Category: News

ECO MOTORS NEWS was at the Lyon Motor Show for its second edition. This year, Lexus made its mark by presenting two brand new models for the first time in France: the new ES saloon and the RZ electric SUV. These two vehicles embody the Japanese premium brand’s multi-technology strategy and confirm its ambitions for the European market.

The new Lexus ES: elegance and electrification

This year, the 8th generation of this large saloon is being updated. At 5.14 metres long, the new Lexus ES boasts a refined design, with clean, assertive lines. Inside, Lexus is true to its image: the emphasis is on sobriety and quality, with the use of noble materials such as bamboo.

When it comes to engines, the Toyota Group brand will offer you a choice: either its hybrid version or its 100% electric version with a range of 530 km. It’s a strategy that could pay off in the competition with European premium saloons. The launch is scheduled for summer 2026.

The Lexus RZ: sporty and innovative

On the same Lexus stand, the RZ plays the dynamism card. A 100% electric SUV, it focuses on driving pleasure and features the latest Lexus innovations, including a steer-by-wire system and a Formula 1-style steering wheel. As for the engine, Lexus is clear: the driver must be able to have fun with this SUV. And indeed, with 400 bhp, the promise seems to be kept. As for the announced range, Lexus’s Managing Director for France admits that, at 588 km, it is not one of the best performers on the market, but that it is the quality of the user experience that is prioritised.

The RZ will cost between €61,000 and €80,000, depending on the range. It will be available in March 2026.

The Toyota Group, a definite sales force

These launches were of great interest, especially as the parent brand Toyota unveiled three new vehicles at the same time: the Toyota BZ4X, the CH-R+ and the AYGO Cross Hybrid. Once again, the Japanese brand is proving that its strength lies in 3 principles: reliability, quality and adaptability to customer needs.

Live from the Lyon Motor Show, ECO MOTORS NEWS witnessed the first appearance in France of two models of vital importance to Volkswagen: the new T-Roc and, above all, the eagerly-awaited ID. Polo 100% electric.

It was a long-awaited announcement, and it was sure to be one of the highlights of the 2025 Lyon Motor Show. At the heart of its imposing stand in the centre of Eurexpo, Volkswagen presented, for the first time in France, the new version of its two best-sellers in France: the T-Roc, in second place, and the Polo, in first place.

The 2026 version of the T-Roc crossover is being described as a ‘baby Tiguan’, as it benefits from technological improvements that bring it closer to its more upmarket companion – Park Assist, augmented reality head-up display – and shares its platform. 12 cm longer than the previous version, the ‘little’ SUV will be offered with a full hybrid engine.

ID. Polo, small but strong

But what interested us most was when the tarpaulin went up to reveal the new ID. Polo. Well, unveiling is a big word, as it retains its camouflage, in this case a nod to the iconic Polo Harlequin of the 1980s. During the presentation, VW did not mince its words: it was a ‘revival’, but also ‘a return to the source’. A new backlit light signature has been added to the Polo’s emblematic sturdy wheel arches and inverted C-pillar. It’s hard to say much more about the design, as this is still a camouflaged version, and the interior is not yet in its final form. But we do know that it will be just over 4 metres long and, despite a wider front end, will still be the city car we’ve been waiting for.

As for the technical specification, there’s not much to go on here either, but this electric ID. Polo electric, in its most powerful version, will offer, according to Volkswagen, a range of up to 450 kilometres. What’s more, it will be the group’s first electric traction car!

“Quality, robustness and accessible innovation“.

The group is very enthusiastic, and insists that the ID. Polo, whose launch coincides with the model’s 50th anniversary, will retain everything that has made previous generations so successful: “quality, robustness and accessible innovation“. As far as the first two points are concerned, we’ll have to wait for more information and, why not, the car in our hands.

In terms of affordability, Volkswagen says its ID. Polo will start at €25,000 for the French market. Manufactured in Spain at Volkswagen’s Pamplona plant, it will go on sale in May 2026, with deliveries scheduled for the following autumn. Just in time for a new social leasing campaign? That seems to be the brand’s objective…

Innovation knows no bounds. The latest example is continental’s idea to reuse cooking oil in the creation of their tyres.

Known as one of the leaders in the global tyre market, the German tyre manufacturer is continuing its journey towards carbon neutrality. Following in the footsteps of recycled polyester and natural rubber, Continental is making further progress, this time using used cooking oil to produce rubber. By 2024
almost 26% of the raw materials used by the company were renewable or recycled. The objective is clear: to reach 40% by 2030 and aim for 100% sustainable materials by 2050.

How does it work?

After being harvested and treated, the cooking oil is processed to obtain a raw material that can replace synthetic rubber. A tyre is made up of two types of rubber: natural rubber, which is extremely resistant to wear, and synthetic rubber, which has superior braking and rolling resistance characteristics. By replacing part of the latter, Continental limits the use of fossil resources while guaranteeing identical performance and lifespan according to its own tests.

A market where innovation makes the difference

Faced with competitors such as Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear, Continental is banking on its lead in sustainable tyres to stand out from the crowd. In a sector where the reduction of emissions and the circularity of materials are becoming major criteria, the German firm is establishing itself as a major player. It remains to be seen whether this innovation will catch on on a large scale and pave the way for other similar initiatives.

The e-Palette, Toyota’s autonomous (and inevitably electric) shuttle, is one step closer to the of the future as our ancestors imagined it. Not a flying car, of course, but a multitasking vehicle that can adapt to any situation.

Let’s delve into our childhood memories: a comic strip, a film, a book about the future.
“future”. There’s no escaping flying cars, no escaping ‘intelligent’ robots, and no escaping omnipresent
ubiquitous screens, ditto. And, more often than not, in this fantasised future, people no longer
on the cow floor in a car. No, they climb into autonomous vehicles
autonomous vehicles, which can be fitted out as they please and asked to go anywhere.
anywhere. Toyota has ticked that last box with the e-Pallet.

Initially used in prototype form at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as a showcase for the Japanese giant’s technological know-how, it will finally see the light of day, “for real”.
the Japanese giant’s technological know-how, it will finally see the light of day, “for real”,
first in Japan, before perhaps conquering the world. Of course, its prohibitive price tag
of €165,000 makes it primarily a vehicle for connected cities, or those in the process of becoming ‘smarter’.
“These are likely to flourish over the next 10 years.

Ultra-modular architecture

Enough chit-chat about the concept, the idea, the motivations. Now that it’s really coming out, we can
we can talk about something concrete. This Toyota e-Pallet is almost 5 metres long, 2.65 metres high
and 2 metres wide. That’s plenty of space inside, but the reduced driving position
and the absence of an imposing combustion engine. More than volume, it’s above all
the e-Palette’s versatility.

It’s like a blank sheet of paper on wheels, so you can transform it as you wish, depending on how you want to use it.
as you like, depending on what you want to use it for: a medical vehicle, a mobile pop-up
mobile pop-up store, taxi lounge, why not a coffee-shop or simply an XXL trunk?
In short, we can imagine it transporting patients from one hospital wing to another, or simply
from the airport to their hotel in a cosy space,
enabling a shop to pick up customers rather than bringing them in, or delivering parcels.
parcel delivery.

All with enough power to go the distance. The e-Palette is equipped with a battery of almost
73 kWh battery and a 150 kW electric motor. Not enough to set the Le Mans race
Le Mans, but it is claimed to have a range of nearly 250 km. That’s pretty good for a commuter! And
to be really useful all the way, Toyota has thought of the possibility of transforming its e-Palette into an electric generator if required.
e-Palette into an electric generator if required.

100% autonomous by 2027?

In the introduction, I talked about autonomy. Then, later in the article, I mentioned the driving
driving position. It’s not a mistake on my part, I’m just getting ahead of myself.
For the time being, the e-Palette only benefits from level 2 assisted driving, which gives it a good deal of autonomy, but still requires a great deal of preparation.
This gives it a great deal of autonomy, but still requires the presence of a driver.
Level 4 autonomy, which enables the vehicle to be driven without a driver (on defined stretches of road known to the vehicle), will be available in the future.
known to the vehicle) is planned by Toyota for 2027. That’s tomorrow.

A pioneer in hybrids when no-one believed in them, then in ‘smart cities’ with its Woven
City, when it was just a distant idea, Toyota continues to give us glimpses of the future before anyone else.
the future before anyone else, this time with a simple electric shuttle that we could well see (it or the models that follow it).
be seen on our streets in large numbers in the next decade.
decade.

The Lyon Motor Show 2025 will take place from 24 to 28 September. Held every two years, alternating with the Paris Motor Show, it has established itself as the second most important motor show in France. After a successful 2023 event, the 2025 edition will feature a host of new products, including electrified vehicles, and a number of test drives.

Lyon’s Eurexpo centre is getting ready to host the 2025 edition of the Lyon Motor Show from 24 to 28 September. In all, 57 manufacturers are expected to be on hand to present their new products over an area of almost 50,000 m2, some of which will be unveiled to the French public for the first time, others for the first time at all, and some of which will even be previewed. It’s an interactive show that puts the public at the heart of its operation: at the last edition, in 2023, nearly 400 cars were available to test drive, and we’re expecting at least the same number this year.

The Lyon 2025 Motor Show is organised around seven ‘universes’: used vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorsport, van life, services and accessories, ecomobility and new vehicles. Of course, it’s these last two that interest us most, but the editorial team will of course take the time to visit all the stands. And yes, ECO MOTORS NEWS will be there, from the press day on September 23! In the meantime, here’s an overview of the new products that have been announced and/or are expected, although we can’t rule out a few surprises… For that, we’ll have to wait until the big day.

French cars out in force at the Lyon Motor Show

As the capital of the Gauls, the Lyon Motor Show is bound to be a showcase for national cars. DS will be showcasing its new spearhead, the N°8 top-of-the-range saloon/SUV electric coupé, on which the brand is betting big. The company will also be previewing the restyled N°4.

On the Alpine side, the new A390 SUV, unveiled last May at Dieppe, will be making its debut. Following on from the warm welcome given to the A290 city car, which has enjoyed fairly decent sales in this niche segment, this will be an opportunity to confirm the popularity of Alpine electric sauce with a second model positioned in a much tighter market, that of top-of-the-range electric SUVs.

Peugeot’s main attraction will be the presentation of the new e-208 GTI, which is expected to be a showpiece, while Citroën will be highlighting the C3 and C5 Aircross. Finally, Renault will be present with the Clio 6 in the spotlight, already presented in Munich a few days ago.

Manufacturers from all over the world at Lyon

Of course, it’s not just the French manufacturers who will be presenting their new electrified models in Lyon. The giants will be there, including Tesla with the Performance version of its Model Y, and BYD, which is still struggling to sell its 100% electric cars in Europe, and has decided to focus on the Seal 6 hybrid. Still on the subject of giants, Volkswagen, which was already very active in Munich at the beginning of the month, will also be taking up a lot of space in Lyon, notably with the new T-Roc and the still camouflaged version of its ID.Polo.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Jeep is planning to present its new Compass to the French public, a compact SUV in which the brand has high hopes, and which will be available in both electric and hybrid versions. Cadillac, the legendary firm from Detroit, is likely to shock the world with two 100% electric monsters: the Lyriq, which we already know, and the Vistiq, even more massive, exceeding 5 m in length and 2 m in width.

What about Japan? Well, the beautiful Lexus ES saloon will be making its first appearance on French soil, as will the upgraded version of the RZ SUV. The Lyon Motor Show will also provide an opportunity to see the new 100% electric Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in the flesh, as well as the 100% electric version of Isuzu’s legendary D-Max pick-up.

It’s a short step from Munich to the Lyon Motor Show

ECO MOTORS NEWS may have been lucky enough to attend the IAA Mobility show in Munich at the beginning of September, but not everyone else was. But don’t panic, the Lyon Motor Show will be the perfect opportunity to catch up. The Clio 6, as mentioned above, will be making its French debut, and the impressive Skoda Vision O and Audi Concept C will be on show, along with the Xpeng P7+ and some very promising new models from Opel.

Finally, there are a number of models that aren’t exactly new, but which we can’t wait to get close to – and try out? – including the spectacular Lotus Eletre SUV and the already cult Tesla Cybertruck. And, who knows, we might even take a look at the Prestige area and the Hypercars Zone, which, even though they mainly feature combustion-powered cars, will be well worth the diversions with the presence of Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren and Porsche. It’s sure to be a sight to behold!

European Mobility Week takes place from 16 to 22 September 2025. Its aim is to encourage citizens, associations, businesses and local authorities to adopt more sustainable modes of transport. This year’s focus is on “Mobility for All”, a theme that addresses accessibility, safety, cost and inclusion for every user.

Since its creation in 2002, the campaign has organised concrete actions in several European countries. It includes Car Free Day and numerous local initiatives to encourage public transport, walking, cycling and car sharing.

One theme: Mobility for all

This year, the focus is on inclusion and accessibility. The aim is to make transport safer, more affordable and better adapted to the elderly and disabled, and to improve digital services. For example, Transdev is improving accessibility for the visually impaired in France with its mobility assistance tools.

A variety of local initiatives

Across France, a range of actions are planned: reduced or free public transport, streets closed to traffic, cycle rides, exhibitions and visits to transport-related sites. At Seine Grand Orly, teams are visiting several stations to inform the public and give behind-the-scenes tours of the T9 tramway.

Why this week counts

Firstly, it raises awareness of the environmental impact of mobility and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, it provides a laboratory for experimentation. We can test solutions, observe what works, and amplify those that show real benefits for society. Finally, it promotes urban living: less noise, less pollution, greater safety, greater comfort for all.

How can you take part?

Any person or organisation can propose a project: a car-free day, a workshop, a mobility challenge, an ongoing initiative already underway. Registering a project allows you to benefit from visibility, resources and support to help change habits. The national mobility awards encourage exemplary projects.

European Mobility Week remains a key opportunity to rethink the way we travel. In particular, it’s an opportunity to get public policies moving, and to encourage everyone to adopt a more sustainable approach to their daily lives.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse began life as an iconic Japanese sports car coupé in the 1980s, but is now an MPV/SUV with sleeker lines, now available in a 100% electric version… the French way!

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was launched in the late 1980s. At the time, it was a racy coupé with a power output of up to 200 bhp, much appreciated by car modifiers and other DIY enthusiasts. The 1995 version of the little Japanese car even had the luxury of becoming a film star, driven by Paul Walker in the Fast and Furious saga, sporting a bright green livery and a few vitamins under the bonnet. The coupé also scored a number of victories on the racetrack and in rallies. But in 2017, at Geneva, to everyone’s surprise and at the height of the SUV boom, Mitsubishi unveiled the Eclipse Cross. And in this case, ‘Cross’ doesn’t evoke any racing spirit, but rather ‘crossover’, because it’s… an SUV! And the aim? To win back the hearts of European consumers with a hybrid family car, while retaining a legendary name. In 2025, the diamond manufacturer will be taking a new step forward, as the Eclipse Cross hybrid will disappear in favour of a 100% electric version that bears a striking resemblance to another automotive icon, this time a French one.

A Japanese SUV… made in France

The Eclipse Cross looks (really) a lot like the Scénic. And why is that? Because, it’s no secret, it’s the fruit of a marriage of convenience: the industrial alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. As a result, the Japanese manufacturer’s new electric SUV will be made… in France! In Douai, to be precise, on Renault lines, which explains its resemblance to the famous French MPV/SUV. Even if, in good faith, it does have a few of its own identifying features: a slightly reworked front end and the brand’s signature light signature at the rear.

In addition to its similarity in design, the Eclipse Cross is almost identical in size to the electric Scénic, with a length of just under 4.50 m, placing it in the ‘compact’ SUV category, and a width of just over 1.85 m, making it easy to handle. These similarities are due to the fact that Mitsubishi’s new electric SUV and Renault’s best-seller also share the same CMF-EV platform.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross promises 600 km of range

In terms of performance, the Eclipse Cross currently only offers a single 160 kW (220 hp) engine. Another, slightly less powerful, version should be available next year, at what we imagine will be a lower price. Where the promise is most tempting is in the floor, with an 87 kWh battery that boasts a range of 600 kilometres WLTP and the possibility of rapid recharging up to 150 kW.

Inside, it’s quality. Visible stitching on the seats, beautiful materials, a connected and ergonomic cockpit, screens that blend in with the décor and an appreciable sobriety. Above all, there’s the Harman Kardon audio system, which will allow the most nostalgic to play the Fast & Furious soundtrack over and over again… Even if, limited to 170 km/h, this electric Eclipse 2025 is unlikely to break any speed records.

The question is, who will benefit from the arrival of the Eclipse Cross on the European market? For Renault, it’s simple: to keep its factory running. For Mitsubishi, it’s a question of positioning itself in a strategic market while limiting industrial costs on the one hand, but also research and development costs, since there are no new platforms to develop. We are now waiting to see how the new Franco-Japanese SUV will differentiate itself from its competitor and first cousin, the Scénic, and only time – and a test drive – will tell.

The XPeng P7+ saloon, the Chinese rival of the Tesla Model 3, is facing a massive recall. More than 47,000 units are affected in China. The problem: a fault in the power steering system that represents a safety risk.

Power steering problem threatens P7+

Chinese manufacturer XPeng has announced that the recall concerns exactly 47,490 P7+ vehicles produced between August 2024 and April 2025. According to the Chinese market regulator, faulty wiring in the steering system can trigger a warning light and cause a malfunction. As a result, this fault could pose a danger to drivers and passengers.

XPeng has specified that the steering systems at risk will be replaced free of charge on all the vehicles concerned. This measure comes ahead of the European launch of the P7+, scheduled for France and Germany next year. Despite this recall, the brand is trying to reassure future customers.

A high-performance hatchback in spite of everything

Despite this setback, the P7+ remains competitive thanks to its advanced technology. It offers intelligent AI-assisted driving and two LFP batteries, with capacities of 60.7 and 76.3 kWh. Its rear engine develops between 245 and 320 bhp. Range varies between 540 and 630 km according to the WLTP cycle, while the 800-volt architecture enables ultra-fast recharging from 10 to 80% in just 12 minutes.

Designed with the family in mind, the P7+ boasts a boot capacity of 725 litres, expandable to 2,221 litres with the seats folded down. These features position it as a serious rival to the Tesla Model 3, while offering space comparable to that of the Model S. Prices in China start at 186,900 yuan, or around €22,400, and are expected to rise to around €47,000 in Europe.

A serious warning for XPeng

This recall comes at a crucial time for the brand, which is seeking to establish itself on the European market. It highlights the challenges faced by Chinese manufacturers in marketing advanced electric vehicles. Nevertheless, XPeng’s responsiveness demonstrates its seriousness and ability to take on large-scale recalls, which is a sign of confidence for European customers.

The Korean manufacturer has announced that, from 2026, the new K4 compact hatchback will replace the iconic Ceed in European catalogues. This marks the start of a new electrified era for Kia on the Old Continent, as the Ceed will also be offered as a hybrid.

In 2007, when Kia launched the Ceed, then spelt ‘cee’d’, it was with the aim of taking on the Golf, Focus and Mégane, then the reigning champions of compact budget hatchbacks. Mission accomplished, because although we don’t know the sales figures for the third and latest generation, the first two were produced in excess of 600,000 units each. Above all, it enabled Kia to make a name for itself in Europe. Now, almost two decades later, the Ceed is preparing for a well-deserved retirement.

A new string to Kia’s bow

Already ‘rivalled’ by its electric cousin, the EV4, the Ceed now sees the arrival on the Old Continent of the K4, which will replace it definitively in 2026. This is the hatchback version of the classic K4 saloon already sold in other markets.

While this K4 hatchback remains in the C segment (cars between 4.10 m and 4.50 m long) at 4.44 m, it is still almost 20 cm longer than the first Ceed. Above all, it offers a design that we now associate with electric cars. In fact, it looks a lot like the EV4, with its plunging roof, receding grille, knife-edge lines, ultra-modern light signature and large glazed sections. The Ceed seems to have turned the page…

A hybrid version of the Kia K4 coming soon

Kia has chosen to present its K4 hatchback to Europeans with… combustion engines! Petrol engines with outputs ranging from 115 to 180 bhp… Strange, given that a ban on the sale of combustion engines is on the horizon, but it’s understandable, 10 years is a long time, and it will give Kia time to sell a good number of units of its new K4.

So why are we talking about it on ECO MOTORS NEWS? Well, because a HEV or full hybrid version – non-rechargeable hybrids for those who haven’t read the electromobility glossary – is planned for 2026. This is the real revolution at Kia: the Korean manufacturer will be able to position itself in two strategic markets, particularly in Europe: the compact saloon market and the non-rechargeable hybrid market. Enough to make the 308, its announced nemesis, tremble?

The sixth generation of the Nissan Micra arrives on the market with a 100% electric powertrain. Available from €28,000, it promises a range of up to 416 km according to the WLTP cycle. With its distinctive design, connected technologies and fast recharging, it aims to stand out from the Renault 5 and the Peugeot e-208.

A city car designed for urban agility

The new Micra is based on the AmpR Small platform, developed in partnership with Renault and Ampere. Its 2.54-metre wheelbase and low weight make it easy to manoeuvre and fuel efficient. Thanks to its low centre of gravity and multi-link suspension, it offers a stable, precise ride, whether in the city or on the open road.

Two batteries, two powers

Nissan is offering two versions to suit different uses. The first combines a 40 kWh battery with a 120 hp engine, providing a range of up to 317 km. The second, more powerful version combines a 52 kWh battery with a 150 hp engine, giving a range of 416 km WLTP. Both models can be fast-charged up to 100 kW, recovering 65% of the battery in around 30 minutes.

A sober but assertive design

Visually, the Micra adopts a modern, compact style, a far cry from the retro look of the Renault 5. Fluid lines, pronounced wheel arches and 18-inch wheels give it a dynamic look. Its bodywork has been reworked to optimise aerodynamics and improve range.

A connected, customisable cabin

On board, sobriety goes hand in hand with technology. Two 10.1-inch screens group together most of the information, while physical controls remain for ventilation. Ambient lighting is available in 48 colours, and native integration of Google Maps and Google Assistant simplifies everyday use. The NissanConnect application can also be used to control the charge and cabin temperature remotely.

Competitive prices and a wealth of equipment

The range starts with the Engage trim level at €28,000 for the 40 kWh version. The Advance is available from €30,000 or €33,500 with the large battery, while the Evolve tops the range at €36,000. From the very start of the range, the Micra includes a heat pump, rapid recharging and driving aids. A number of options are available to personalise the city car, including two-tone paintwork and sports wheels.

An electrical offensive underway

With this new generation, Nissan is relaunching the Micra in the highly competitive electric city car segment. With a three-year warranty and eight years on the battery, the Japanese carmaker is banking on its attractive price, competitive range and comprehensive equipment to win over urban Europeans.