Paris Motor Show

Another Paris motor show done and dusted, and suddenly we find ourselves wondering... will there be many, or any, more to come? While this year's show brought us some beautiful concepts and big unveilings, the show seemed... a shadow of its former self. Only time will tell. Among the highlights this year were the exceptionally retro 911 Speedster, Peugeot's heart-starting e-Legend concept, and the big preview of things to come for Skoda, the Vision RS.

Michael Wimbeck – project manager for the new BMW Z4 – was unequivocal when asked whether the previous model had provided any inspiration for the new roadster: "No, we didn't take any inspiration from the previous model," he said.

We've written about it before at CarAdvice and discussed it on our various radio shows and the podcast, and we're not the only ones who think that autonomous vehicle technology continues to grow at a rate much faster than the regulations required to police it. In many instances, manufacturers can already offer autonomy that far outstrips the legal framework we have.

With the covers taken off at the 2018 Paris motor show, and the new BMW 8 Series sitting resplendent among the raft of new product on the BMW stand, you could be forgiven for asking: what took so long? Indeed, with the long-lasting affection for the '90s 840i and 850i, it does seem like BMW has taken its time returning to a segment that so characterised its previous success.

Mazda says it will launch two electric vehicles in 2020 – one a pure-electric model, and the other complemented by a rotary engine operating as a range extender. The Hiroshima-based automaker says rotary engines are perfect as range extenders due to their compact size, high power output and quiet operation. The next-generation rotary engine can run on both petrol and liquified petroleum gas (LPG).