

Quite a few Chinese brands that I’ve never heard of. And some absolutely micro cars from Renault and Citroen (Look up the Citroen Ami, and the Renault Twizy if you’re interested).


8 posted on 10/16/2024 7:37:46 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: heavy metal

At all.


9 posted on 10/16/2024 7:39:29 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: heavy metal

Steering rectangle...........


10 posted on 10/16/2024 7:40:53 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: FrankRizzo890

“Quite a few Chinese brands that I’ve never heard of...”.............yet...............


11 posted on 10/16/2024 7:46:40 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

TRUTH! The Yoyo X was “interesting”.

https://www.xevcars.com/yoyo/


12 posted on 10/16/2024 7:59:56 AM PDT by FrankRizzo890
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To: Red Badger
Steering rectangle...........

If I am making a k-turn in a smallish area, hand-over-hand on a steering wheel makes more sense than a rectangle where I have to switch hands when it is half-way turned.

On the other hand, today's smaller cars sometimes make it hard for me to get in without having my leg press against a large, round steering wheel.
13 posted on 10/16/2024 9:14:36 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: FrankRizzo890

Um no, “Horrifying”!


14 posted on 10/16/2024 9:55:02 AM PDT by Ex gun maker. (Free thinking is now a radical concept, I will not be assimilated by PC or EV groupthink!)
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To: Prov1322

Ping!


15 posted on 10/16/2024 10:21:42 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Propaganda keeps only governments in business, not corporations. —John Nolte)
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To: Red Badger
Peugeot said the steering wheel’s rectangular shape, which resembles a video game controller, will be in production from 2026. It hopes the innovative design will be particularly appealing to a younger audience.

Peugeot steering wheel:

Tesla Cybertruck steering wheel:


16 posted on 10/16/2024 10:51:20 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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