At the Paris Motor Show, I also took a look at the competition, of course. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous of what Renault is doing. In a short time, they’ve made quite a few models that hark back to icons from the past: the 4, 5, 17, Twingo... But they also have a range of modern-looking cars for those who aren’t keen on all those retro lines. Citroën says retro doesn’t suit its innovative character. I agree. But at a time when European carmakers are being overtaken by Chinese brands, retro can be a powerful weapon. The Chinese can win on price, quality, equipment and specifications, but they can never bring an iconic model from the past back to life, simply because they don’t have any. And Citroën has plenty! Last month, DS Automobiles unveiled a retro concept car based on... the Citroën SM. A beautiful design, but wouldn’t Citroën have been better off bringing this car back to life...?
Jealous of the competition
