Daily Drive: Picasso’s Comeback, Panamera’s Power Play, and Mercedes’ EQE Do-Over

I had one of those coffee-splashed mornings where three headlines felt like the same song in different keys: nostalgia-tinged names returning, EV plans being rewritten in pencil, and the quiet resurgence of sensible packaging. Citroën whispering “Picasso” again. Porsche doubling down on the Panamera while the Taycan catches its breath. Mercedes ready to reframe the EQE as, well, the E‑Class it always should’ve been.

Citroën Picasso: The MPV Gets Its Groove Back

According to Autocar, Citroën is plotting a new wave of “sexy” MPVs and seriously considering a Picasso revival. If you remember the old C4 Picasso—floaty ride, cheeky design, and a cabin that felt like a Parisian loft—you’ll understand why that name still has currency. When I hustled the last-gen Picasso on lumpy country roads, I loved the way it soaked up the ripples without feeling marshmallowy. It made school runs feel like mini road trips.

MPVs fell out of vogue when SUVs put on their gym shoes and stole the limelight, but a well-done MPV still beats most crossovers for real-world family life: sliding doors that save paint, a flat floor for backpacks and Labradors, and third-row seats that don’t punish adult knees.

What a modern “sexy” MPV from Citroën should nail

• Cabin that feels like a lounge: airy glass, low cowl, thoughtful storage, proper armrests.
• Seats that fold and tumble without a yoga class—preferably light enough for one-handed maneuvers.
• Pillowy ride with smart body control (Citroën’s hydraulic bump-stops still live rent-free in my head).
• Electrification with range that works for families—think heat pump, efficient HVAC, and honest WLTP numbers.
• Real-world practicality: sliding doors, wide-opening tailgate, somewhere sensible to stow charging cables.

Given Stellantis’ toolbox, expect a mix of pure-electric and hybrid options. The real trick? Make it feel like a design-forward object you want to be seen in, not a minibus with delusions of grandeur. If anyone can add charm to the useful, it’s Citroën.

Porsche’s Panamera Is Beating the Taycan—for Now

As Carscoops points out, the Panamera is outselling the Taycan, and a 2028 model-year update aims to press the advantage. Honestly, I get it. On a stormy interstate last year, I did 530 miles in a Panamera 4 with one gas stop and arrived fresher than my coffee. In a Taycan? Brilliant to drive, but you’re planning charging stops like a chess grandmaster and praying the next station isn’t “temporarily unavailable.”

The Panamera remains the quintessential Porsche for people who do long miles. It’s elegant without screaming about it, the ride improves with every generation, and the latest plug-in hybrids give you weekday EV commuting without the Sunday-night range anxiety. Meanwhile, the Taycan is a sensational driver’s car that still suffers from infrastructure roulette in many regions.

Panamera vs. Taycan: who suits whom?

About that 2028 Panamera update: expect refinement, not reinvention. Porsche tends to iterate—smarter hybrid systems, calmer NVH at cruise, incremental design tweaks, and a cabin that brings the latest infotainment and driver-assist logic. The headline, though, is strategic: Porsche appears to be leaning into the Panamera’s multi-fuel flexibility while the Taycan continues its efficiency and charging-improvement march. Different ladders, same wall.

Mercedes’ EQE Rethink: Back to E‑Class Roots

Carscoops reports the EQE didn’t land as intended, and Mercedes is preparing to bring it back under the hallowed E‑Class banner as a full-electric variant. I’ve spoken to a handful of EQE owners who loved the serenity but weren’t smitten by the design or the naming silo—EQ felt like a separate club inside a club. And yes, some were miffed at packaging quirks (that rear floor hump feeling, the boot aperture). The car wasn’t bad; it was just awkwardly positioned.

Rebranding it as the electric E‑Class is the right kind of obvious. The E‑Class name carries decades of baked-in trust—taxis that hit half a million miles, executives cruising the autobahn, and families inheriting them like watches. If the next-gen electric E leans into E‑Class proportions, a calmer face, and a cabin that’s tech-forward without feeling like a nightclub at 1 a.m., Mercedes will have the formula people were asking for.

What to expect from an electric E‑Class reboot

• Clearer identity: one E‑Class line, multiple powertrains (gas, hybrid, electric) with shared design DNA.
• Better packaging: flatter floors, more usable trunk shape, simpler controls for core functions.
• Efficiency first: improved aero, lighter components, smarter thermal management for range consistency.
• Faster charging: more robust peak rates and—crucially—better sustained curves on imperfect stations.
• Driver comfort: refined ride isolation and the kind of seat ergonomics Mercedes used to brag about.

The Throughline: Course Corrections, Not Retreats

Step back and the pattern is pretty clear. Carmakers aren’t abandoning EVs; they’re tightening the story around familiar nameplates and use-cases. MPVs are back because people need space and sanity. Porsche is letting the Panamera do grand-tour duty while the Taycan continues to be the spear tip for electric performance. Mercedes is walking the EQ naming experiment back into the big house, the E‑Class, where buyers have always been comfortable.

Who should act now—and who should wait?

• Buy now if you road-trip often: Panamera (especially PHEV) is a safe bet for long miles and quiet luxury.
• Wait-and-see if you’re eyeing an electric midsize luxury sedan from Mercedes: the E‑Class EV story is evolving.
• Families craving max space with minimal drama: keep an eye on Citroën’s MPV revival—packaging may trump SUV fashion soon.
• Urban commuters with home chargers: a Taycan (or similar EV) still makes daily life wonderfully smooth.

Strategy Snapshot

Conclusion

The market isn’t flipping; it’s maturing. EVs are getting better, charging networks are getting denser (and more reliable), and carmakers are learning that familiar names calm anxious wallets. Give me a smart MPV, an honest plug-in grand tourer, and an electric E‑Class that feels like an E‑Class—and I’ll happily spend more mornings plotting routes that are about the destination, not the charging map.

FAQ

Is Citroën really bringing back the Picasso name?

Autocar reports the Picasso badge is on the table as Citroën develops a new generation of style-forward MPVs. Final naming isn’t confirmed, but the intent—attractive, practical people-movers—is clear.

Should I buy a Taycan now or wait for Porsche’s next Panamera update?

Different missions. If you have home charging and mostly commute or take regional trips, the Taycan is fantastic today. If you do frequent long road trips with minimal planning, a Panamera—especially a PHEV—may suit better, and the 2028 update will likely be evolutionary rather than a wholesale reset.

Is Mercedes killing the EQE?

Not killing, reframing. Reports suggest Mercedes will fold its electric midsize sedan back into the E‑Class family as a full-electric E, aligning design and naming with buyer expectations.

Are MPVs actually coming back?

In Europe, yes—at least in spirit. Practical, airy, and efficient people-movers are reclaiming ground from fashion-first SUVs. If Citroën nails comfort and style, expect others to follow.

What’s the smart play for long-distance drivers in 2026?

Plug-in hybrids and efficient ICE still make the least-compromise choice for multi-state runs. EVs are brilliant for daily life and improving fast, but charging reliability varies by region—check your corridor before you commit.