Paris Motor Show 2026: Five Things to See | Transmission

06 October 2026 ·4 min read

A veiled Alpine, an aerodynamic experimental estate, a tiny Smart, a flax-fibre vehicle and a robot worn on your shoulders. Transmission picks five reasons to step away from the screen and explore the 2026 Paris Motor Show in person.

With opening day approaching, the announcements are coming thick and fast. Our shortlist follows a simple idea: seek out machines that suggest a different way to design, build or experience mobility. Some remain design studies. Others invite a conversation about materials, everyday use and production. All deserve a closer look.

The show opens to the public at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 13 to 18 October 2026, following a press-only day on 12 October. Check the organiser’s official dates and visitor information.

1. Alpine A110: reading a car before it is revealed

Draped sculpture suggesting the proportions of the future Alpine A110 — A sculpture previewing the next A110’s proportions, not the final production car. Image: © Alpine, via Mondial de l’Auto.

Alpine is bringing an object that rewards attention: a sculpture suggesting the shape of the future A110, covered by a veil that reveals its volumes. The production model has not yet been unveiled. Instead, the brand invites visitors to study proportions, surface tension and stance.

Alpine cites Concorde among the inspirations for this meeting of aerodynamics and artistic expression. That is a reason to walk around the object rather than leave after a single front-on photograph.

The Transmission perspective: look for what makes a berlinette recognisable as its technology evolves. Ride height, a tightly drawn cabin, the position of the wheels: a sports car’s identity also lives in these quiet decisions.

Read Alpine’s official presentation of the A110 sculpture.

2. Opel STX Concept: the estate gets ambitious again

Preview of the Opel STX electric estate concept — An early look at the STX Concept ahead of its Paris presentation. Image: © Opel, via Mondial de l’Auto.

An experimental estate earns a place on any interesting motor-show itinerary. With STX, short for Sports Tourer eXperimental, Opel is announcing an electric study exploring the future of this body style.

The programme includes a new front-end treatment and movable aerodynamic elements at the rear, intended to adapt airflow to driving conditions. This is a concept; it should not be mistaken for a confirmed production model.

The Transmission perspective: examine how aerodynamics can reshape a useful vehicle. Can a low body retain space, versatility and visual presence? STX offers a reason to reopen that discussion.

Where: Hall 4, stand A42, according to the announced programme. Explore Opel’s programme and the STX Concept preview.

3. Smart #2: taking the small car seriously

Camouflaged Smart #2 prototype during development testing — The Smart #2 under camouflage: a development image, not the final reveal. Image: © Smart, via Mondial de l’Auto.

Two seats, compact proportions and an urban purpose: the Smart #2, scheduled for its reveal on 12 October, returns to the principle that made the Fortwo distinctive. Its styling comes from Mercedes-Benz Global Design.

The appeal goes beyond a brand returning to a familiar category. A small car demands clear decisions. Every centimetre of bodywork and cabin matters; proportions become a question of use as much as style.

The Transmission perspective: consider it at street level. Access, visibility, room for everyday belongings and straightforward controls will tell us more about its relevance than screen size alone.

Follow the Smart #2 announcements ahead of its reveal.

4. LIUX BIG: what if innovation starts with the material?

LIUX BIG compact electric vehicle using flax-fibre construction — LIUX BIG puts flax fibre at the centre of its proposition. Image source: Mondial de l’Auto’s LIUX BIG preview.

The LIUX BIG is among the vehicles announced for Hall 7.1. This Spanish electric proposition draws attention through the use of flax fibre in its construction. It is a reason to move beyond broad claims about “green” cars and ask how a vehicle is actually made.

The Transmission perspective: ask to see the material, the joints and the components. How are they manufactured and repaired? What happens at the end of their useful life? A plant-based material is an interesting starting point, but it does not establish the vehicle’s overall environmental impact on its own.

This could be one of the show’s most tangible conversations about building lighter and differently. Find LIUX BIG in the organiser’s official show preview.

5. Hyundai X-ble Shoulder: a machine you can wear

Hyundai Motor Group X-ble Shoulder industrial wearable assistance device — X-ble Shoulder. Image: Hyundai Motor Group, CES 2026 presentation; this is not a photograph taken at the Paris show.

Our final stop leaves four wheels behind. Hyundai’s announced Robotics Experience includes an opportunity to discover and test X-ble Shoulder, a wearable device intended to reduce physical effort during repetitive tasks.

Its presence at a motor show draws attention to the bodies that build machines. Technology becomes something you put on, assessed through movement and the comfort of a gesture.

The Transmission perspective: try the device if visitor conditions allow, then ask about its limits as well as its assistance. Freedom of movement, fit and fatigue make this an innovation better understood through your shoulders than a specification sheet.

Where: Hall 5.2, stand A12. Discover Hyundai’s official Paris programme, including the Robotics Experience.

Plan your visit

A sculpture to walk around, an estate to examine, a city car to sit in, a material to understand and an exoskeleton to try: five stops for a closer look at where mobility is heading.

Paris Motor Show — Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Public days: 13–18 October 2026. Press day: 12 October. See the official visitor FAQ for opening hours, ticketing and access conditions.

Preview prepared on 6 October 2026 from manufacturer and organiser announcements, linked throughout. This is an editorial selection, not a report of hands-on testing at the show. Programmes may change. Images are pre-event manufacturer or organiser visuals; captions identify development imagery and images from other events.