European Cars Writer

Julian Diiorio

Julian Diiorio covers the French, Swedish, Czech and Spanish makers for MotorGrail: Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Volvo, Saab, Skoda and SEAT.

Beat: French, Swedish, Czech and Spanish cars: Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Volvo, Saab, Skoda and SEAT · 229 stories

Skoda puts free 3D-printable car accessories online for owners to print at home

Volvo V70 III history, engines and specifications

The first-generation Renault Samsung SM3 in Korea, Russia and Latin America

The Renault Scenic I, the people carrier that left the Megane name behind

Renault Master I history, versions and specifications

Why the first Peugeot 5008 set a record for MPV aerodynamics

How the Renault Espace II moved into the large people carrier class

How the first Peugeot 2008 grew out of a 2010 concept

How the first Peugeot 508 filled the gap between the 607 and 407

How the Citroen Jumpy III came to be, from K-Zero to the 2024 update

Panhard and Levassor 10CV history, Knight engines and the six-cylinder X59

Why the Skoda 130 RS still matters in Czech motorsport

How the Citroen C4 Picasso II traded its name for SpaceTourer

Citroen C4 Picasso first generation: history, tests and recalls

How Panhard & Levassor's 16 and 18 fiscal CV cars evolved from 1899 to 1931

Why the Peugeot 5008 II swapped the MPV for an SUV

How the Renault Espace III answered its space critics

How the Renault Clio V became France's best-selling car

How the Peugeot 508 II set out to challenge the Audi A5 Sportback

How the first Citroen C3 replaced the Saxo with an egg-shaped design

Why the Citroen C5 II ended its European run in 2017 but lived on in China

How the Peugeot 3008 I became Peugeot's first true crossover

Citroen C3 II history, engines and the 2013 restyle

The Renault Espace IV, a steel people-carrier that lasted more than twelve years

How the Renault 11 Electronic gave a French hatchback a talking dashboard

Why the Renault Scenic III was restyled twice before its 2016 replacement

Why the Citroen Ami 8 kept the Ami 6's bones and changed its back

How the Renault Master IV's Aerovan design came together

Why the Renault Twingo II's RS and rally cars still matter

Why the Renault 9 Turbo became the rarest Renault Sport

How one van wore seven badges: the Renault Trafic III story

How the Renault Laguna II earned five Euro NCAP stars

Renault Twingo III history, electric version and special editions

How Matra's flat-floor idea became the first Renault Espace

Why the 2011 DS 4 sat apart from every other crossover

Why the Peugeot 208 II sold so well in Europe and beyond

Renault Megane IV history, engines and the RS line

The Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 and the Group B rallies it reshaped

Why the Renault Clio II stayed on sale after its successor arrived

Renault Scenic II history, facelifts and the hydrogen ZEV H2

How the first Citroen C4 went from a cancelled show car to 2.3 million built

How the Dacia Duster I turned Renault 4 styling into a budget SUV

Renault Clio I history, engines and the Williams edition

Why the Renault Laguna III failed to win over buyers

How the Citroen Berlingo I built a market for the ludospace

SEAT Toledo I history, engines and specifications

Peugeot 3008 II: 2017 European Car of the Year, history and specs

How the first SEAT Ibiza carried Porsche engines and a Giugiaro body

Renault Clio III history, engines and the RS and SporTour

The Renault Megane I, the ellipse-styled car that gave birth to the Scenic

Renault Trafic I history, engines and the Opel Arena badging

Citroen C4 II engines, gearboxes and the Russian launch

Renault Megane II history, engines and the four-door saloon

Renault Twingo I history, engines and specifications

Why Peugeot handed the 406 Coupe to Pininfarina

How the Dacia Logan I turned spare Renault parts into a budget saloon

Peugeot 106 XSI history, engines and specifications

How the Renault Clio IV broke with its predecessor in 2012

How the Renault Laguna I replaced the Renault 21 in 1994

Why the Citroen ID still matters: a cheaper DS with a record load space

Renault Megane III history, engines and the coupe that carried the line to 2016

Peugeot 308 II history, engines and the GTi

The Skoda 720 prototype that never reached showrooms

How the Peugeot 2008 II grew up and went electric

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP: The Diesel Le Mans Prototype That Won in 2009

Renault Megane RS vs SEAT Leon Compared on Power, Chassis and Hot Hatch Pedigree

Citroen CX vs Peugeot 604: Two Executive Cars From One Group and Two Different Fates

Citroen 2CV vs Renault 4 Compared: Two French Answers to Rural Motoring

Citroen CX vs Talbot Tagora: A Celebrated Citroen Flagship and PSA's Late Rival

Citroen Dyane vs Renault 4: Two Economy Hatchbacks Born of the 2CV Rivalry

Citroen 2CV vs Renault 4CV Compared Across Front Drive and the Rear-Engined Postwar Economy Car

Citroen AX vs Peugeot 106: Two Superminis Built on One Platform

Citroen BX vs Peugeot 405: Two French Family Cars Built on One Floorpan

Why the Skoda Octavia I was redrawn and how it went rallying

How the Peugeot 308 I grew from hatchback to folding-roof CC

How the Skoda Octavia II grew up on a Volkswagen Group platform

How the first Seat Leon built its Cupra reputation

Saab 9-3 YS3D history, engines and specifications

Why the Renault Kangoo became Europe's electric van

The Renault Scenic was the first small MPV in Europe

How the Renault Megane RS became the benchmark hot hatch

How the Volvo 300 Series began as a DAF project and sold 1.14 million cars

How the Citroen-Kegresse half-track came out of Russia and into the French army

Saab 900: Engineering, Turbos and Editions of the Swedish Classic From 1978 to 1998

Citroen H Van Built 473,289 Corrugated Vans, Renault Estafette Over 500,000

Citroen ZX, C4, C4 Cactus and C5 Aircross Models Since 1991

Delahaye 135 Variants and Pegaso Z-102 V8 With a 243.079 km/h Record

Facel Vega Closed in 1964, Gordini Joined Renault, Ligier Built Microcars

Panhard Dyna Junior and PL 17 Specs, Prices and the 1961 Monte Carlo Win

Peugeot 1007 Lost an Estimated 15,380 Euros a Car, the 403 Passed a Million

Peugeot 5008 Became a Seven-Seat SUV in 2017, the 408 a Coupe Crossover

Peugeot's 905 Won Le Mans Twice and the 9X8 Began Without a Rear Wing

Renault Austral Replaced the Kadjar in 2022 and the Koleos Turned Geely

Renault Caravelle Floride, 1958-1968, and the 15 and 17 Coupes of 1971-1979

Renault Sport Trophy Ran Two Seasons, but the R.S. 01 Raced Until 2023

Renault Triber Fits Three Rows in Under Four Metres, Master Van Since 1980

SEAT Altea, Exeo, Alhambra and Ateca and Their Volkswagen Group Platforms

Seat Belt Laws by Country and US State Since Victoria's 1970 Rule

SEAT Tarraco Named by 130,000 People, Plus the Marbella and Cordoba WRC

Skoda Fabia Undercut the VW Lupo, then the Roomster and Scala Followed

Skoda Kodiaq, Karoq and Enyaq Sizes, Platforms and Engines Compared

Volvo Amazon, S70, V40 and S90 Specs, Engines and Production Dates

Volvo B18 Engine Passed 4,890,993 km and the D5 Diesel Arrived in 2001

Volvo S60 V8 Supercar Programme Ended a Week After a Three-Year Renewal

Volvo V50, V60 and V90 Estates and the Last V90 Built in October 2025

Skoda Peaq infotainment runs on Android with a 13.6-inch portrait screen

Volvo 460: The Dutch-Built Saloon in Volvo's 440 and 460 Family

Renault Alliance: The American-Built Subcompact That Saved AMC

Renault Espace VI: The Sixth-Generation Espace and Its MPV Past

Renault Super 5 (Renault 5 II): Design, Engines and Rally Record

Renault Trafic: The Light Van Sold Under Many Badges Since 1980

Dacia Sandero III: The Budget Supermini Built on Renault Money and Sense

Peugeot 402: The Streamlined 1930s Family Car That Wore Many Bodies

Renault Symbol: The Clio Saloon Sold Under Many Names

Talbot Horizon: The European Car of the Year That Changed Badges

Renault Kwid: The Small Crossover That Went Electric and Global

Volvo 900 Series: The Rear-Drive Executive Cars From 1990 to 1998

Talbot Samba: The Peugeot 104 Based City Car With a Rally Legacy

Renault Juvaquatre: The Pre-War Family Car That Lasted Into the 1960s

Saab Sonett: From Two-Stroke Racer to Ford V4 Roadster