Peugeot has used the 2026 Paris Motor Show to unveil two concept cars and give its first electric GTi its motor-show debut. The Stellantis-owned brand is betting that performance and design can drive demand for its electric models as Chinese competition intensifies in Europe.
The 91st edition of the show runs at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 12 to 18 October. Around 60 carmakers are exhibiting, and a record 20 of them are Chinese, double the 10 that attended in 2024, according to TechNode. That makes Chinese brands about a third of the line-up at a show traditionally dominated by French manufacturers.
Peugeot occupies about 1,300m² in Hall 4 with a new stand design that it plans to use at future major events. The stand is split into three zones: concept cars at the centre, a performance area and the full passenger-car range.
| Peugeot at Paris 2026 | Status | Key figures |
|---|---|---|
| E-T16 Concept | World premiere | 816hp; 0–300km/h in 16 seconds |
| RCZ Vision | World premiere | 500hp; up to 600km range; 11.5kWh/100km; 1,000V system |
| Polygon Concept | Shown nearby | Previews Hypersquare and steer-by-wire from 2027 |
| E-208 GTi | First motor-show appearance | 281hp; 0–100km/h in 5.5 seconds; from £34,995 (about R764,000) in the UK |
| Range offer | Orders from 1 October | Higher standard spec at no extra cost; Connect Plus extended to four years |
The E-T16 Concept marks 40 years since the 205 T16 won the World Rally Championship in 1985 and 1986. Developed with Peugeot Sport, it produces 816hp and reaches 300km/h in 16 seconds. Peugeot says that makes it the most powerful model in the brand’s history, rivalled only by the 208 T16 that set the Pikes Peak hill-climb record in 2013. The car previews the lighting and next-generation i-Cockpit of the next E-208, including the Hypersquare steering control.
The RCZ Vision revives the name of the RCZ coupé sold between 2009 and 2015, which has since become a collector’s car. It is built on Stellantis’s STLA One platform and uses a solid-state battery developed with US company Factorial Energy. It runs on a 1,000V electrical system and delivers 500hp, a range of up to 600km and consumption of 11.5kWh per 100km. Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density and faster charging than current lithium-ion cells, but no carmaker has yet put them into volume production.
The Polygon Concept has served as a test vehicle over the past year for technologies due in production cars from 2027. Chief among these is steer-by-wire, which removes the mechanical link between the steering control and the wheels. Visitors can try the Hypersquare system on two simulators at the stand.
The E-208 GTi was unveiled in June ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and sits beside a 1986 205 GTI. Peugeot describes it as the first fully electric GTi. Its 281hp motor takes it from 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds. In the UK it is priced from £34,995 (about R764,000), around £2,000 below the Vauxhall Corsa GSE, a Stellantis sister model with the same power. Its 51kWh battery gives a range of 352km to 375km depending on tyres. The stand also shows the 9X8 hypercar, Peugeot’s entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The cars arrive from a strong home-market position. The 208 was France’s best-selling model in the first half of 2026, and the 2008 and 3008 also ranked in the top 10. Stellantis held 28.8% of the French passenger and light commercial vehicle market over the period.
Peugeot is also adding value across its range. Models from the 208 to the 5008 ordered since 1 October come with more standard equipment at unchanged prices, with Allure and GT trims replaced by Allure Plus and GT Plus. The included Connect Plus subscription has been extended from six months to four years, alongside the existing Peugeot Care warranty of up to eight years in major markets.
The stand runs a daily public programme. It includes a 30-year anniversary with rugby club Stade Toulousain, a craftsmanship workshop with the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, reflex challenges with Peugeot Sport driver Dorian Pin, a cinema day with Pathé and a reveal on the closing day.